Iowa Football: Previewing The Pinstripe Bowl

In what will be the first ever meeting between the two schools, Iowa and Boston College meet up in Yankee Stadium in the Pinstripe Bowl. With a win, it would snap the Hawkeyes five straight bowl losses.

When looking at where the talent and excitement lies in this one, it starts and most likely will end with the running backs.

Iowa has one of the most electric in the country in Akrum Wadley who plays his final collegiate game with many family and friends in attendance from his nearby Newark, New Jersey. Wadley has finished in many top ten and even five categories in Iowa history amongst running backs, and should prove to be a large factor in his last bowl game.

On the other side of the field, AJ Dillon has been perhaps the best freshmen in the country along with Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor. Dillon rushed for 1432 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season after being the highest rated player coming out of Massachusetts.

If Iowa can somehow slow down the dominant Dillon, they will force Darius Wade to win the game. Boston College does not have an elite passing game, however, with the leading wide receiver being sophomore Kobay White with 32 receptions.

The Hawkeyes avoid one of the nations premiere pass rushers with Harold Landry being out with an ankle injury. Landry could be one of the first players selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Pinstripe Bowl will also feature the two players who lead the nation in interceptions this year. Iowa’s Josh Jackson became a unanimous All-American this year, and presumably will become a first round pick come April with his seven interceptions. Lukas Denis also had seven picks in 2017 as a junior.

Other News & Nuggets

• Playing in a baseball stadium may be unfamiliar for Iowa, but definitely will not be for Boston College. They beat Connecticut at Fenway Park this season by 23 points.
• Both coaches (Kirk Ferentz & Steve Addazio) played their college football in the state of Connecticut. Ferentz at Connecticut, Addazio at Central Connecticut.
• With a win, Kirk Ferentz will tie the Hawkeyes all-time wins leader legendary Hayden Fry.
• Boston College did what Iowa hopes to do, in ending a five-game bowl losing streak last season.
• Famous Boston College Alums include: Leonard Nimoy, Amy Poehler, Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie, Luke Kuechly and WWE’s Kofi Kingston (In New Day ‘stable’ with former Iowa football player ‘Big E’)