Coach Kirk Ferentz sought to change the culture of his program after his team ended last season with three straight losses, including a 37-34 overtime defeat to the Cornhuskers. HC Mike Riley has had his bumps and bruises this season, and the Huskers will need this game to have a shot at a Bowl game.
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“Go Hawks!” That’s what you could hear loud and clear after the big Nebraska vs. Iowa game.
The Hawkeyes have much larger stakes.
Iowa’s defense stepped up in a big way following the score. The Hawkeyes have moved in to the fourth spot in the College Football Playoff Poll, and a win against Nebraska would solidify their chances at making the playoff. And without Nebraska having anyone else looming as a savior, Riley’s probably dancing with the one Pelini brought him. I know that Memorial Stadium is going to be rocking and I know that this is the flawless storm for the Huskers to salvage their season by wrecking Iowa’s.
“To some people who say we’re not good enough to go to a bowl, maybe they’re right”, Nebraska defensive end Jack Gangwish said, “but I’d sure like to go”.
It wasn’t easy. It never is with this Iowa football team. They are 42nd on offense and 28th on defense in the S&P+ rankings.
“You want to win every game – that’s your goal”, Ferentz said.
The game was tied 7-7 late in the first half when the Iowa defense made perhaps its biggest play of the game.
The Hawkeyes have a strong rushing attack, and running backs Jordan Canzeri and LeShun Daniels Jr. will get plenty of opportunities Friday.
Myles Gaskin rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns, Sidney Jones, Darren Gardenhire and Azeem Victor all returned turnovers for touchdowns in the second half and Washington became bowl eligible with a 45-10 win over No. 20 Washington State on Friday.
MI has had an outstanding first season under Jim Harbaugh’s watch, but they’re quarterbacked by Jake Rudock, who has 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions this season. It doesn’t matter who they play.
But those in the Husker camp say they’d be just as motivated if the Hawkeyes didn’t roll in here 11-0.
The real surprise for the Hawkeyes has been their passing attack.
Sam Foltz was called upon for the third time in the first half on NU’s following drive, but Desmond King muffed the returned and Mick Stoltenberg pounced on the ball at the Iowa 31 to setup the NU offense. VandeBerg has been his top receiver with 594 yards on a team-high 56 receptions. Defensive end Parker Hesse tipped an intended swing pass, caught it, and ran it four yards into the end zone to give the Hawkeyes a 14-7 lead. Except for the comeback at Iowa, Nebraska was getting worse in those spots past year and bottomed out this season until a 39-38 upset of Michigan State. Iowa doesn’t commit penalties and they rarely turn the ball over. “They came out in a different personnel group, and we didn’t cover down correctly on it. That’s on me, period”.
“Our objective was to win out”, Husker quarterback Tommy Armstrong said of the November mission. They took their 28-20 win over Nebraska, their sudden 12-0 record and their amazement at themselves, and they left for the road to Indianapolis, site of the Big Ten championship game next Saturday. Lincolns is a tough place for any opponent to play but they’ve lost at home to Northwestern, Wisconsin and BYU this season alone.
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“I’ve been a Hawkeye fan all my life”, Barb Wooff, fan, said.
