Perfect example of why Iowa should drop ISU

[hexumhawk]

Win by 39 and drop in the polls.

Please drop this game and stop helping ISU fund their Athl. Dept. This game doesn't help us and even if we pound them, it is still seen as a loss.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

I agree. Better games could be scheduled, either financially(no more travel to Ames with lost home revenue every other year) or program building(e.g neutral site game with a team like VA Tech).

However, there is essentially no way this game goes away.

The seemingly only path to make this game better for Iowa is for isu's program to make a significant improvement. That doesn't appear to be happening any time soon.

 

[SoDakHawk]

Double edged sword. An improved ISU means competition for in-state and regional recruits, hurts Iowa. A crappy ISU means no little to no recruiting competition in the area but Iowa SOS takes a hit for having to play the worst P5 program in the country.

Only way out of this is to dump this game. Hopefully the Big 12 gets relegated to G5 status after OU and UT leave. Just the excuse needed to give the politicians as to why this game should be dropped. Iowa is then unchallenged in the state for recruits too.

It really shouldn't matter to ISU as they have an in-state rivalry built in with UNI. They need to focus on catching up to the Panthers anyway. The forced change will be good for their program.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

Since the B1G has gone to a 9-game schedule, the athletic department has to recognize that this game is now a crutch. While everyone can .appreciate the benefits of this game, the drawbacks cannot be ignored. If the status quo is maintained, there is absolutely no chance that Iowa will be involved in a marquee non-conference matchup. No chance of even playing any non-conference game outside the State of Iowa. These things are important to recruits, also, especially the ones from outside the State. With Iowa's program currently at a high, they should be parlaying the recent success into getting into one of these big-time non-conference matchups everyone loves in the first few weeks. It's hard for me as a fan who is ambivalent about Iowa State to accept that the CyHawk game is an absolute must every year. The landscape of college football is changing, and I see nothing but positives for the program if the CyHawk game can have an occasional hiatus in order for Iowa to be involved in non-conference matchups that would be interesting to all college football fans, and not just those in Iowa.

 

[anon_01irjibf16qqj]

I must be the only one that doesn't care about rankings...especially after the first 2 weeks.

 

[hoffmkr]

Actually, games like Saturday are more reason to play the game.
Nationally, Saturday is the type game that most people think of for ISU.
If Iowa gets a game where they give a beat down, play lots of 2nd and 3rd string players to prepare for Big10 play while drawing a great crowd, its a worthy game.

However, playing a semi-competitive ISU team which a poor national reputation who is extra motivated at ISU while losing a home game would offer no advantages to Iowa.

 

[Ronman]

Barta pretty much stated before Saturday's matchup that there is no inclination by either school to discontinue the series.

 

[njhawkz]

While Iowa State can be a waste of time, it would make more sense to drop the MAC/FCS perennial teams we play and pick up a team that would be a good measuring stick for the team. Last year, none of us knew how good Iowa was because we had maybe 1 or 2 games we could actually measure our team against. Let's actually play an SEC team for once.

These MAC/FCS teams we play are just as detrimental to our schedule as ISU is.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

While Iowa State can be a waste of time, it would make more sense to drop the MAC/FCS perennial teams we play and pick up a team that would be a good measuring stick for the team. Last year, none of us knew how good Iowa was because we had maybe 1 or 2 games we could actually measure our team against. Let's actually play an SEC team for once.

These MAC/FCS teams we play are just as detrimental to our schedule as ISU is.

This, Iowa has to drop the FCS and MAC teams. I realize you want to "tune up" your team before the Big Ten grind, but there are plenty of other options out there. Why wouldn't Iowa play a lower tier Big East/ACC/PAC12/or AAC team? I mean at least get some decent teams in here with Power 5 connections. The MAC/Sun Belt/ and FCS is not a good option and you can see because none of those games ever sell out.

The Iowa State game is always a sell out and there is major $$ spent in Iowa City when those two schools meet. Heck even this year when ISU was terrible, they still brought tons of fans to the game.

 

[SoFla-Hawkeye]

I must be the only one that doesn't care about rankings...especially after the first 2 weeks.

