Iowa is 6-1 heading into Bye week. Minnesota and Purdue control things ahead of Iowa, with five final games of the regular season in 2021.
The truth, unless you picked Iowa to go 12-0 this season, Iowa isn't too bad. On track actually for 2021, right?
As former Iowa DE Bill Brashier used to say, you are never as good or often, not as bad, as you want to place an Iowa team in these occasions like yesterday.
Iowa recruited WR David Bell and DE George Karlaftis over 3 years ago, and sadly they both stayed home. Both those guys would be the #1 players for their respective units for either team had they came to Iowa City.
Instead, Iowa had a Homecoming Game on Saturday, with Purdue back at Kinnick Stadium. Once up 7-0, Purdue basically controlled the tempo of the game on either sides of ball throughout the day. Other than a couple decent punts and returns in the kicking game, Iowa was awful on either side of the ball.
The timing of the loss of CB Riley Moss and second TE Luke Lachey were huge. But, unsure anything would have made a difference on Saturday for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
1. During the Colorado State down 14-7 at the half, did an injury help Iowa in the second half pull out that game?
The Hawks won, but certainly a little luster was showing. Purdue was ready, with a bye week and a little emphasis put into Iowa by Jeff Brohm in off season he shared this week.
2. Iowa was down 7-3 early at Maryland. How much did an injury help Iowa that week? Iowa's defense helped the offense all game, after the first TD drive by Iowa.
3. Iowa trailed 17-3 in 2nd quarter, then 20-10 in the 3rd quarter, against Penn State. Obviously, Iowa came back and won 23-20 and moved into #2, against a team that lost their QB, when Sean Clifford went out on Jack Campbell's clean hit.
Jeff Brohm has won 80% of his games against Iowa. Only Paul Chryst and Pat Fitzgerald, have reached those levels against Iowa lately.
Purdue used three QBs all game, or when they needed at Kinnick Stadium. You don't see that too often. Will Purdue use that again hosting Wisconsin on Saturday?
So, can Iowa split those two upcoming games at minimum after our bye week?
Wisconsin and Northwestern each won last night. Minnesota too! All at home. But, Iowa lost at home on Homecoming no less.
In all respects, this game was done at 7-0 Purdue, according some of the analytics. Look at the impact of scoring first, or play in the red zone or turnover margin, in games Iowa vs. Purdue.
But, it isn't a Purdue game without a David Bell TD reception. He is an All-American for three straight years against Iowa. Jeff Brohm loves to dial it up against Iowa and he has built a career showing he can.
The next Iowa game is an 11 am kick at Camp Randall on October 30th in Wisconsin. The Badgers are coming off a 20-14 win over Army. They have a huge game in West Lafayette against Purdue next week.
Minnesota and Purdue control things over Iowa. Of course, unlike Purdue, Iowa has done well against Minnesota. Just what Purdue is hoping, as they control their destiny, with plenty of cross-overs to play against the East
Week 7 is in the books in the Big Ten. The East has all the attention right now.
