Iowa fans were ****** because they had a decent game setup and then had to fill it with terrible teams, which lowered their strength of schedule and allowed the media to pick on them for scheduling cupcakes even thought they didn't know the full story.
I don't recall the media picking on them. Missouri was supposed to have played Iowa starting in 2005 for a 4-year series. Looks like Iowa picked up UNI instead.
Iowa lost to ISU, Ohio State, Northwestern, Michigan that year and STILL went to the Outback Bowl (over teams with better records).
In 2006, Iowa lost six games that year. I don't think you can blame Missouri for that season. And they still played in the Alamo Bowl (over teams with better records -- losing to Texas).
In 2007, I don't know who Iowa picked up, but the Hawks lost to Western Michigan in the final home game of the season in a game which prevented them going to a bowl game.
In 2008, Iowa lost four games to Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Michigan State and Illinois, but still got to play in the Outback Bowl over teams with better records.
I don't see how you can blame Missouri for the Big 10 conference losses, or the Pittsburgh, Western Michigan losses.