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Iowa football: Predicting final Big Ten west standings

By Ryan Sikes

IOWA CITY, IOWA - NOVEMBER 23: Running back Toren Young #28 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs in for a touchdown during the first half in front of linebacker Mohamed Barry #7 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 23, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA - NOVEMBER 23: Running back Toren Young #28 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs in for a touchdown during the first half in front of linebacker Mohamed Barry #7 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 23, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 01: Ihmir Smith-Marsette #6 of the Iowa Hawkeyes makes a catch during the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 01: Ihmir Smith-Marsette #6 of the Iowa Hawkeyes makes a catch during the 2019 Outback Bowl against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

The Iowa football team figures to be in the mix for another trip to Indianapolis. Could it come down to the final week in Lincoln?

The Iowa football team will be returning senior quarterback Nate Stanley who will be in his third year as the starter for the Hawkeyes. He marginally improved last year from his sophomore season completing nearly 60 percent of his passes for 2,852 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

He had a lot of help from stud tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant but both have moved onto the NFL. The Iowa football team’s offense will feature a three-headed monster at the running back position in 2019 with Mekhi Sargent figuring to carry the load. He will be supported by Toren Young and Ivory Kelly-Martin.

Flashback to 2018, the Iowa football team had numerous chances to put themselves in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten West division but they could not capitalize on a down year from the likes of Wisconsin and Nebraska.

Pat Fitzgerald and his Northwestern Wildcats were the team that grabbed ahold of the Big Ten West division with key wins at Purdue, at Michigan State, at Iowa, and at Minnesota. It was a remarkable season for the Wildcats lead by senior quarterback Clayton Thorson, but he too has moved onto the NFL and the Wildcats will turn to senior quarterback T.J. Green in 2019.

Green appeared in nine games last year so the Wildcats aren’t breaking in a completely inexperienced quarterback. However, he will have large shoes to fill left by Thorson as they try to repeat as Big Ten West Champions.

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Several projections have already been released with some predicting that Nebraska will come all the way back from a 4-8 season in 2018 and win the West in 2019. It’s certainly possible, anything is possible to be fair, but they would need a lot of things to go right for them this coming season. They certainly have a favorable schedule to do so.

Let’s take a look at Dear Old Gold’s projected Big Ten West standings.

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