Last 5 Games of the Season

[Auger]

One concern I have to this season and I don't have a lot for this year is the way Iowa's schedule is set up. Early in the season we have Northwestern and Minnesota back to back which is two physical teams that love to try and beat their opponents up. Those type of games in the B1G usually start to lead to players wearing down/injuries, but Iowa catches a little break with Purdue up after them. However after Purdue is where the meat of the schedule starts and where some of the concerns kick in.

Last year before the B1G championship Iowa only had to really play 4 games against physical smash mouth teams that play a similar style to Iowa. This season Iowa plays a solid 6 of those type of teams and 4 of them in the final 5 games with a bye in there. It starts with Wisconsin, a game that is always a brutal thing to watch. Iowa then gets a bye but then has PSU and Michigan. Iowa has never been a deep team and the concern I have is how well the team can stay healthy for the entire season. That said I don't know how many healthy bodies Wisconsin will have either by the end of the year as they have LSU, MSU, Michigan, Ohio St, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern and Minnesota this year.

 

[Dauminator]

I took a look at the schedule today myself and had a similar thought. The end of the season could be dicey.

But, then again, November Big Ten football is always dicey, isn't it?

 

[td77]

Seriously? I'd say this is the dream schedule not only in terms of who we don't play, but also when we play them. Whether it's as a fan loving the opportunity to run undefeated as long as possible or a national fan bases eyes and potential CFP consideration at stake against the best of our competition. You want to be relevant as long as possible. I think you might be nit picking here.

 

[jhawkinaz]

I can see the point you are trying to make.....but I think if you are looking at this schedule as anything but very favorable then you are reaching for something to worry about.

That Wisky schedule......jeesh. I wouldn't wish that schedule on, well, Wisconsin.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I can see the point you are trying to make.....but I think if you are looking at this schedule as anything but very favorable then you are reaching for something to worry about.

That Wisky schedule......jeesh. I wouldn't wish that schedule on, well, Wisconsin.

Very favorable? It's still Iowa we're talking about. We did something only 3 other teams in school history did and that was actually make our schedule favorable by winning all our games. Iowa makes their previously written-in-stone schedule as easy, or difficult, as they want. This year will be no different.

 

[IACub]

I can see the point you are trying to make.....but I think if you are looking at this schedule as anything but very favorable then you are reaching for something to worry about.

That Wisky schedule......jeesh. I wouldn't wish that schedule on, well, Wisconsin.

Just looked at Wisky's schedule. That's brutal.

 

[SWIowahawks]

Just looked at Wisky's schedule. That's brutal.

Check out Nebraska's 2018 schedule. With the away games, it might be worse than Wisconsins 2016 schedule.

 

[Dauminator]

I didn't notice the bye week after Wisconsin. That helps. But . . .

Wisco-typcially a bruising affair
@PSU-Never an easy road game
Mich-should be one of the best B10 teams
@Ill-I predict they'll be much improved this year.
Neb-rival, can we beat them 3/4 years? No way they're 2015-bad again.

It's not about shying away or preparing excuses in advance. It just looks challenging to me.

 

[hoffmkr]

@Ill-I predict they'll be much improved this year.
.

Illinois is going to be down this year. Lovie might be a better coach and recruiter, but they lost a TON of talent off last years team. They had so many starters on defense transfer/quit, they are going to be young.

 

[Alum-Ni]

Check out Nebraska's 2018 schedule. With the away games, it might be worse than Wisconsins 2016 schedule.

B1G schedule that year for the Huskers:

at Michigan
Purdue
at Wisconsin
at Northwestern
Minnesota
at Ohio State
Illinois
Michigan State
at Iowa

 

[EZ2BJZ]

B1G schedule that year for the Huskers:

at Michigan
Purdue
at Wisconsin
at Northwestern
Minnesota
at Ohio State
Illinois
Michigan State
at Iowa

Wow, that is brutal.

 

[beatdahuskers]

B1G schedule that year for the Huskers:

at Michigan
Purdue
at Wisconsin
at Northwestern
Minnesota
at Ohio State
Illinois
Michigan State
at Iowa

That is a typical Big Ten schedule - before all the newbies came along.

 

[soybean]

B1G schedule that year for the Huskers:

at Michigan
Purdue
at Wisconsin
at Northwestern
Minnesota
at Ohio State
Illinois
Michigan State
at Iowa

I think Nebraska could lose up to 5 games with that schedule.

 

[millhawk]

B1G schedule that year for the Huskers:

at Michigan
Purdue
at Wisconsin
at Northwestern
Minnesota
at Ohio State
Illinois
Michigan State
at Iowa

Ah come on. ISU kool aid drinkers say the Big10 is easy.

 

[SWIowahawks]

I think Nebraska could lose up to 5 games with that schedule.

Ya that's tough. Even if you had OSU talent and coaching, you'd still probably end up with 2-3 losses.