If he wins in Ames and it’s there for the record get ready for Cryin Kirk.
Last edited:
2025 Schedule
- Thread starter pistachio1999
- Start date
Hi Rubrum. Nebraska is as much an abject disaster as your life.
Gives me the giggles.
Now give me a like with your latest troll handle loser.
Bump2025 mid-May schedule prediction:
Albany- W, it's a great day for the Great Danes to take our money and feed us a season opening victory without injuring any of our key players if they have any aspirations of seeing their football program exist beyond the 2025 season............
At Iowa State- L, this will be game 3 for the Cyclones and while they could be a bit on the ropes with a tough opener against Kansas State and a sneaky trap game against South Dakota sandwiched in between, the fact is this series has always been about Iowa deciding whether or not they can get out of their own way for 4 hours (i.e. long enough to not sh** their pants against a team they have no business losing to and yes that includes last year).
Iowa State hasn't straight dominated a healthy Iowa team from start to finish since the 2000 season, and last won in blowout fashion in 2005 after Drew Tate's infamous would-be tackle attempt/concussion knocked him out of the game.
Every other Iowa-ISU game since then has been about Iowa doing enough to not gift Iowa State a Super Bowl victory........or them doing exactly that.
So as of right now, until proven otherwise, I expect more of the pants-pooping we saw in the 2nd half against the Cyclones last year, as opposed to the 1st half domination, with this mish-mash of a roster we have right now. Hell, the game could even play out the exact same as last year, where we get another big lead, and then go turtle mode and let ISU have a feel-good rally to get their first win in Ames over us since the Steel Pants era (2011).
The only thing that would truly surprise me, and then immediately set my expectations for the remainder of the season, is if we go in there and just get our asses beat from the start, or at the very least similar to UCLA/Michigan State, where we dig a hole and never find our way out.
If that happens, 6 regular season wins is the max for this roster with this schedule.
Massachusetts- W, rebound game which looks like most other recent Kirk era rebound games where the fans want one thing (blood and guts and the destruction of whoever our next opponent is following a loss), and Kirk delivers another (ho-hum, mostly uninspiring, but just tantalizing enough victory that doesn't tell either way which direction this team could go)..........but we really know, especially if we lose to Iowa State.
At Rutgers- W, this stretch of the schedule is where Iowa could regain a little bit of their mojo. Iowa has fared favorably well playing our Atlantic coast "brethren" on the road save for a couple minor exceptions, so I expect this to go that route as opposed to something like last year's UCLA game.
Rutgers continues to be a preseason champion, especially in the Greg Schiano era, but until Iowa physically lays down so that Rutgers can beat them, I'm going to assume that's not gonna happen.
Indiana- W, I'm sure some will argue cause for pause on this game considering how Indiana did last year and the fact that our defense should be the worst it's been in over 10 years, but history is also on our side in these kind of matchups. This isn't one of the big boys like Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State where we'll need to play ultra conservative and rely on defense to suck out a 14-12 major upset victory. This is more akin to 2019 undefeated Minnesota coming in and we play the rare role of spoiler.
At Wisconsin- W, there's always that worry in the back of my mind that the same old sh** that's costs us in previous Wisconsin games will rear its ugly head eventually, but until we actually see what this Badger team looks like, we can only assume that if our ass offense in 2023 and our mediocre overall product in 2024 could own these guys, that Iowa > Wisconsin will remain the status quo.
Penn State- L, based on my predictions thus far, this will be billed as a fairly big game at this point in the season. Probably somewhat similar hype to 2021, but we'll be decided underdogs in this one because of all our failures since that fateful game against Penn State soon to be 4 years ago now...........
I expect Iowa to give their best effort, for sure, but ultimately I think James Franklin has solved whatever problem he had with us and similar to 2017, it'll be our defense that fails us in the end because we are Iowa and we can't have nice things.
Minnesota- W, this will be the key game for the Hawks. Win and you're bowl-eligible and still in the thick of things as far as potentially sneaking into the CFP. Piss around with Fleck Ball and find a way to lose (injuries mounting, Iowa has a letdown game after giving it their all against PSU) and blood will be in the shark-infested water.
