2018 schedule

[dbrocket]

It's a long way off, but it looks light. Lighter than 2015. We should have a good record.

2018
September
1 Northern Illinois
8 Iowa State (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
15 Northern Iowa
22 Wisconsin
29 Open
October
6 at Minnesota
13 at Indiana
20 Maryland (HC)
27 at Penn State
November
3 at Purdue
10 Northwestern (FW)
17 at Illinois
23 Nebraska (Hy-Vee Heroes Game)

Honestly, with Nebraska down and breaking in a new coach, it looks light enough that we should be rooting for Matt Campbell to give Iowa State one more year and for them to be top-25 next year. Otherwise, Northwestern is probably our 3rd best game. It'd be Wisconsin, Penn St. and a lot of mediocre.

 

[MitchL]

It's a long way off, but it looks light. Lighter than 2015. We should have a good record.

2018
September
1 Northern Illinois
8 Iowa State (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
15 Northern Iowa
22 Wisconsin
29 Open
October
6 at Minnesota
13 at Indiana
20 Maryland (HC)
27 at Penn State
November
3 at Purdue
10 Northwestern (FW)
17 at Illinois
23 Nebraska (Hy-Vee Heroes Game)

Honestly, with Nebraska down and breaking in a new coach, it looks light enough that we should be rooting for Matt Campbell to give Iowa State one more year and for them to be top-25 next year. Otherwise, Northwestern is probably our 3rd best game. It'd be Wisconsin, Penn St. and a lot of mediocre.

You would think that schedule would be a 9-3/8-4, but if I had a farm to bet... between Purdue/Minny/Indiana, i'd guess Iowa loses AT LEAST one of those and maybe two.

 

[SWIowahawks]

You would think that schedule would be a 9-3/8-4, but if I had a farm to bet... between Purdue/Minny/Indiana, i'd guess Iowa loses AT LEAST one of those and maybe two.

If Iowa doesn’t win 9+ games with that schedule, Kirk shouldn’t be the coach anymore.

 

[Big Hawk D-Port]

Don’t play an away game until October.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

One road game against a team with a '17 winning record. That shouldn't even be considered an official Big Ten schedule.

At least '15 had road games at Wisconsin and Northwestern (both 10 wins), and a non-conference game against a respectable opponent (Pitt). Not quite as nicely set up as Wisky's schedule this year but close.

Bottom line - absolutely no excuse for anything short of a 9-win regular season next year. Anything less and even KF's biggest supporters will be getting restless.

 

[Hawkfan5220]

It's a long way off, but it looks light. Lighter than 2015. We should have a good record.

2018
September
1 Northern Illinois
8 Iowa State (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
15 Northern Iowa
22 Wisconsin
29 Open
October
6 at Minnesota
13 at Indiana
20 Maryland (HC)
27 at Penn State
November
3 at Purdue
10 Northwestern (FW)
17 at Illinois
23 Nebraska (Hy-Vee Heroes Game)

Honestly, with Nebraska down and breaking in a new coach, it looks light enough that we should be rooting for Matt Campbell to give Iowa State one more year and for them to be top-25 next year. Otherwise, Northwestern is probably our 3rd best game. It'd be Wisconsin, Penn St. and a lot of mediocre.

Looks easier, however Maryland, Indiana and ISU will be decent, Northwestern is always tough, and who knows how Purdue will be, on the upswing maybe?

 

[ichawk24]

Odd schedule with 4 September home games, October with 3 of 4 on the road.

 

[ichawk24]

2017 crossovers: OSU, PSU, MSU
2018 crossovers: PSU, Indiana, Maryland

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

It's a long way off, but it looks light. Lighter than 2015. We should have a good record.

2018
September
1 Northern Illinois
8 Iowa State (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
15 Northern Iowa
22 Wisconsin
29 Open
October
6 at Minnesota
13 at Indiana
20 Maryland (HC)
27 at Penn State
November
3 at Purdue
10 Northwestern (FW)
17 at Illinois
23 Nebraska (Hy-Vee Heroes Game)

Honestly, with Nebraska down and breaking in a new coach, it looks light enough that we should be rooting for Matt Campbell to give Iowa State one more year and for them to be top-25 next year. Otherwise, Northwestern is probably our 3rd best game. It'd be Wisconsin, Penn St. and a lot of mediocre.

I'm okay with that, I don't care how good or bad our opponents are, we need to go 9-3.

P.S. F*** Wisconsin.......and f*** Northwestern too.

 

[QChawks]

Looks like 7-5 again

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Wisconsin needs to have a circle, multiple stars, and a Giant x on it. We have to show Midwest recruits they have not separated from the west.

 

[And1Hawk]

This year was a tough schedule. Next year is sneaky tough. The non-con has three decent teams in NIU, ISU & UNI. ISU thinks they will have their best team ever and maybe pre-season top 25. Open with Wisky. Road game at PSU which has beat us 4 straight. Road game at improving Purdue. Maryland could be interesting if they get their top 2 QBs back that were lost to injury early. Then going to the boat rowers for their homecoming game. PJ said they switched their homecoming from Indiana to Iowa because they wanted a win on homecoming.

Easier schedule yes, but still tricky.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Schedule is tougher than most give it credit for. NIU will be tough, ISU is ISU, and UNI will play balls to the wall. Iowa should go 3-0, 2-1 at the worst, but you never know.

