Can the Hawkeyes' offense play more to their 2020 level, as compared to last year's somber level of production?
How much will redzone play improve of what was one of OC Brian Ferentz's most frustrating seasons, since taking reign as OC in 2017.
Michigan made the playoff in 2021, a first in Jim Harbaugh's seven seasons back in Ann Arbor at his alma mater. The Week 5 game will be huge and this remains true, after the 14-13 Keith Duncan field goal to close out the 2016 game at Kinnick. Michigan has won two straight in the series away from Kinnick, 10-3 and 42-10. The Hawkeyes offense has struggled in recent games in 2019 and 2021 against the Wolverines.
Can the Hawkeyes head into Columbus this year, as part of the national conversation?
The names may change for DC Phil Parker, in the secondary, but since 2017, when Brian Ferentz became OC, the ball Hawks in the back seven have really raised their game.
Rivalries brewing in Big Ten West play in 2022.
Heck, even one of the Nebraska site talking heads is talking Iowa-Purdue heading into 2022.
And, we can't forget about the annual West front-runner in 2022. Two head coaches are stepping away from the offense in 2022, with Paul Chryst and Scott Frost. The annual games between both head coaches will come in November games at Kinnick sandwiched by Iowa's road trip against PJ Fleck's eighth edition for the Gophers.
- Iowa last won 28-7 at Kinnick in 2020
- Minnesota is 2-2, since the 2018 37-15 win over the Badgers in Camp Randall
- Purdue is the Badgers Homecoming opponents, as Wisconsin seeks to extend their 15th game win streak
- By the way, the Badgers are 0-5 straight up and ATS in Columbus and open B1G play there in Week 4
- Northwestern won the Big Ten West in both 2018 and 2020 with victories of 31-17 and 17-7 over the Badgers, as Wildcats forced turnovers
- Illinois has one win in last 14 games, as Lovie Smith upset #6 Wisconsin back in 2019 in Champaign
- Nebraska hasn't won in this series, since the 2012 regular season home game in Lincoln, 30-27. Then the Badgers got pay back, back in the Leaders-Legends era of the Big Ten, 70-31 in Indianapolis. The Badgers finished 8-6, as Barry Alvarez replaced Bret Bielema in the Rose Bowl, with a 20-14 loss vs. #8 Stanford.
What trends will continue in 2022?
One I hope is another 6-0 start, as Iowa accomplished in last season to open the year, and how Iowa ended 2020.