Fortunately, I still have a little faith in a fully-healthy Hawk squad to not poop their pants against the Golden Goofy bast**ds.
Oregon- L, this will be the big one that the media circles as a potentially road trap game for the Ducks. Yes they have the high profile game in Happy Valley and face their rivals Washington at the end of the year in Seattle, but Iowa is the unknown for them at this point still. These two have not met since 1994. Of course, I have a feeling this game will end up similar to that contest in 1994, especially if Iowa is coming off multiple losses, or is dealing with key injuries (because remember if we got to have nice things, and keep them, we would've won a championship some time since 2004). Oregon is one of those tier-above type of teams, especially on offense, and we won't have the typical kind of defense to turn this game into a Kirk Ball upset special.
At USC- L, this is the dangerous portion of the schedule, and why it is absolutely vital that Iowa starts the season AT LEAST 6-2, because we have a sneaky tough back end of the season to wrap up 2025. We follow up presumably getting our asses kicked at home with having to go out west to avoid the same fate against a bought-and-paid-for USC roster that could be fighting for it's own playoff life by this point in the year. You add in the fact that Kirk always spooks himself into his teams playing like dogsh** any time they cross the Rocky Mountains, and we're gonna find Iowa in another precarious position to end the season, much like last year........
Michigan State- W, I'm wondering at this point, if it's a Kirk thing that we always have to play close games with Michigan State, because Mark Dantonio is long since gone, and we still keep pissing around with the absolute definition of mediocrity in these past two iterations of Michigan State football.
I don't see that being any different this year given what they're roster will look like, but Hawk fans can rejoice in the fact that we should at least squeak by with a win on Senior Day.
At Nebraska- This is it, isn't it. The moment we've all been dreading. Nebraska finally has a roster they can make some noise with and it could culminate with a crowning achievement/statement win over their "not" rivals in Iowa. The Husker faithful will have balloons in hand, everyone online will be waiting with baited breath to finally proclaim that NEBRASKA IS BA-.............
Ahhhh, who are we kidding. Iowa gets a late turnover, again, and this time doesn't need a last-second field goal for yet another victory over the Corn Shuckers. Hawks win 27-21.
Final 2025 record for mid-May prediction: 8-4 (Hawks go to the ReliaQuest Bowl to face Mississippi)
There, I just saved you all 4 months of worrying and another 4 months of b****ing and moaning about the Kirk Ferentz roller coaster ride at the Kinnick Stadium amusement park............You're welcome.
Seems a bit optimistic.2025 mid-May schedule prediction:
Albany- W, it's a great day for the Great Danes to take our money and feed us a season opening victory without injuring any of our key players if they have any aspirations of seeing their football program exist beyond the 2025 season............
At Iowa State- L, this will be game 3 for the Cyclones and while they could be a bit on the ropes with a tough opener against Kansas State and a sneaky trap game against South Dakota sandwiched in between, the fact is this series has always been about Iowa deciding whether or not they can get out of their own way for 4 hours (i.e. long enough to not sh** their pants against a team they have no business losing to and yes that includes last year).
Iowa State hasn't straight dominated a healthy Iowa team from start to finish since the 2000 season, and last won in blowout fashion in 2005 after Drew Tate's infamous would-be tackle attempt/concussion knocked him out of the game.
Every other Iowa-ISU game since then has been about Iowa doing enough to not gift Iowa State a Super Bowl victory........or them doing exactly that.
So as of right now, until proven otherwise, I expect more of the pants-pooping we saw in the 2nd half against the Cyclones last year, as opposed to the 1st half domination, with this mish-mash of a roster we have right now. Hell, the game could even play out the exact same as last year, where we get another big lead, and then go turtle mode and let ISU have a feel-good rally to get their first win in Ames over us since the Steel Pants era (2011).
The only thing that would truly surprise me, and then immediately set my expectations for the remainder of the season, is if we go in there and just get our asses beat from the start, or at the very least similar to UCLA/Michigan State, where we dig a hole and never find our way out.
