Iowa Football: Whats At Stake The Rest Of The Season?
By Joe Favia
Two extremes faced the Hawkeyes over the course of two weekends playing top ten opponents. The shock of destroying unbeaten Ohio State at home, then the sorrow of imploding to unbeaten Wisconsin in Madison.
But, as it goes in the world of college football, there are still thresholds and things to try and accomplish for this group of Hawkeyes this season.
For a group that for a second straight season cannot reach Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship, smaller consolation prizes are in their cross-hairs. Beating Purdue this weekend will only add in moving Iowa up the Big Ten rankings jockeying for bowl position. Most projections have the Hawkeyes landing between Nashville, Santa Clara, or at best potentially San Diego. The results of the last two games play a large role in the bowl plans.
Purdue is an upstart program in the conference that like PJ Fleck’s Gophers look to go into Iowa City, and walk out victorious. It will be a difficult task for Jeff Brohm and the Boilermakers this weekend. Especially against an Iowa team that is most assurandely are agree with the lackluster results last weekend.
Brohm is trying to keep his teams bowl dreams alive. They will need to knock off the Hawkeyes and then beat in-state rival Indiana for the ‘Old Oaken Bucket’ to go bowling. It would be the Boilers first time taking home the bucket since 2012, if so.
Iowa will then try to keep the Heroes Trophy in most likely will be the last time Mike Riley is apart of the rivalry. The Hawkeyes look for three-straight victories in the matchup. It is unlikely that Nebraska is going to a bowl game as they will have to upset Penn State and Iowa in back to back weekends.
If Iowa can take care of business against Purdue and Nebraska, it will mark the fifth time this decade they have reached the 8 win marker. Many considered an 8-win total a strong year for a group with many questions, especially at the quarterback position.
Also, to be answered for the remainder of the season is how the early December signing period affects the 2018 class for Iowa. There isn’t as much drama thus far as compared to Iowa’s 2017 class, mainly due to the ‘Texas Exodus’ where 4 ‘lone star’ commits went elsewhere before signing day. There are still targets for a class that won’t be extremely large.
Predictions
Devin Keller (Dear Old Gold) 59-18
Joe Favia (Dear Old Gold) 58-19
Brendan Stiles (Hawkeye Expert) 57-20
Derrick Mitchell (Former Hawkeye RB/Incarnate Word RB)
Bryan Dietzler (Dear Old Gold) 18-8
Rutgers Scarlet Knights At Indiana Hoosiers
Joe, Devin, Derrick- Indiana
Brendan, Bryan- Rutgers
Minnesota Golden Gophers At Northwestern Wildcats
Joe, Devin, Bryan, Derrick- Northwestern
Brendan- Minnesota
Michigan Wolverines At Wisconsin Badgers
Joe- Michigan
Devin, Brendan, Derrick, Bryan- Wisconsin
Illinois Fighting Illini At Ohio State Buckeyes
Everyone- Ohio State
Purdue Boilermakers At Iowa Hawkeyes
Everyone- Iowa
Maryland Terrapins At Michigan State Spartans
Everyone- Michigan State
Nebraska Cornhuskers At Penn State Nittany Lions