I tend to agree with you, however there is no doubt in my mind that the preseason/early season rankings of the SEC teams benefit them later in the season. Even though many/most are overrated, once they begin in conference play folks claim "sure team x lost but team y was rated". When you only watch a couple of games on Saturday perception becomes reality.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

This, Iowa has to drop the FCS and MAC teams. I realize you want to "tune up" your team before the Big Ten grind, but there are plenty of other options out there. Why wouldn't Iowa play a lower tier Big East/ACC/PAC12/or AAC team? I mean at least get some decent teams in here with Power 5 connections. The MAC/Sun Belt/ and FCS is not a good option and you can see because none of those games ever sell out....

The Iowa State game is always a sell out and there is major $$ spent in Iowa City when those two schools meet. Heck even this year when ISU was terrible, they still brought tons of fans to the game.

So we can play a team towards the bottom of the aac or big east but not towards the bottom of the big 12? That makes little sense.

IF Iowa goes 13-0 they're going to the CFP...ISU or no ISU!
IF Iowa goes 11(12)-1 they are NOT going to the CFP....ISU or no ISU!
So, not sure what the big deal is.

 

[whatsup13579er]

Barta pretty much stated before Saturday's matchup that there is no inclination by either school to discontinue the series.

He also said he was very intrigued by the opening weekend games and looking into doing something like that. I think he probably sees the writing on the wall that this series can't continue in its current state. Maybe reduce it to 2 years on 2 years off or once every 4 years. Iowa State is no different than playing a G5 team. Iowa will get more credit for playing NDSU this season than they will ISU.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

So we can play a team towards the bottom of the aac or big east but not towards the bottom of the big 12? That makes little sense.

IF Iowa goes 13-0 they're going to the CFP...ISU or no ISU!
IF Iowa goes 11(12)-1 they are NOT going to the CFP....ISU or no ISU!
So, not sure what the big deal is.

Umm I was stating keep the ISU game and play some other Power 5 team. Playing the MAC/Sun Belt does nothing for Iowa.

 

[whatsup13579er]

This, Iowa has to drop the FCS and MAC teams. I realize you want to "tune up" your team before the Big Ten grind, but there are plenty of other options out there. Why wouldn't Iowa play a lower tier Big East/ACC/PAC12/or AAC team? I mean at least get some decent teams in here with Power 5 connections. The MAC/Sun Belt/ and FCS is not a good option and you can see because none of those games ever sell out.

The Iowa State game is always a sell out and there is major $$ spent in Iowa City when those two schools meet. Heck even this year when ISU was terrible, they still brought tons of fans to the game.

There was very little red in Kinnick and they gave tickets back. They didn't bring tons of fans to the game. They might have brought tons of fans to the bars and to tailgating but not to the game.

 

[whatsup13579er]

Umm I was stating keep the ISU game and play some other Power 5 team. Playing the MAC/Sun Belt does nothing for Iowa.

How are you going to keep 7 homes games with a 9 game conference schedule and the ISU series?

Edit: Iowa brings in $5 million just in ticket sales for every home game. How are you going to make up the revenue? Do neutral site games pay out enough to make it feasible financially?

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Playing the mac tune up makes sense from a financial perspective, a guaranteed home game every year.

Playing isu is the equivalent, at least at the level of their program, of playing a lower level mac team and going to their stadium every other year. Why give away one year's worth of home game revenue every other year to play a bad program when you can play the equivalent of that bad program in your own stadium every year?

Keep the guaranteed home game with a mac school, add a neutral site game with a competitive power 5 school.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

How are you going to keep 7 homes games with a 9 game conference schedule and the ISU series?

Edit: Iowa brings in $5 million just in ticket sales for every home game. How are you going to make up the revenue? Do neutral site games pay out enough to make it feasible financially?

Well a ticket every other year to Iowa/lsu, iowa/ok, iowa/fl etc SHOULD be at least 2x the cost of a ticket to Iowa/miami OH. TV money should be at least equal as well. I imagine commercial spots to an Iowa/FL game are gonna be a bit more money than to Iowa/nobody

 

[DutchyFunStar]

With the 9 game conference schedule there isn't room for a second power 5 team. In years with only 4 conference home games all OOC games will be home games. In the years with 5 conference home game there will be one OOC road game. So for the foreseeable future it is the home and home with ISU and two school not expecting a return visit.

 

[Recruiting Violation]

A quick scan of responses appears to show that no one has brought this up yet. We actually GAINED points in the Coaches Poll this week. In general, we were ranked higher by the average voting coach. What happened, though, is that through the way the polls are set up, other teams gained more points than we did. A part of that is due to a lot of variance in early ballots, which is now beginning to sort itself out.