If that happens, 6 regular season wins is the max for this roster with this schedule.
Massachusetts- W, rebound game which looks like most other recent Kirk era rebound games where the fans want one thing (blood and guts and the destruction of whoever our next opponent is following a loss), and Kirk delivers another (ho-hum, mostly uninspiring, but just tantalizing enough victory that doesn't tell either way which direction this team could go)..........but we really know, especially if we lose to Iowa State.
At Rutgers- W, this stretch of the schedule is where Iowa could regain a little bit of their mojo. Iowa has fared favorably well playing our Atlantic coast "brethren" on the road save for a couple minor exceptions, so I expect this to go that route as opposed to something like last year's UCLA game.
Rutgers continues to be a preseason champion, especially in the Greg Schiano era, but until Iowa physically lays down so that Rutgers can beat them, I'm going to assume that's not gonna happen.
Indiana- W, I'm sure some will argue cause for pause on this game considering how Indiana did last year and the fact that our defense should be the worst it's been in over 10 years, but history is also on our side in these kind of matchups. This isn't one of the big boys like Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State where we'll need to play ultra conservative and rely on defense to suck out a 14-12 major upset victory. This is more akin to 2019 undefeated Minnesota coming in and we play the rare role of spoiler.
At Wisconsin- W, there's always that worry in the back of my mind that the same old sh** that's costs us in previous Wisconsin games will rear its ugly head eventually, but until we actually see what this Badger team looks like, we can only assume that if our ass offense in 2023 and our mediocre overall product in 2024 could own these guys, that Iowa > Wisconsin will remain the status quo.
Penn State- L, based on my predictions thus far, this will be billed as a fairly big game at this point in the season. Probably somewhat similar hype to 2021, but we'll be decided underdogs in this one because of all our failures since that fateful game against Penn State soon to be 4 years ago now...........
I expect Iowa to give their best effort, for sure, but ultimately I think James Franklin has solved whatever problem he had with us and similar to 2017, it'll be our defense that fails us in the end because we are Iowa and we can't have nice things.
Minnesota- W, this will be the key game for the Hawks. Win and you're bowl-eligible and still in the thick of things as far as potentially sneaking into the CFP. Piss around with Fleck Ball and find a way to lose (injuries mounting, Iowa has a letdown game after giving it their all against PSU) and blood will be in the shark-infested water.
Fortunately, I still have a little faith in a fully-healthy Hawk squad to not poop their pants against the Golden Goofy bast**ds.
Oregon- L, this will be the big one that the media circles as a potentially road trap game for the Ducks. Yes they have the high profile game in Happy Valley and face their rivals Washington at the end of the year in Seattle, but Iowa is the unknown for them at this point still. These two have not met since 1994. Of course, I have a feeling this game will end up similar to that contest in 1994, especially if Iowa is coming off multiple losses, or is dealing with key injuries (because remember if we got to have nice things, and keep them, we would've won a championship some time since 2004). Oregon is one of those tier-above type of teams, especially on offense, and we won't have the typical kind of defense to turn this game into a Kirk Ball upset special.
At USC- L, this is the dangerous portion of the schedule, and why it is absolutely vital that Iowa starts the season AT LEAST 6-2, because we have a sneaky tough back end of the season to wrap up 2025. We follow up presumably getting our asses kicked at home with having to go out west to avoid the same fate against a bought-and-paid-for USC roster that could be fighting for it's own playoff life by this point in the year. You add in the fact that Kirk always spooks himself into his teams playing like dogsh** any time they cross the Rocky Mountains, and we're gonna find Iowa in another precarious position to end the season, much like last year........
Michigan State- W, I'm wondering at this point, if it's a Kirk thing that we always have to play close games with Michigan State, because Mark Dantonio is long since gone, and we still keep pissing around with the absolute definition of mediocrity in these past two iterations of Michigan State football.
I don't see that being any different this year given what they're roster will look like, but Hawk fans can rejoice in the fact that we should at least squeak by with a win on Senior Day.
