By Jeremy Harness

photo credit: Bay Area News Group Stanford’s Blake Martinez celebrates sack against the Maryland Terrapins Dec 30 2014

LOS ANGELES – In a matchup between two very physically-tough football teams that don’t surrender very much, the big factor between them is experience in competing – and tasting victory – in bowl games.

The seniors on this year’s Stanford team, including quarterback Kevin Hogan and linebacker Blake Martinez, will play in their third Rose Bowl when they face the Iowa Hawkeyes Friday afternoon.

This group has two bowl victories to its credit, including its win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl three years ago as well as the blowout victory over Maryland in last year’s Foster Farms Bowl.

Friday afternoon will serve as a culmination for a senior class that has gone to a level that no other class in school history has reached.

“I think this one is just that much more special for me just because it is my senior season, and this is my last game at Stanford,” Martinez said. “So it’s going to be a great moment just to go out there with my teammates.

“And it kind of helps just from the standpoint of having that experience to be able to talk to the young guys, because we have nine starters this year on defense.”

While Stanford’s seniors have their two bowl wins to their credit, the Iowa senior class does not have that. The Hawkeyes came up short in the two bowl games this class has played in, including Iowa’s loss at the hands of LSU in the Outback Bowl two years ago, while they were downed by Tennessee in last year’s Taxslayer Bowl.

However, this is a completely new year, and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz acknowledged that the games that his team has played have not been as prestigious as the Rose Bowl, but that they have been in extremely-important games.

For instance, even though they suffered their only loss of the season, their experience in going up against Michigan State – who beat Stanford in the Rose Bowl two years ago – in the Big 12 title game in Indianapolis for a spot in the College Football Playoff served the Hawkeyes well nonetheless.

“As coaches and as a program, I think you learn through the years, you learn through your experiences, and it’s just part of the deal,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “We’ve played in a lot of big games, and for us, every game this year has been extremely big.

“As the season went on, the stakes went up a little bit, certainly our last couple games had a lot on the line, and then to play in Indianapolis (for the Big 12 title game), it was a great environment. I think our guys will be ready to go. They’re used to competing. They’re used to being in really live, active environments.”