It's highly unlikely any of the coaches voted us down this week. However, it's also unlikely we had many coaches vote us up very far either. Just like week 1, we were playing a low-profile team, and were expected to win. We gain points in that scenario by taking care of business and having other teams either under-perform or lose. It appears our next three games will likely be the same, as we're playing an FCS team then the bottom dweller of each of the B1G divisions (as it currently stands). If another team below us blows out a decent team (say Texas against Cal), then we may be leapfrogged again, even if some teams above us play poorly.

 

[whatsup13579er]

Well a ticket every other year to Iowa/lsu, iowa/ok, iowa/fl etc SHOULD be at least 2x the cost of a ticket to Iowa/miami OH. TV money should be at least equal as well. I imagine commercial spots to an Iowa/FL game are gonna be a bit more money than to Iowa/nobody

thatsnothowthisworks.jpeg

Iowa sells all of its tickets for the same price for every game. It is the secondary market that makes money from bigger games. TV contracts are set. The ESPNs of the world are the ones that make money from advertising.

A neutral site game would have to give Iowa a good enough deal to give up the revenue from a home game. Tickets, Parking, and Concessions would have to be split 3 ways in order for it to work. Iowa and Team X would have to come out close to what they would get for a home game and the Host would also have to come out ahead or they wouldn't open the doors. No one seems to be able to tell me if this is feasible or not. I don't know and am too lazy/busy to look it up.

 

[Recruiting Violation]

thatsnothowthisworks.jpeg

Iowa sells all of its tickets for the same price for every game. It is the secondary market that makes money from bigger games. TV contracts are set. The ESPNs of the world are the ones that make money from advertising.

A neutral site game would have to give Iowa a good enough deal to give up the revenue from a home game. Tickets, Parking, and Concessions would have to be split 3 ways in order for it to work. Iowa and Team X would have to come out close to what they would get for a home game and the Host would also have to come out ahead or they wouldn't open the doors. No one seems to be able to tell me if this is feasible or not. I don't know and am too lazy/busy to look it up.

This is wrong. Each game has its own price now, with higher profile games costing more. UW and UM are the highest at $85 each this year, with Miami and NDSU the lowest at $65. See the link if you would care to read more.

http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...ight-price-increase-kinnick-stadium/80411666/

 

[Kurt Warner]

I'm not for dropping it at all. It's good for the state and a lot of people love this game and really look forward to it. They would more than likely schedule a cream puff anyway so what good does it really do. We have a couple other non conference games if we want to add a tougher more well known team. That's my 2 cents.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

thatsnothowthisworks.jpeg

Iowa sells all of its tickets for the same price for every game. It is the secondary market that makes money from bigger games. TV contracts are set. The ESPNs of the world are the ones that make money from advertising.

A neutral site game would have to give Iowa a good enough deal to give up the revenue from a home game. Tickets, Parking, and Concessions would have to be split 3 ways in order for it to work. Iowa and Team X would have to come out close to what they would get for a home game and the Host would also have to come out ahead or they wouldn't open the doors. No one seems to be able to tell me if this is feasible or not. I don't know and am too lazy/busy to look it up.

as mentioned, pricing is not the same for tickets and could change even more. Hell OSU charges $195 for a ticket to the MI game!

I find it hard to belive that WI got paid the same they would if they had scheduled MiamiOh. Maybe you're right, but that doesn't seem correct. Obviously the schools don't sell the ads, but seems schools would get more for prime time games than BS games. I can't imagine that the IA/MiamiOh or NDSU game pays them the same as the night game against MI will or the Wiscy game. Maybe it does though...

 

[5Fan5]

This, Iowa has to drop the FCS and MAC teams. I realize you want to "tune up" your team before the Big Ten grind, but there are plenty of other options out there. Why wouldn't Iowa play a lower tier Big East/ACC/PAC12/or AAC team? I mean at least get some decent teams in here with Power 5 connections. The MAC/Sun Belt/ and FCS is not a good option and you can see because none of those games ever sell out.

The Iowa State game is always a sell out and there is major $$ spent in Iowa City when those two schools meet. Heck even this year when ISU was terrible, they still brought tons of fans to the game.

