iowa started the 2006 season strong, winning their first four games before losing to top-ranked ohio state. after a 5–1 start, however, the hawkeyes collapsed down the stretch, losing five of their last six games. iowa suffered shocking losses to northwestern and indiana and lost rivalry games with wisconsin and minnesota. the hawkeyes finished the regular season with a 6–6 record and accepted an invitation to the 2006 alamo bowl, iowa's sixth straight bowl game. playing as nine-point underdogs to defending national champions texas, iowa lost the alamo bowl by a score of 26–24.