llinois State- W 29-24....The defending FCS runner-up Cardinals return a good deal of talent from their 13-2 team including MVC player of the year Marshaun Coprich and Newcomer of the Year Tre Roberson, former QB for Indiana. Iowa's defense will still be green, dealing with the turnover at certain positions and will struggle against a dangerous FCS offense. However, they'll do enough to preserve a week 1 victory and not give Iowa it's first loss to an FCS opponent since the late 1800s.....Iowa's offense, meanwhile, will look good in spurts and do enough to get the win, but the motivated, yet depleted Cardinals' defense will force some mistakes from C.J. Beathard and company. Iowa is breaking in new WRs and two new OTs, so there will be growing pains throughout the season.
at Iowa State- L 30-27 OT....Much like the week before, Iowa will look good at times, and then completely shut down, allowing their in-state rivals to force OT late. Iowa settles for a FG on its possession as pressure to score a TD is too much for them to handle, and ISU seizes the momentum and wins in walk-off fashion, handing Iowa another loss against an Iowa State team that will be both worse talent-wise and worse record-wise, though not by as much as last year.
Pittsburgh- W 20-16....Following the same script from last season, Iowa rebounds from what should be a devastating defeat to Iowa State with a victory over a much better Pittsburgh team. Iowa's defense gels in this contest, knowing that they must stop the Pitt rushing attack if they want to have a chance at victory. Pitt's D is also able to bog down the Hawkeye offense making this a low-scoring affair. The win, of course, does nothing to help Iowa fans get over losing to Iowa State yet again, even though most everyone expects it. It's also worth noting that Iowa has a pretty good track record with night games on the BTN, and this game is set for a 7 PM kick.
North Texas- W 37-21....Dan McCarney makes his triumphant return to Kinnick Stadium, however, Iowa pulls off its annual "lightning in a bottle" game and puts up some points on offense against this now C-USA opponent that went 4-8 last year. Dan McCarney will work some of the magic he used to motivate his players against Iowa when he coached at Iowa State, to make it competitive early, but the Hawkeyes pull away with a couple of 2nd half scores and Kirk takes his foot off the gas, leaving the defense to stop several late rally attempts by the Mean Green.
It's also worth noting that simply because of the Dan McCarney factor, Iowa could very well lose this game (just as they could with every other game on its schedule, including Illinois State)
at Wisconsin- L 21-20....Another valiant effort falls short against the Badgers, as Iowa is unable to get into field goal range on its final drive. The Badgers take a 14-10 lead into the lockerroom and stretch it to 21-10 in the 3rd before Iowa mounts its rally. Wisconsin's defense plays solid for the most part, but it's Iowa's D that makes strides in this one, coming up with key stop after stop to at least give the floundering Iowa offense a chance. Iowa abandons the run too early and forces them into 2-minute mode, but Wisconsin wins the battle on the final drive.
Illinois- W 35-17....The Hawkeyes return to Iowa City for Homecoming and give the fans something to cheer for with a rout of the Illini. Iowa racks up nearly 500 yards of offense as the OL starts to come together and C.J.Beathard spreads the ball around in a solid throwing effort...........................and it still does nothing to help Iowa fans deal with losing to Iowa State yet again.
at Northwestern- L 24-20....There's really no reason Iowa should lose this game, but because it's at Northwestern and everyone who is not an Iowa fan is picking Northwestern to win, then I guess I should too, because that's what is going to happen after all, right?.......Anywho, Iowa proves, as expected, that its offensive effort against Illinois was a fluke and struggles to move the ball against a motivated Northwestern team that was embarrassed by Iowa last year. Fat Pat gets to dance around and fist pump on the sidelines once more as they score a late TD and stop Iowa on its last gasp attempt for the win over the head coach's archrival. Honestly, I don't see how you people can root for Pat Fitzgerald, but it's probably because your team doesn't lose to Northwestern....
Maryland- L 30-24....Once again, Maryland out-athletes Iowa with its speeds in the spread offense, which is apparently different from all the other Big Ten spread offenses Iowa faces, The defense comes up with a couple late stops to give Iowa a chance, but once again Iowa runs out of time. Fans throw stuff on the field in frustration.
at Indiana- L 21-17....Even more mystifying than Maryland's ability to move the ball at will against Iowa compared to other spread offensive teams they'll face, is Iowa's non-existent offensive performance in Bloomington. A letdown game following another heartbreaking home loss allows the Hoosiers to catch the Hawkeyes and inch themselves closer to bowl eligibility. It's also worth noting that this is another game, like Northwestern, where lots of non-Iowa fans are expecting Indiana to win....so that's what's going to happen. Usually the way it works is if everyone except Iowa fans says they're going to lose, then they usually do, regardless of how bad the opponent is that Iowa is playing. Of course, I'm also talking about people who are actually making predictions and not just doing so because they hate Iowa or want to make fun of Iowa. True story, unfortunately.
Minnesota- W 27-21....A motivated Iowa regroups to pull off its biggest "win" of the season over an average Minnesota squad. The Hawkeyes score a late TD and finally come up with a defensive stop to win a game and the pig comes back home where it belongs. I should mention that it was either this result, or Minnesota wins 31-17 because Iowa is in a tailspin with no end in sight.
Purdue- W 38-20....Iowa closes out the home schedule in style with a bowl-clinching Senior Day victory over the Boilermakers. Iowa controls the game for the most part, pulling away with 10 4th Qtr points and stonewalling a couple of late scoring threats from Purdue. 65,000 at best are in attendance.
at Nebraska- L 31-21....The Huskers fend off a late Iowa rally to deny Iowa another 7-win regular season. Nebraska's offense moves on Iowa early and often, however, an improving Hawkeye D steps up in the 2nd half to at least give themselves a chance. Nebraska celebrates another 9-win regular season. Iowa accepts a bid to play in the FosterFarms Bowl against USC.
