Iowa football: Run game is one of three keys to beating Penn State
By Andrew Wade
The Iowa football team has their toughest game of the season Saturday as they face #17 Penn State in Happy Valley. Here are three keys to victory.
The Iowa football team is on the verge of entering the discussion as one of the best teams in the nation, and a win in Happy Valley against #17 Penn State would only help the cause. After a dominating defensive effort against the Maryland Terrapins, the Hawkeyes only rose one spot in the poll despite beating a team that was 4-2 with losses to 5-3 Temple and #5 Michigan. Don’t forget about Maryland’s season opening win against the now #6 Texas Longhorns either.
This is pretty stand for the Iowa football team. National expectations of the team start out low, and the Hawks have to be nearly perfect to get any love meanwhile the 4-3 Michigan State Spartans flirt with the top 25 week in and week out. In fact, they still received votes in the AP Poll this week. Needless to say beating a ranked Penn State team would do wonders for the Hawkeyes especially considering the rest of their schedule will be against unranked teams (barring what Purdue can do this week).
It’s unfortunate that Penn State has been dealing with late-game collapses to this point with last-minute losses against Ohio State and Michigan State putting a damper on their season, but it is what it is, and all Iowa can do is go into a tough situation and win. Over the last four seasons, James Franklin is 23-3 in Happy Valley with two of those losses coming this year.
Is it probably the Iowa football team wins this game? Not according to Oddsshark.com, but it’s not impossible. Iowa has done it before. Here are the three keys to victory for the Hawkeyes Saturday.