In B1G play Wisconsin will be a force again. I expect Minnesota to be tougher, especially on the road. They have finally figured out they need to run Croft A LOT. Indiana is always tricky with their offense. Maryland is another tricky one. Remember how they looked with their original QB. Their offense could not be stopped. If he comes back 100% then look out. Playing @ PSU will be very tough. Barkley should be gone, still tough. Brohm should have Purdue playing at a high level again next year. NW and Fitz will be a pain in the ass again. Illinois should be improved, but I don't expect much from them. Nebraska will be coached by the almighty Scott Frost, so they should be 11-0 headed into IC right? Nah, they have no talent. It will be closer I think, but I like Iowa if it's a physical battle. If it turns into a basketball on grass game with Frost's system then look out.

With that said...
9-3 on the high end

5-7 on the low end.

There are some VERY tricky games worked into that schedule like Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa State, and even NIU to a lesser extent.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Schedule is tougher than most give it credit for. NIU will be tough, ISU is ISU, and UNI will play balls to the wall. Iowa should go 3-0, 2-1 at the worst, but you never know.

In B1G play Wisconsin will be a force again. I expect Minnesota to be tougher, especially on the road. They have finally figured out they need to run Croft A LOT. Indiana is always tricky with their offense. Maryland is another tricky one. Remember how they looked with their original QB. Their offense could not be stopped. If he comes back 100% then look out. Playing @ PSU will be very tough. Barkley should be gone, still tough. Brohm should have Purdue playing at a high level again next year. NW and Fitz will be a pain in the ass again. Illinois should be improved, but I don't expect much from them. Nebraska will be coached by the almighty Scott Frost, so they should be 11-0 headed into IC right? Nah, they have no talent. It will be closer I think, but I like Iowa if it's a physical battle. If it turns into a basketball on grass game with Frost's system then look out.

With that said...
9-3 on the high end

5-7 on the low end.

There are some VERY tricky games worked into that schedule like Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa State, and even NIU to a lesser extent.

All true.

No f***s are given. 9-3 or better. That's not negotiable. Time to stop wading water.

 

[Zildjian6868]

I can hear Cowerd already.

 

[dbrocket]

Schedule is tougher than most give it credit for. NIU will be tough, ISU is ISU, and UNI will play balls to the wall. Iowa should go 3-0, 2-1 at the worst, but you never know.

In B1G play Wisconsin will be a force again. I expect Minnesota to be tougher, especially on the road. They have finally figured out they need to run Croft A LOT. Indiana is always tricky with their offense. Maryland is another tricky one. Remember how they looked with their original QB. Their offense could not be stopped. If he comes back 100% then look out. Playing @ PSU will be very tough. Barkley should be gone, still tough. Brohm should have Purdue playing at a high level again next year. NW and Fitz will be a pain in the ass again. Illinois should be improved, but I don't expect much from them. Nebraska will be coached by the almighty Scott Frost, so they should be 11-0 headed into IC right? Nah, they have no talent. It will be closer I think, but I like Iowa if it's a physical battle. If it turns into a basketball on grass game with Frost's system then look out.

With that said...
9-3 on the high end

5-7 on the low end.

There are some VERY tricky games worked into that schedule like Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa State, and even NIU to a lesser extent.

There's no such thing as an easy schedule with a 9-game B1G season, but relative to other years, this sets up nicely.

We'll need Kelly-Martin and Young to live up to expectations, and our all-new LBs to develop, along with OL depth. But Stanley, the TEs, the WRs, the OTs, the DL and the secondary should be a year older and better and we'll have 5+ OL with lots of game experience. On paper (pending injuries, etc), we should be a better overall team, but without an established star running back.

If I was placing bets, the toughies would be:

1. Will the OL be better or worse - we need it to be better, especially vs blitz pickup.

2. Will LB be a trash fire? Or will it be good, but with growing pains? DL depth helps.

3. Oh, and what the hell are we gonna do at punter? Can Gersonde develop? We need *someone* to step up.

(I'm confident in IKM and Young)

If all three of those break right, I think we win 10+. Probably 1 fewer win for each of those that breaks wrong.

 

[Mulls1975]

This schedule is terrible. Only 1 home game during good football weather from late Sept through late Oct and it’s Frickin Maryland. I miss the old big ten after adding PSU. Decent games every year.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Obviously I think the LB's are a concern. The coaching staff must as well. They don't typically go the juco route and they are with LB's.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

PJ said they switched their homecoming from Indiana to Iowa because they wanted a win on homecoming.

Let's be fair. They moved the homecoming game from late October to early October, presumably to get a better chance for good weather. Fleck simply shrugged off a reporter's assertion that it could be a tougher game to win.

Saying that they switched the game to Iowa because they wanted to win is quite deceiving.

 

[cg8284]

With those crossovers games the only way that schedule can be considered "sneaky tough" or "tricky" is because teams like Purdue and Northwestern are moving up and Iowa is treading water or moving down in the conference. This should be 9 wins or more.

 

[dekhawk]

Hard to judge the difficulty of a schedule until the season is over.

 

[radicalhawk]

Northern Illinois, again? In 2019, Miami of Ohio for like the 5th time in 15 years. Northwestern is playing Notre Dame next year. It's like, let's make the schedule as generic as possible so we can get to 7 wins and the coaches can get an 8% raise.

 

[swihawk]

I hope someone steals Campbell away, making isu a likely win. With a maturing Stanley and very nice running back talent, more experience from our young o linemen, we should do well. the scary part is losing great linebackers.

I think 9-3 is likely. I am hoping for frost and EXPECTING another beatdown of nebby as well.