Iowa
Iowa Is Headed to the Big Ten Championship. Is There Any Way They Can Win It?
As unbelievable as it may sound, the Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2023 Big Ten West champions and are one victory away from winning the conferene for the first time since 2004. Iowa had to overcome a seemingly insurmountable set of hurdles to claim the division crown: a preseason gambling scandal; long-term injuries to several of the team’s key players; and the de facto firing of offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz with four games remaining in the regular season. While any of these challenges might have been enough to derail the Hawkeyes, their ability to weather this adversity has set them up with an opportunity to achieve the goals the team set out with at the start of the season.
Iowa’s opponent in the Big Ten Championship will be the winner of the Michigan vs. Ohio State game, though both opponents will pose a significant challenge to the Hawkeyes. Both teams have defenses of similar caliber to Iowa’s; while the Hawkeyes rank third in the FBS in scoring defense and are allowing only 12.4 points per game, Michigan (9.0) and Ohio State (9.3) rank first and second in that metric respectively. Meanwhile, Iowa is scoring 18.5 points per game; only nine teams are putting up fewer points than the Hawkeyes. Given that Michigan and Ohio State have held much, MUCH better offenses than Iowa’s to fewer than ten points per game, it is difficult to imagine Iowa being able to score in double digits against one of these elite defenses. Unlike Iowa, however, Michigan and Ohio State are both averaging over 30 points per game (38.3 for the Wolverines and 33.6 for the Buckeyes), so it is also no guarantee that the Iowa defense can shut down the opposing offense the way the have for almost the entirety of the year. Add in the fact that both Michigan and Ohio State each defeated a Penn State squad that humiliated Iowa in a 31-0 beatdown in Week 4, and there are plenty of reasons to be pessimistic about Iowa’s chances of beating either team in Indianapolis.
What would it take for the Hawkeyes to pull out victory over Michigan or Ohio State and win the Stagg Championship Trophy? Obviously, the Hawkeyes getting all of their injured players back and adopting a completely new offensive system would give Iowa a strong chance of victory, but is there anything in the realm of reality that would help the team claim victory over their heavily favored opponents? As unlikely as an Iowa victory in the championship game may be, there are a few scenarios which would help improve the Hawkeye’s chances to claim the conference crown.
1. Dominate the turnover battle. Iowa has won nine games so far this year despite posting a -3 turnover margin, but it’s difficult to imagine the Hawkeyes being able to get away with giving the ball up against teams that can score as often and efficiently as the Buckeyes and Wolverines can. Iowa’s four turnovers against Penn State created easy scoring opportunities for the Nittany Lions and forced the Hawkeye defense to stay on the field for 97 plays, and Iowa cannot afford to give their opponents the same luxury in this game. Similarly, Iowa must seize every opportunity to create turnovers their opponents give them. Iowa had a whopping 13 pass breakups against Illinois, but no interceptions despite several catchable balls being thrown in the direction of the Hawkeye defense. If the Buckeyes or Wolverines make reckless plays with the football against the Hawkeyes, Iowa must capitalize to create short fields for their offense and opportunities for their defense to score outright.
2. Empty the playbook on offense. Iowa’s offense has shown improvement over the past two weeks, especially in their 22-point, 402-yard performance against a Rutgers team that is ranked in the top 25 nationally in scoring defense. However, given Iowa’s athletic, skill, and consistency deficit on offense relative to their potential championship game opponents, it is tough to believe Iowa can run their normal offense and still move the ball and score with any regularity. While the Hawkeyes cannot change their entire offensive scheme between now and December 2nd, Iowa can use this remaining time to develop creative plays to potentially catch their opponents off guard. Iowa’s offense is nothing if not predictable, but they did manage to fool Michigan’s defense with a halfback pass play in the championship game two years ago that was a few inches away from resulting in a touchdown. Whatever gadget plays or creative wrinkles Brian Ferentz has in the dusty recesses of his playbook, the championship game is the time to put them into action for Iowa to have any hope of moving the ball. Similarly, if LeVar Woods can dial up a fake field goal or punt play that can extend a drive or steal points from their opponents, it may be worth the Hawkeyes sacrificing an opportunity for a Tory Taylor coffin corner punt or a Drew Stevens field goal to try and shift the momentum of the game. Playing the field position game has gotten Iowa to the championship game, but the Hawkeyes will likely have to roll the dice successfully a few times if they hope to have a real shot at winning it.
