Know Your Opponent: No. 18 Iowa Hawkeyes
/
Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)
Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz
Overall: 23rd Season, 168-106 (.613) Overall
Bowl Appearances at Iowa: 18 (1 Cancelled due to COVID-19)
2020 Record: 6-2 (6-2, 2nd in Big Ten West)
Bowl Appearances Since 2000: 18 (9-8)
Mascot: Herky the Hawk
Colors: Black and Gold
Outfitter: Nike
National Titles: 5 (1921, 1922, 1956, 1958, 1960)
Conference Titles: 13 (11 Big Ten, 1 MVIAA, 1 WIUFA)
Heisman Winners: 1 (Nile Kinnick, 1939)
2021 Record: 0-0
Last Week: N/A
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Spencer Petras (146-256 passing (57.0%), 1594 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs)
Rushing: Tyler Goodson (143 rushes, 762 yards, 5.3 YPC, 7 TDs)
Receiving: Sam LaPorta (27 receptions, 271 yards, 1 TD)
Tackles: Seth Benson (47 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks)
Stat of the Week: Iowa “injury luck” is unprecedented at the quarterback position; in the last 11 seasons, Iowa starting QBs have missed just one game due to injury (C.J. Beathard replaced Jake Rudock at Purdue in 2014).
Iowa’s Talking Points
1. A confident, veteran defense.
The Iowa defense has been on a tear unlike any other team over the past couple seasons; in 22 consecutive games, the Hawkeyes have not allowed a team to surpass 24 points. No other FBS team has an active streak longer than ten. Their defense is nasty and gets after opponents from the jump; in the first half of their past five home season openers, they have allowed just 3.6 points and forced 14 punts. Just three opponent’s first half drives have resulted in scores.
So naturally, with two starting linebackers and all five defensive backs returning along with their history in season openers, Indiana’s offense will be up against a tough challenge.
“We expect to be a top-10, top-five defense [nationally],” said Iowa free safety Kaevon Merriweather.
Iowa’s defense was ranked sixth in FBS a year ago in scoring (16.0 points a game), eighth in yardage (313.8 per game), and first in yards per play (4.3).
2. Field position.
So often in Big Ten games (and all football games, really), the team that ultimately wins the field position battle tends to go on to win the game. Indiana will have its hands full in this category; Haydon Whitehead is no longer with the Hoosiers, so true freshman James Evans will assume punting duties. The story is not the same on the Iowa sideline. Hawkeye punter Tory Taylor, reigning Big Ten Punter of the Year and first-team preseason All-American by The Athletic, returns for another season. Just six of Taylor’s punts were returned last season and 18 were downed inside the 20 with just one touchback. The Australian is transitioning to a more American-football style kick in preparation for an NFL career, but similar production is expected nonetheless.
3. Is Spencer Petras a good enough quarterback?
There is often truth in the argument that numbers never lie. But, for Spencer Petras, the numbers are telling conflicting stories. On one hand, the junior quarterback has a six-game win streak as a starter and has averaged 6.97 yards per attempt over that run, just a fraction behind Nate Stanley. On the other hand, Petras completed just 57.1% of his passes as a sophomore (84th out of 100 FBS quarterbacks) and Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 112th best expected starter this offseason.
Whatever your opinion may be, the Hawkeye’s success will ultimately rest on his shoulders. He has never been a risk taker, resulting in low turnover numbers, which is a good sign for Iowa’s offensive strategy. He also has arguably the best lineman in the country in center Tyler Linderbaum protecting him, which is another plus. Running back Tyler Goodson also takes some of the load off his back. However, if he is forced to go out and win a game with his arm by making big plays downfield, Petras has not shown to be the guy to make that happen.