This is simply not accurate. On the one hand, Iowa has sold out games against other than Power 5 competition. Louisiana Monroe (2011), Tennessee Tech (2011), Ball State (2010), Eastern Illinois (2010), Florida International (2008), Maine (2008), Western Michigan (2007), Northern Illinois (2006) and Montana are all examples of such.

Also, the isu game has not always been a capacity crowd - for the record. The argument that isu fans spend more dollars than fans from other schools is also false. Do you think that more people from farther away might possibly stay longer (overnight) and look for food/dining and/or entertainment options than a program 140 miles away?

It is time to change from what has been the norm for far too long now. An occasional game versus isu is acceptable. Foregoing better opportunities just because some feel the game is 'good' for the State of Iowa is not.

 

[5Fan5]

So we can play a team towards the bottom of the aac or big east but not towards the bottom of the big 12? That makes little sense.

IF Iowa goes 13-0 they're going to the CFP...ISU or no ISU!
IF Iowa goes 11(12)-1 they are NOT going to the CFP....ISU or no ISU!
So, not sure what the big deal is.

There is no way to know with any degree of certainty that this is true. A loss to an isu team this year could have been a deal breaker at the end of the year. Wisconsin (similar to Iowa) losing to LSU would not prevent the Badgers from participating in the College Football Playoff given that Wisconsin wins the Big Ten Championship.

That is the big deal.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Umm I was stating keep the ISU game and play some other Power 5 team. Playing the MAC/Sun Belt does nothing for Iowa.

Every power 5 team plays least one sun belt, MAC or comparable type team. Look at sec non conference they have 4 games and only 1 team, Georgia is playing 2 power 5 teams this year meaning every other team including Alabama has 3 cup cake games scheduled.

My hope with new 9 game conference schedule and Fact isu game isn't going anywhere is every 4-5 years sacrifice 7th home game and try to play another power 5 team at neutral site like k state at arrowhead in 2000 or play at soldier field again against a power 5 team.

 

[njhawkz]

It does look like the feeling is mutual.... Lol

http://cyclonefanatic.com/forum/threads/stop-playing-iowa.220621/

 

[H4wkfan4life]

There is no way to know with any degree of certainty that this is true. A loss to an isu team this year could have been a deal breaker at the end of the year. Wisconsin (similar to Iowa) losing to LSU would not prevent the Badgers from participating in the College Football Playoff given that Wisconsin wins the Big Ten Championship.

That is the big deal.

IF Iowa wins out and takes the b1g championship, they're in the CFP....
IF Iowa loses to ISU....then who cares...they don't deserve to be considered that year imo!

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

as mentioned, pricing is not the same for tickets and could change even more. Hell OSU charges $195 for a ticket to the MI game!

I find it hard to belive that WI got paid the same they would if they had scheduled MiamiOh. Maybe you're right, but that doesn't seem correct. Obviously the schools don't sell the ads, but seems schools would get more for prime time games than BS games. I can't imagine that the IA/MiamiOh or NDSU game pays them the same as the night game against MI will or the Wiscy game. Maybe it does though...

I'm pretty sure the B10 negotiates rights to the games as a package deal, spanning years. Then the money is paid to the B10 who, in turn, doles it out to the teams equally. I don't think there is negotiation and/or payment on a per-game basis. I could be wrong on this, but that's the impression I've always gotten.

In addition, even if you find a way to play a neutral site game that covers the lost University revenue of a home game, there's the lost revenue to the entire city that should be considered. Businesses support the university who in turn generates revenue via the influx of fans for home games. I'm sure there would be plenty of local businesses that would not be happy at the thought of a season with only 6 home games.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I would favor a neutral site game vs another Power 5 team in Chicago, Kansas City, St Louis or even Indianapolis. Change it up a bit. I am a season ticket holder and I feel that I am paying for 3 games all season (Michigan, Nebbie, and Wisky). The rest of the schedule is ho hum and not worth my time. I have been able to give our tickets away, but every time I try and sell them no one wants to bite, especially the Miami Ohio and NDSU games.

My personal opinion is try to step up the competition and go out and find a decent opponent for that 3rd game. I am sorry but Iowa should not be playing MAC & FCS teams as your non-conference. You can play 1 but not both. A normal schedule should go:

MAC or FCS
Power 5
Power 5 dweller (@ISU or home)

Then the big ten slate.

