Since Fry was not able to leave Ferentz with much talent on the field, Iowa's 1–10 overall record and 0–8 record in the Big Ten in 1999 was not entirely unexpected. Iowa appeared to hit rock bottom in 2000 when Iowa entered the Big Ten 0–4, and given Iowa's conference record in 1999, a 0–12 season was not an impossibility. Instead, Iowa charted a 3–5 record in the Big Ten, narrowly missing a chance at a .500 league record. The Hawkeyes went 6–5 in 2001, defeating Minnesota 42–24 to clinch a bowl bid and take back Floyd of Rosedale. Iowa capped the year by upsetting Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl.