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IOWA CITY, Iowa — There is much to smile about in Iowa City these days.

The Iowa football team is off to the best start in its history. It is coming off another dramatic road victory. It is No. 4 in the latest Bowl Championship Series standings and it plays three of its last four games at home.

But coach Kirk Ferentz still had things to frown about Tuesday.

Two starters who have exceeded all expectations apparently are sidelined for the rest of the regular season. Guard Dace Richardson and running back Adam Robinson injured their left ankles in Saturday’s 15-13 victory over Michigan State, and Ferentz said at his weekly news conference that he expects to play the next four games without them.

“Right now we just have to plan like they are not going to be with us and take that approach mentally,” he said.

Richardson, who has started at three different offensive line positions this season, is out for 4-6 weeks. Robinson, who is fourth in the Big Ten in rushing, could be out just as long, although the freshman from Des Moines said he hopes to come back sooner. Both should definitely be back by whatever bowl game the Hawkeyes play in.

“I think a bowl game is very realistic,” Ferentz said, “but I think the rest of the season, unless we can find some pixie dust … if anybody’s got any, we’ll take it.”

The news was a little better on the two Quad-City players who suffered head and/or neck injuries in the contest.

Former Pleasant Valley star Brett Greenwood, who left the field on a stretcher, probably will be 100 percent by Saturday’s 11 a.m. encounter with Indiana. Former Bettendorf star Colin Sandeman also has an outside chance to come back Saturday.

“Brett Greenwood should be fine,” Ferentz said of his starting free safety. “He’s a little sore right now but we expect him to be full speed. Colin is probably going to take the week to determine. I’m not overly optimistic right now. But he’s fine. Everything has checked out fine. They examined him with CT scans and all that stuff. He’s clear there.”

The injuries leave some question marks on the depth chart, especially at running back.

Davenport’s Julian Vandervelde, who has started 18 games over the past three seasons, will step in at right guard for Richardson.

Freshman Brandon Wegher, who has alternated with Robinson, will start at running back. Junior Paki O’Meara, who has played mostly on special teams since starting the first game of the season, is No. 2.

“I think (Wegher) will do a fine job stepping up and so will Paki and whoever else is called on,” Robinson said.

The question: Who is No. 3?

Ferentz said redshirt freshman Jeff Brinson also is hurt and likely out for the season.

“We are running out of bodies,” he said. “In the backfield, it’s not a real crowded room right now. We are down to two tailbacks so we are open to anything.”

True freshmen Brad Rogers and Josh Brown, both of whom were being redshirted, could be pressed into service. The 225-pound Rogers actually was on the travel squad for the Michigan State game.

“He’s really impressed us over the last eight weeks,” Ferentz said. “He came in a little heavy and a little out of shape but that’s not unusual for first-year players. He’s really worked hard and he looks 100 percent better than did he two months ago. I’m really impressed with his attitude and his work ethic.”

Sandeman’s absence could create another dilemma. Ferentz said he hasn’t decided who would return punts, a role Sandeman took over from Paul Chaney Jr. when he was sidelined for the season.

“That’s a good question,” Ferentz said. “I was wondering that in the fourth quarter the other night. Thank God they didn’t punt to us because we ran out of options there, too … That’s a big concern.”

He said starting defensive backs Tyler Sash and Amari Spievey are the most likely replacements.

Ferentz admitted his team, despite its 8-0 record, has a “small margin for error” and each injury reduces that margin.

“We are just getting it done, which is what you get measured on,” he said. “You just wonder how many cracks in the dike you can handle.”

“It stinks …” quarterback Ricky Stanzi added. “The best thing we can do as teammates is to keep pushing, keep doing well and try to make them proud.”