Start eight players on defense that have a total of one or less starts in their college careers. Start five players on offense that have a total of one or less starts in their college careers. -
Alec Lasley • TheHoosier
Senior Writer
Indiana sets out on its 2021 campaign on Sept 4 against No. 18 Iowa -- a test of two tanked teams.
The Hoosiers come in with high expectations and will not only face a tough test early on, will also do so on the road in a tough place to play.
Indiana has not won at Iowa since 2007 and has lost its last three in Iowa City.
The Hoosiers enter the 2021 season ranked No. 17 in the AP top 25 preseason poll and are ranked in the AP and USA Today polls for the first time since 1969.
Here is an early look at what you need to know about the Iowa Hawkeyes football program.
Indiana travels to Iowa in a top-25 showdown to start the 2021 season. (John Schultz)
- Iowa averaged 31.8 points per game in 2020, its highest total since 2002 (36.5).
- Iowa won six straight Big Ten games last year for the fifth time in the last 30 years (2020, 2015, 2008, 2004, 1991).
- Iowa has played 22 straight games without giving up 25 points, the longest streak in the nation among Power 5 teams.
- The Hawkeyes ranked first in the country last year in defensive yards per play (4.3) and second in the Big Ten in total defense (313.8) and scoring defense (16.0).
- Start eight players on defense that have a total of one or less starts in their college careers. Start five players on offense that have a total of one or less starts in their college careers.
- Iowa finished the 2020 season ranked No. 15 in the coaches poll and No. 16 in the AP Poll.
- The Hawkeyes are 24-10-3 all-time and have won three straight against the Hoosiers in Iowa City.
- The Hoosiers last win in Iowa City was a 38-20 victory in 2007.
The East stronger than West mantra seems elevated when you read about Indiana in The Athletic and elsewhere heading into this showdown.
For example Andy Staples wrote:
But there are a few players who can help the Hoosiers break through that ceiling. And Penix is the key. “He has enough toughness where he’ll actually stand in there and deliver the damn ball and not stare at the rush,” one coach said. The receivers, particularly Fryfogle, also rise above the “developmental program” tag. This coach pointed to Indiana’s game against Ohio State, where the players in the secondary have NFL talent. “They made plays against those guys,” the coach said. “Their receivers can make plays versus anyone they’re playing against. … They do a good job of making sure they target their best players. They don’t necessarily think about plays. They think about players.” The downside of Penix learning to handle pressure better is he learned it because he faced so much pressure. “Oh yeah,” a coach said. “You can get to him.”
Defensively, the Hoosiers’ experience shines through. “This is not a team that’s a year and a half or two years in the making,” a coach said. “(Allen) has been building that thing for a little bit now. Defensively, their system is in place. They don’t screw up a lot. They know their run fits. They don’t make a lot of unforced errors.”
A coach said Indiana does not fall into the same trap as other developmental programs in terms of recruiting body types. The ready-made athletes who perfectly fit the mold for certain positions (particularly along the line) typically sign with elite programs. Many of the programs that can’t sign such athletes favor traits over body type because those players are easier to plug in quickly. Indiana, this coach said, is not afraid to sign a player who has the right body type and try to take the time to develop him athletically. “They’ve done a good job of not recruiting a lot of undersized players,” the coach said. “They look competitive. They have the bodies. They have the frames.”
Playing in the East one is allowed to give up more yardage. After all, East is superior to West.
Iowa did have more impressive scores over Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin compared to IU.
When it comes to East over West ....
No, Ohio State is superior to all teams not nicknamed the Buckeyes in the Big Ten.
Alec Lasley • TheHoosier
Senior Writer
Indiana sets out on its 2021 campaign on Sept 4 against No. 18 Iowa -- a test of two tanked teams.
The Hoosiers come in with high expectations and will not only face a tough test early on, will also do so on the road in a tough place to play.
Indiana has not won at Iowa since 2007 and has lost its last three in Iowa City.
The Hoosiers enter the 2021 season ranked No. 17 in the AP top 25 preseason poll and are ranked in the AP and USA Today polls for the first time since 1969.
Here is an early look at what you need to know about the Iowa Hawkeyes football program.
Indiana travels to Iowa in a top-25 showdown to start the 2021 season. (John Schultz)
Key Stats:
- Iowa won its final six games in 2020, outscoring opponents 214-83. Iowa averaged 35.7 points per game and allowed just 13.8 ppg during that span.- Iowa averaged 31.8 points per game in 2020, its highest total since 2002 (36.5).
- Iowa won six straight Big Ten games last year for the fifth time in the last 30 years (2020, 2015, 2008, 2004, 1991).
- Iowa has played 22 straight games without giving up 25 points, the longest streak in the nation among Power 5 teams.
- The Hawkeyes ranked first in the country last year in defensive yards per play (4.3) and second in the Big Ten in total defense (313.8) and scoring defense (16.0).
- Start eight players on defense that have a total of one or less starts in their college careers. Start five players on offense that have a total of one or less starts in their college careers.
Key Notes:
-The Hawkeyes open the 2021 season ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll - the third straight season being ranked in the AP top 25 preseason poll.- Iowa finished the 2020 season ranked No. 15 in the coaches poll and No. 16 in the AP Poll.
- The Hawkeyes are 24-10-3 all-time and have won three straight against the Hoosiers in Iowa City.
- The Hoosiers last win in Iowa City was a 38-20 victory in 2007.
The East stronger than West mantra seems elevated when you read about Indiana in The Athletic and elsewhere heading into this showdown.
For example Andy Staples wrote:
But there are a few players who can help the Hoosiers break through that ceiling. And Penix is the key. “He has enough toughness where he’ll actually stand in there and deliver the damn ball and not stare at the rush,” one coach said. The receivers, particularly Fryfogle, also rise above the “developmental program” tag. This coach pointed to Indiana’s game against Ohio State, where the players in the secondary have NFL talent. “They made plays against those guys,” the coach said. “Their receivers can make plays versus anyone they’re playing against. … They do a good job of making sure they target their best players. They don’t necessarily think about plays. They think about players.” The downside of Penix learning to handle pressure better is he learned it because he faced so much pressure. “Oh yeah,” a coach said. “You can get to him.”
Defensively, the Hoosiers’ experience shines through. “This is not a team that’s a year and a half or two years in the making,” a coach said. “(Allen) has been building that thing for a little bit now. Defensively, their system is in place. They don’t screw up a lot. They know their run fits. They don’t make a lot of unforced errors.”
A coach said Indiana does not fall into the same trap as other developmental programs in terms of recruiting body types. The ready-made athletes who perfectly fit the mold for certain positions (particularly along the line) typically sign with elite programs. Many of the programs that can’t sign such athletes favor traits over body type because those players are easier to plug in quickly. Indiana, this coach said, is not afraid to sign a player who has the right body type and try to take the time to develop him athletically. “They’ve done a good job of not recruiting a lot of undersized players,” the coach said. “They look competitive. They have the bodies. They have the frames.”
Playing in the East one is allowed to give up more yardage. After all, East is superior to West.
Iowa did have more impressive scores over Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin compared to IU.
When it comes to East over West ....
No, Ohio State is superior to all teams not nicknamed the Buckeyes in the Big Ten.