 

[5Fan5]

IF Iowa wins out and takes the b1g championship, they're in the CFP....
IF Iowa loses to ISU....then who cares...they don't deserve to be considered that year imo!

Why move the goalposts now?

The reality is that Iowa has an opportunity to do what schools lacking an in-state foe are doing with great success - schedule and play a quality Power 5 team from one of the several regions around the country. Wisconsin - Alabama, Ohio State - Virginia Tech, Michigan - Colorado, Wisconsin - LSU, Minnesota - TCU, Michigan State - Oregon, Indiana - Missouri, Nebraska - Miami (FL).... the list is growing by the day. Why should Iowa even take a chance on missing out on some potentially electrifying opportunities because it has been the 'rule' to play only the team from Ames?

This is not the twentieth century anymore.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

I'm pretty sure the B10 negotiates rights to the games as a package deal, spanning years. Then the money is paid to the B10 who, in turn, doles it out to the teams equally. I don't think there is negotiation and/or payment on a per-game basis. I could be wrong on this, but that's the impression I've always gotten.

In addition, even if you find a way to play a neutral site game that covers the lost University revenue of a home game, there's the lost revenue to the entire city that should be considered. Businesses support the university who in turn generates revenue via the influx of fans for home games. I'm sure there would be plenty of local businesses that would not be happy at the thought of a season with only 6 home games.

I realize it might not help the businesses....but don't really care .
If you need a state organization to bring you customers....then you shouldn't be in business. Just my 2 cents
If tv money stays the same, then just jack up the ticket price! I wouldn't even spend gas money and time driving to go to an IA/Miamioh/ndsu game(if I was closer, then maybe)! I'd spend that time and gas just to go tailgate an IA/LSU/FL/etc game! And certainly pay over $100 for a ticket.

 

[Urohawk]

So we can play a team towards the bottom of the aac or big east but not towards the bottom of the big 12? That makes little sense.

IF Iowa goes 13-0 they're going to the CFP...ISU or no ISU!
IF Iowa goes 11(12)-1 they are NOT going to the CFP....ISU or no ISU!
So, not sure what the big deal is.

I agree with you in principle that playing crap teams from other conferences is equally is bad as playing ISU, but those teams often change and with them the perception of pollsters. Duke and UNC aren't bad anymore. Unfortunately, ISU has never been good. I would make it perfectly clear that I would play ISU any time over UNI (or other FCS school) and MAC schools.

I don't necessarily agree with your national championship analysis. Look what LSU did for Wisconsin. They catapulted from unranked to ranked #10. Lets create a scenario and assume LSU is not a fraud. Pretend Wiscy has a better than expected year and goes 11-1 with a close B10 loss to a highly ranked opponent....How about OSU? I think with the LSU victory and decisive B10 champion game (use beating OSU by 14) then they are in the national championship game.

Now lets change roles and have Iowa lose to Mich due to a fluke play and then replay Mich in the B10 title game and win handedly. All of a sudden you are wishing you had that marquee matchup with LSU on your record to get chosen for the playoff. Instead you have ISU, a MAC team, and a FCS team. It makes a difference in SOS. Especially important this year when we had such a poor strength of schedule last and it only upgraded slightly.

 

[mthawkeyes]

If Iowa loses 1 regular season game, but wins the West and the B1G CCG they would still have a good chance to make the CFB, just as MSU, Alabama, and Oklahoma did last year.

 

[championhawk]

This, Iowa has to drop the FCS and MAC teams. I realize you want to "tune up" your team before the Big Ten grind, but there are plenty of other options out there. Why wouldn't Iowa play a lower tier Big East/ACC/PAC12/or AAC team? I mean at least get some decent teams in here with Power 5 connections. The MAC/Sun Belt/ and FCS is not a good option and you can see because none of those games ever sell out.

The Iowa State game is always a sell out and there is major $$ spent in Iowa City when those two schools meet. Heck even this year when ISU was terrible, they still brought tons of fans to the game.

Were you even at the game? There were not tons of ISU fans. NW will bring about as many fans as Iowa State did. ND State will probably double the small Iowa State turn out.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

I would favor a neutral site game vs another Power 5 team in Chicago, Kansas City, St Louis or even Indianapolis. Change it up a bit. I am a season ticket holder and I feel that I am paying for 3 games all season (Michigan, Nebbie, and Wisky). The rest of the schedule is ho hum and not worth my time. I have been able to give our tickets away, but every time I try and sell them no one wants to bite, especially the Miami Ohio and NDSU games.

