For Iowa football fans dreaming of a warm, sunny holiday, that dream will become a reality.

With the Hawkeyes' turnaround from a poor start to the Big Ten season to a 55-0 drubbing of Minnesota in Saturday's season finale, Iowa has sealed a bowl berth, most likely on Jan. 1.

The Hawkeyes' likely bowl options include the Jan. 1 Capital One (Orlando, Fla.) and Outback (Tampa, Fla.) bowls, as well as the Dec. 29 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

The Capital One Bowl gets the first selection of a Big Ten team after the BCS.

Iowa ended the season with a three-game winning streak. It won five of its final six games to finish 8-4 overall, 5-3 in the Big Ten and tying Northwestern for fourth in the conference.

Michigan State finished third at 9-3, 6-2 in conference.

But the Hawkeyes can be picked before the Spartans, depending on the preference of the bowl.

Iowa most likely will not find out its bowl fate until Dec. 7 when the BCS hands out its bowl invitations.

Kirk Ferentz has coached Iowa in four January bowl games -- the Orange, Capital One and two Outbacks.

Iowa's fan following will be a big part in which bowl selects the team.

The Metrodome had at least half Hawkeyes fans Saturday night, the final collegiate football game at the stadium. Their power was evident in the second half, when the Gophers fans left, leaving the stadium filled with gold and black.

Five bowl representatives -- the Capital One, Outback, Alamo, Champs Sports and the Insight -- attending the game witnessed that following.

"It's always good to finish top three or top four in any conference," said Iowa defensive lineman Broderick Binns. "Getting this eighth win was a big boost for us."

It just might have boosted the Hawkeyes to the head of the bowl pack.