At Nebraska- This is it, isn't it. The moment we've all been dreading. Nebraska finally has a roster they can make some noise with and it could culminate with a crowning achievement/statement win over their "not" rivals in Iowa. The Husker faithful will have balloons in hand, everyone online will be waiting with baited breath to finally proclaim that NEBRASKA IS BA-.............
Ahhhh, who are we kidding. Iowa gets a late turnover, again, and this time doesn't need a last-second field goal for yet another victory over the Corn Shuckers. Hawks win 27-21.
Final 2025 record for mid-May prediction: 8-4 (Hawks go to the ReliaQuest Bowl to face Mississippi)
There, I just saved you all 4 months of worrying and another 4 months of b****ing and moaning about the Kirk Ferentz roller coaster ride at the Kinnick Stadium amusement park............You're welcome.
Believe me......I actually tried NOT to be.
But don't think too hard about Nebraska, either. Iowa > Nebraska
Some week 0 / 1 game times set.............
Select ESPN/ABC 2025 College Football Games
*All times Eastern.
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025
Kansas State vs. Iowa State (Ireland) – 12pm, ESPN
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025
Boise State at South Florida – 5:30pm, ESPN
Nebraska vs. Cincinnati (Kansas City) – 9pm, ESPN
Friday, Aug. 29, 2025
Georgia Tech at Colorado – 8pm, ESPN
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025
Syracuse vs. Tennessee (Atlanta) – 12pm, ABC
Alabama at Florida State – 3:30pm, ABC
LSU at Clemson – 7:30pm, ABC
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025
South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech (Atlanta) – 3pm, ABC
Notre Dame at Miami FL – 7:30pm, ABC
Monday, Sept. 1, 2025
TCU at North Carolina – 8pm, ESPN
Select ESPN/ABC 2025 College Football Games
*All times Eastern.
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025
Kansas State vs. Iowa State (Ireland) – 12pm, ESPN
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025
Boise State at South Florida – 5:30pm, ESPN
Nebraska vs. Cincinnati (Kansas City) – 9pm, ESPN
Friday, Aug. 29, 2025
Georgia Tech at Colorado – 8pm, ESPN
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025
Syracuse vs. Tennessee (Atlanta) – 12pm, ABC
Alabama at Florida State – 3:30pm, ABC
LSU at Clemson – 7:30pm, ABC
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025
South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech (Atlanta) – 3pm, ABC
Notre Dame at Miami FL – 7:30pm, ABC
Monday, Sept. 1, 2025
TCU at North Carolina – 8pm, ESPN
I assume we will see about 4 or 5 of our game times set by next week. First 3 games for sure will get times and channels set. The Iowa / Iowa State game will have a game time announced soon I would think since it is there.
I always get a kick out of these extra motivation angles. So if it wasn’t Kirk’s chance to pass Woody, they weren’t going to play as hard?
C'mon man you know momentum and motivation. You don't believe in motivation and extra motivation? Why does the world even have professional motivators? Why does Tiger Woods have a swing coach? .............. win one for the Gipper???????????????
Yeah, but I'd think the in-state rivalry already puts this game at a high level. Pretty sure Tiger's swing coach is more about his technique than getting him fired up.
That "extra motivation" thing can work against teams as much as for them. How many times have we seen ISMoo come out all jacked-up only to run out of gas.
That said it would be great to beat the clowns on their home field once more and make it a celebration of Kirk and his program.
It's been a while but if I recall in Dan Gable's book he talks about effort and that he never gave 100% max effort. He talked about his daughter running in a race and she ran so hard she passed out and how he realized then that was max effort and that he had never done that.
I have Gable's book too, interesting read. Your analogy is a little shaky.
Giving 100% doesn't mean running at full speed constantly. You play any game strategically. Receivers don't just take off on a dead sprint every play, their moves fit into a bigger offensive plan. Wrestling is a great example. If you just lunge at a guy with everything you have, he'll use your weight against you. Pacing, tactics, etc are all important. As a mentor of mine once said, "You can't sprint a marathon".
Regardless, it's always nice to come out of Ames (and getting out is the best part) with a W. Having it be a special moment for KFz would be all the better.
