I think it was the first year of having 3 loss teams in the fiesta bowl. We were a wildcard. Hard to think we’d have been selected had the B10 and P12 not canceled big parts of the season.By then it wasn't unique.
And ISU got to play two depleted/cold off a COVID pause teams, ending with an opponent that backed into the game.
ISU played some good ball but using that season as some sort of standard doesn't make sense.