My personal opinion is try to step up the competition and go out and find a decent opponent for that 3rd game. I am sorry but Iowa should not be playing MAC & FCS teams as your non-conference. You can play 1 but not both. A normal schedule should go:

MAC or FCS
Power 5
Power 5 dweller (@ISU or home)

Then the big ten slate.

What is the positive in going to an NDSU/MiamiOH game? You either see a blow out and game with zero drama or a close game in which Iowa played like crap! Lose/lose imo.
Think of what games you get in next year season tickets. (you won't be seeing any of those teams). You get OSU and pedd state, that's about it!

 

[H4wkfan4life]

Why move the goalposts now?

The reality is that Iowa has an opportunity to do what schools lacking an in-state foe are doing with great success - schedule and play a quality Power 5 team from one of the several regions around the country. Wisconsin - Alabama, Ohio State - Virginia Tech, Michigan - Colorado, Wisconsin - LSU, Minnesota - TCU, Michigan State - Oregon, Indiana - Missouri, Nebraska - Miami (FL).... the list is growing by the day. Why should Iowa even take a chance on missing out on some potentially electrifying opportunities because it has been the 'rule' to play only the team from Ames?

This is not the twentieth century anymore.

I do agree....I don't agree with blaming it on the ISU game though!
I'd rather play ISU than NDSU or Miami Oh or north texas or any of the other nonsense....

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Were you even at the game? There were not tons of ISU fans. NW will bring about as many fans as Iowa State did. ND State will probably double the small Iowa State turn out.

Yeah I was and I thought there was a good crowd of ISU fans. Not as many as two years ago, but they brought a good contingent considering their first week result.

 

[5Fan5]

I would favor a neutral site game vs another Power 5 team in Chicago, Kansas City, St Louis or even Indianapolis. Change it up a bit. I am a season ticket holder and I feel that I am paying for 3 games all season (Michigan, Nebbie, and Wisky). The rest of the schedule is ho hum and not worth my time. I have been able to give our tickets away, but every time I try and sell them no one wants to bite, especially the Miami Ohio and NDSU games.

My personal opinion is try to step up the competition and go out and find a decent opponent for that 3rd game. I am sorry but Iowa should not be playing MAC & FCS teams as your non-conference. You can play 1 but not both. A normal schedule should go:

MAC or FCS
Power 5
Power 5 dweller

Then the big ten slate.

Most season ticket holders are proud to support the Hawks no matter whom the competition is. This idea that fans should only be there to watch the marquee games is absurd.

Stepping up the competition means finding the very best opportunity among the other teams from outside the Big Ten. At the present and for some time now, that has not been the lone team that Iowa faces from the big xii. There is no justification for hamstringing Iowa's ability to freely schedule in its own best interest each and every season. The current situation does not support that objective.

It has been explained too many times to recall why with a nine game conference slate and the obligatory isu game it is nearly impossible to schedule another home and away Power 5 program. It is time to focus entirely on what gives Iowa the maximum benefit and that does not include having one team from outside the Big Ten always on the schedule.

 

[SoDakHawk]

This is about growing the program. Iowa will not be able to recruit competitively with our peers if we continue scheduling the way we do. The ISU series must be dropped or reduced a bit. Your going head to head for a recruit against Wisconsin. The Badgers get to show them playing LSU at Lambeau and other high profile OOC games. Iowa gets to show them ISU. Think about that.

Due to the conference going to a 9 game schedule something is going to have to give. ISU is MAC level in prestige but we can buy a home game with MAC level teasm every single year. What should give is the ISU series so we can schedule some nice intersectional OOC games in order to expand our recruiting footprint and expand our brand. Unless ISU wants to take the place of the MAC school and play every single year in Kinnick, I would be fine in continuing under those terms. I doubt they would though.

The BIG has already said our conference schools need to stop scheduling FCS schools. They want to raise the profile of the conference. They have to because we are getting paid BIGTIME TV money. There needs to be marketable programming. Someone asked how Iowa can turn away the $5 million gate. Easy, the BIG is giving us $40 million extra in TV money. That's the price you pay. We need to upgrade our profile in scheduling and dropping ISU is probably the only way to do it because the terms of it give us very little wiggle room in scheduling.