3. Ride the Kalebs as much as possible. Running back Kaleb Johnson and wide receiver Kaleb Brown have emerged as two of Iowa’s most dynamic players on offense, though both have been used inconsistently throughout the season. Johnson has led the team in yards per carry each of the past two games but has been consistently out-touched by Leshon Williams and had a similar carry split to Jaziun Patterson, and was not used at all in Iowa’s win over Northwestern. While Williams and Patterson are good backs who deserve a role in the Hawkeye offense, Johnson remains Iowa’s most capable big-play threat on the ground and needs to be in for more than the 15 snaps he saw against Illinois for Iowa to have a chance to keep pace with the Buckeyes or Wolverines. Similarly, Kaleb Brown’s usage cannot tail off in the championship game and should ideally be at or above the six touches he has averaged over Iowa’s past two contests. Whether Brown is catching the ball, taking handoff on a jet sweep, or even receiving a direct snap (something Iowa has occasionally experimented with using their more dynamic skill players), Brown has shown that he has the athleticism to move the chains and create big plays for an Iowa offense that is sorely lacking in explosiveness. The more opportunities Iowa can scheme up to get the Kalebs the ball in space, the better their chances of moving the ball against the elite defense they will face in Indy.
4. Get healthy and stay healthy. While Cade McNamara, Erick All, Luke Lachey, and Cooper DeJean aren’t expected to make it back in time for the conference championship game, Iowa does have several key players dealing with injuries who could improve their team’s chances for victory if they were at full strength, including wide receiver Diante Vines, cornerback TJ Hall, and most of the offensive line. Given that Iowa has clinched the West, there is a case to be made for the Hawkeyes resting all their players who are dealing with lingering injuries in Friday’s game against Nebraska to give them more time to heal in preparation for the conference championship, even if doing so decreases Iowa’s chances for victory. Kirk Ferentz is unlikely to adopt this strategy, especially with an opportunity to claim revenge on Nebraska and retrieve the Heroes Trophy on the line. However, given that winning the Big Ten remains the team’s ultimate goal, Iowa would be wise to do everything it can to minimize the chances of injury to key contributors this week and give the players that are currently banged up an opportunity to recover if at all possible. If Iowa can get a comfortable lead over Nebraska early, don’t be surprised to see Kirk put the backups in earlier than fans are used to seeing.
5. Find a way to take the pressure off Iowa’s offensive tackles. While the performance of Mason Richman and Gennings Dunker has been an improvement over the tackle play from recent seasons, Iowa has still struggled throughout much of the year at protecting the quarterback from edge rushers. Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson only recorded one sack against Iowa this season, but he practically lived in the Hawkeye backfield and created so much pressure with his pass rush that Cade McNamara was unable to go through his progressions and find open receivers downfield. Both Michigan and Ohio State have defensive ends and outside linebackers who could similarly challenge the pass protection skills of Iowa’s tackles, which would make things complicated for quarterback Deacon Hill given his lack of mobility and tendency to hold onto the ball too long in the pocket. Unless Iowa’s tackles can consistently hold up against edge pressure, Iowa may need to use running backs and tight ends to assist in pass protection more often than they are used to or continue to roll Deacon Hill out of the pocket the way they have successfully done in recent weeks.
6. Shore up the secondary. The loss of Cooper DeJean deprived Iowa of a lockdown cornerback with the speed and athleticism to run step-for-step with the likes of Roman Wilson or Marvin Harrison Jr. and the cover skills to force opposing quarterbacks to make elite throws to complete routine passes against him. With DeJean injured, junior Jermari Harris, freshman Deshaun Lee, and sophomore TJ Hall will have to prove they can lock down the type of top-flight receivers they will face when matching up against Ohio State or Michigan. Harris has had his share of struggles in coverage this year but had arguably his best game as a Hawkeye against Illinois, breaking up four passes and doing his part to hold a solid receiving corps in check. Deshaun Lee, meanwhile, was regularly targeted by Illinois and gave up several catches to Isaiah Williams, a player who is of similar caliber to the receivers he will be asked to cover in Indianapolis. Whether Lee and TJ Hall can learn from their past struggles covering top-tier wideouts (Hall’s struggles covering Nebraska’s Trey Palmer last year as a freshman are well documented) and help contain the opposing passing games will play a huge role in determining whether Iowa has a chance to keep this game competitive. Both young players have the talent to be future stars in this defense, and Iowa needs Phil Parker to bring that potential out of them sooner rather than later.
7. Hit the opposing quarterback early and often (albeit legally). Injuries are the worst part of the game of football, and nobody should ever hope for or intentionally try to inflict serious damage on an opposing player. It is also true that Iowa’s chances of winning the Big Ten championship would increase dramatically if its defense managed to either knock the opposing starting quarterback out of the game or hit him hard enough to make him wary of standing in the pocket long enough to continue taking damage from Iowa’s defense. This is not a prescriptive gameplan, and it would be neither strategic nor moral for Iowa to try to incapacitate the opposing quarterback. But in listing scenarios that could potentially lead to an Iowa victory, it would also be disingenuous not to include it.
