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The 'People's Tight End' is back in Iowa City to serve as an honorary captain

Iowa needs all the help they can get for an important match up against No. 25 Wisconsin
ByJordan Underwood
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Nov 25, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes tight end George Kittle (46) celebrates after a touchdown catch during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes tight end George Kittle (46) celebrates after a touchdown catch during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Week nine is a massive week for Iowa football with a spot in the College Football Playoff on the line.

Iowa welcomes No. 25 Wisconsin to Kinnick Stadium for a Homecoming matchup with the Badgers on Halloween in the 100th meeting on the gridiron. The Iowa-Wisconsin rivalry is one of the oldest in college football, and it annually decides who takes home the coveted Heartland Trophy. Iowa has won the last four meetings, but this season brings new implications. Before Iowa and Wisconsin meet on the gridiron, the program announced Saturday's honorary captain.

Former star TE George Kittle will serve as Iowa's honorary captain against Wisconsin

Multiple players on the Iowa squad said they have flushed the Minnesota game, and for everyone's sake, we hope they did. The Hawkeyes have one of their worst offensive performances over the past five years, turning the ball over four times, and it could've been worse. Iowa fumbled four times, thankfully only losing three, or the nightmare would have been much worse. A new week brings a clean slate, and Iowa has another chance to prove they have legit CFP aspirations.

Wisconsin isn't going to go down easy, but the crowd will be rocking with a former star tight end getting the party started as Iowa's honorary captain.

George Kittle has been a star for the San Francisco 49ers since joining the organization in 2017, helping put "Tight End U" on the map. Before joining the 49ers, Kittle was a key part of one of the most successful times in the Kirk Ferentz era, winning 35 combined games and making four bowl appearances. That includes an undefeated 2015 season and a trip to the 2016 Rose Bowl. Kittle finished his Iowa career with 737 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and is one of the most recognizable former Hawkeyes in the NFL.

Kittle has gotten off to a fast start this season for the 49ers, racking up 425 receiving yards and five touchdowns in seven games. The Niners luckily have a week eight bye, giving Kittle time to return to Iowa City. Iowa needs all the help they can get on Saturday, and having Kittle in the house helps. He will get the crowd going, and if they can stay engaged all game, they can give Iowa a much-needed boost.

Week eight was a horrible all-around game for everyone involved, and the best way to get past it is to earn a big win over Wisconsin and keep the Heartland Trophy in Iowa City. To do that, Iowa has to play mistake-free football, establish the run early, and stop the run on defense. It will be a low-scoring slugfest on a cold, potentially rainy Saturday morning, but Iowa can't afford to let this one slip away.

Kittle and Iowa managed to beat Wisconsin only once in his time with the program, and it was a 10-6 win in 2015. This game has all the makings of a similar outcome, and the Hawkeyes need to step up and earn the win.

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