For anyone who thinks that the Iowa Hawkeyes, one of the best football teams in Iowa, will roll over and play dead on Saturday evening when they face the #7-ranked Penn State, let’s remember that the last time the two teams met at the Pennsylvania State campus, the Nittany Lions got annihilated 41-21. Sure, this was three years ago in an empty stadium, but a win is a win and a loss is a loss.
As the #24 ranked Hawkeyes travel to Happy Valley only one team will leave with a blemish on their respective 3-0 record. In a battle between two of the best defensive teams in the FBS, both the Hawkeyes and the Nittany Lions are also capable of putting some major points up on the board.
Bet on Iowa sports with ClutchBuzz betting bonuses.
3 for 3
The Hawkeyes opened the season with a ten-point victory over the Utah State Aggies. Although the score made the game seem closer than it actually was, there was little doubt who was going to walk away victorious as Iowa opened up the scoring less than a minute into the game and never looked back.
Week two saw the Hawkeyes hold off their in-state rival Iowa State Cyclones by a touchdown.
While nobody will mistake the Western Michigan Broncos for a powerhouse football team, the lopsided 41-10 Hawkeyes victory served as a wakeup call as the visiting team actually held the lead late in the first half. Not wanting to be embarrassed in front of their home crowd at Kinnick Stadium, the Hawkeyes dominated the second half, holding their opponent scoreless for the final two quarters.
Here is everything you need to know on how to bet on football in Iowa.
Wide Open Spaces. @LboogieG x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/10FAQI03Mg
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 17, 2023
Beating State Rivals
Leave it to former president Donald Trump to take over a college football rivalry game. As the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones were preparing to take the field at Jack Trice Stadium, Trump supporters made their voices heard as he poked his head out of his private suite. But let’s focus on more important things.
Trump is booed loudly at Iowa/Iowa State football game. pic.twitter.com/0KyxqN6TED
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) September 9, 2023
As the fourth most viewed college game of the week, averaging 3.38 million viewers, the Hawkeyes jumped out to a 17-3 halftime lead. Although they managed to hold off a Cyclones comeback, the lack of second-half scoring proved to be a bit concerning as the Hawkeyes managed just a single field goal throughout the third and fourth quarters.
Playing just his second game with the Hawkeyes after transferring from Michigan, quarterback Cade McNamara is still working his way back to full health, but fans can see the promise is there from the senior QB1.
Although the Cyclones had beaten the Hawkeyes 10-7 last season, Iowa still holds a 47-23 series lead over their in-state rivals.
GENOOO 🚫✈️@GenoStone22 x #NFLHawks
📺 #BALvsCIN on CBS
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 17, 2023
Big Ten Conference – How Far Can The Hawkeyes Go?
The cream of the crop in the Big Ten remains Ohio State and Michigan. Or Michigan and Ohio State. Then there is Penn State who has an outside shot at upsetting either the Buckeyes or Wolverines for the top spot in the conference. After that, the field is open for a team like the Hawkeyes. It’s not unrealistic to think that Iowa cannot improve on an 8-5 / 5-4 record.
Even with the additions of Michigan’s McNamara and tight end Erick All as well as former Buckeye blue-chip recruit wide-receiver Kaleb Brown, Iowa’s offense doesn’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. Look for junior Leshon Williams and freshman Jaziun Patterson to lead the team in rushing yards while sophomore wide receiver Seth Anderson joins All to make up for any lost receiving stats that come from tight end Luke Lachey being out of action for an indefinite amount of time with a significant right leg injury. Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz is on the hot seat for a team that has struggled to get the ball into the house.
The Hawkeyes defense on the other hand is among the best in all of college football and is their calling card to competing for a trip to the Big Ten Championship for the second time in three seasons. The addition of senior linebacker transfer Nick Jackson to a defensive unit that includes Cooper DeJean, Deontae Craig, and young star Xavier Nwankpa will make defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s job that much easier.
Eyes Forward.#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/ERKQqRIPbQ
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 18, 2023
Penn State Matchup
The early season matchup with the Nittany Lions will show whether the Hawkeyes are contenders or pretenders in the Big Ten Conference. Penn State enters the game at Beaver Stadium as a two-touchdown favorite in the annual “White Out” game and holds a 17-14 lead in the head-to-head matchup.
If the Hawkeyes can tune out the sold-out crowd, build off of their offensive output last weekend, and lock in on their defense, they may be able to pull off an upset, take over the top spot in the Big Ten West, and launch themselves into a top fifteen ranking.
B1G Opener.
Prime Time.
CBS.#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/roKkKk6kxC— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 19, 2023
