Pass-picking defensive backs, holiday gifts and meeting an old friend are all part of today's Hawkeye 10 @ 10.
Your daily dose of Iowa football news and notes is delivered weekdays at Hawkmania.com, your source for all things Hawkeye. Here is today's Hawkeye 10@10:
1. Running back Akrum Wadley has had a change of heart.
The Iowa senior has warmed to the chance to play his final college football game close to his hometown of Newark, New Jersey.
"It's been a blast, coming home for Christmas and all that stuff,'' Wadley said. Wadley got a chance to get out in New York City with his teammates on Sunday night. "It was a lot of fun, Times Square and that type of thing,'' he said. "There's a lot of energy in the city.''
2. Expect Boston College to test Iowa's Josh Jackson at some point during Wednesday's game.
"He's an excellent player and the easiest thing to do would be to avoid him, but that's not football,'' Eagles offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler said. "He's something we have to deal with. I've been impressed with what I've seen of him on tape."
3. Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson won't be the only national leader in interceptions on the field Wednesday.
The only other player in college football to intercept seven passes is Boston College's Lukas Denis, a junior free safety who played cornerback until this season.
"He's had a great season,'' Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Reid said. "He's made some game-changing plays for us.''
4. Boston College defensive coordinator Jim Reid had a chance to exchange quick greetings with some of the former Iowa players he coached when the teams crossed paths Monday morning at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
It was a quick hello as Reid was on the run to catch a bus which took the Eagles to a Christmas Day practice at Columbia University.
5. The Hawkeyes took care of the heavy lifting of game preparation before checking into their midtown Manhattan team hotel on Sunday.
Like a Thursday during the regular season, Monday was a day off for Iowa players. Today's schedule includes a light practice as would be the case on a Friday.
"We're ready to go,'' linebacker Josey Jewell said. "We've had good preparation and we're set.''
6. The fourth quarter has belonged to the Hawkeyes this season.
Iowa has outscored its competition 113-57 in the fourth quarter of game, helped by the work of quarterback Nate Stanley. The sophomore has a 138.2 pass efficiency rating in the fourth quarter, completing 44-of-80 passes for 565 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
Iowa has scored game-tying or go-ahead points in the final two minutes of three games this season, in a win over Iowa State and in losses to Penn State and Northwestern.
7. 'Tis the season of giving and the Hawkeyes didn't forget each other.
Iowa held a team gift exchange before leaving Iowa City, exchanging names with instructions to spend no more than $20 on a gift for whoever's name they drew. Some received practical gifts.
Offensive lineman Keegan Render welcomed a Casey's gift card. Others found themselves on the receiving end of gifts with a purpose.
Linebacker Bo Bower's haul included a poster and a can of shaving cream to help with his balding head. "It was all in good fun,'' Bower said.
8. Iowa is a 2.5-point favorite in its bowl match-up with Boston College.
That in itself is a rarity. The Hawkeyes are favored in a postseason game for the first time in nine years.
9. George Kittle found his way to the end zone, highlighting weekend work of former Iowa football players in the NFL over the weekend.
Kittle caught three passes for San Francisco in its 44-33 win over Jacksonville, including an 8-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.
Elsewhere, Christian Kirksey had nine tackles for Cleveland in its loss to Chicago, Micah Hyde finished with six tackles for Buffalo in a loss to New England, Desmond King recorded five tackles for the Chargers in a win over the Jets and Anthony Hitchens totaled four tackles and one half of a tackle for a loss for Dallas.
10. It's going to be a cold kickoff for the Hawkeyes and Eagles.
The current National Weather Service forecast for the Bronx on Wednesday calls for a high of 26 degrees.