8. Benefiting from inside information. No, I don’t mean that Iowa should film its potential championship opponents and try to steal their signals (though if Michigan’s allegations against the Buckeyes are true, Ohio State may be willing to volunteer their intel on the Wolverines should they end up losing next weekend). However, Iowa has players on their roster who suited up for both Michigan and Ohio State last year and could potentially give the Hawkeyes some insights about what to expect from their opponents. This is particularly true of Michigan, whose former starting quarterback and tight end are currently members of the Iowa football team. Any insights these players can provide about their former team’s tendencies, vulnerabilities, or ways to get under their opponent’s skin could prove beneficial to Iowa in a game where the Hawkeyes can use all the help they can get. Cade McNamara and Erick All may not be able to suit up due to their injuries, but perhaps they can find a way to give their teammates an edge in this game should the Wolverines manage to punch their ticket to Indianapolis?
The chances of Iowa beating either Michigan or Ohio State and winning the Big Ten title are extremely low, and all eight of the scenarios listed above coming to fruition still might not be enough to bring home the championship. However, if Iowa’s bizarre path to Indianapolis has shown the college football world anything, it’s that this Hawkeye squad is capable of achievements that seem far beyond the realm or reason. In a campaign full of statistical anomalies and unexplainable results, why not one more shocking twist to confound the pundits and make the entire sport shake their head and wonder what kind of black magic Kirk Ferentz is practicing in Iowa City to keep this team winning the way they are? At this point, doing something unexplainable may be the most predictable thing Iowa’s football team can do.
Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht believes the Cyclones have yet to hit their peak during their best start in 86 years.
Carson Hansen rushed for three scores, Becht threw a touchdown pass and No. 11 Iowa State beat West Virginia 28-16 on Saturday night.
The Cyclones (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) opened the season with six wins for the first time since 1938.
“I feel like we haven’t even played our best game yet as a whole — special teams, defense, and offense,” Becht said. The goal is “finding ways to get better each and every single week, and our mindset is just 0-0 and trying to win that next game.”
Iowa State forged a first-place tie in the league with BYU and idle Texas Tech.
The Cyclones broke open a close game by scoring two touchdowns after intercepting West Virginia’s Garrett Greene in the second half.
Becht found Eli Green on passes of 12 and 34 yards on consecutive plays to set up the Cyclones at the West Virginia 17. A third-down holding call on West Virginia cornerback Ayden Garnes gave Iowa State first-and-goal at the 3, and Hansen scored on the next play for a 21-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Jontez Williams made his third interception of the season on West Virginia’s next drive, and Iowa State took over at the Mountaineers’ 34. Hansen ran for 20 yards on the ensuing drive, capped by his 2-yard scoring run for a 28-10 lead with 4:42 left.
Hansen, a sophomore who also scored on an 11-yard run in the second quarter, finished with 96 rushing yards, one shy of the career high he set last week against Baylor. He ran for a total of 67 yards during an injury-filled freshman season.
“For him to consistently play the way he has the last couple of weeks, it’s awesome to watch,” Becht said.
West Virginia (3-3, 2-1) was held to 148 rushing yards against the league’s top defense after amassing 389 yards on the ground a week ago at Oklahoma State. The Mountaineers were hurt by several high snaps that threw off their timing and runs parallel to the line of scrimmage that lost yardage.
“In the second half, when it was winning time, we didn’t win,” said West Virginia coach Neal Brown. “We struggled to get into a rhythm.”
Becht completed 18 of 26 passes for 265 yards, including a 60-yard scoring toss to Jaylin Noel in blown coverage in the second quarter.
Becht’s father, Anthony, was honored on the field after the first quarter for his induction into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He played tight end for the Mountaineers from 1996-99 and 11 seasons in the NFL.
“You couldn’t ask for a greater night for his family,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said.
Rocco Becht said he wished he could have been there with his dad, “but I had bigger things going on trying to win this game.”
Jahiem White had an 8-yard scoring run and a 10-yard TD catch for West Virginia. Greene finished 18 of 32 for 206 yards.
Iowa State: The Cyclones answered the challenge on both sides of the ball in winning their seventh straight road game. Becht played smart and efficient, and the nation’s sixth-best scoring defense was stout again.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers many too many mistakes at key times and now have lost eight consecutive games to ranked opponents.
Iowa State might have a tough time moving up when the AP poll comes out on Sunday. The Cyclones were tied at No. 11 with Notre Dame, which beat Stanford 49-7.
Iowa State: Hosts UCF on Saturday night.
West Virginia: Hosts No. 18 Kansas State on Saturday night.
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Iowa
Iowa football isn’t always pretty, but because of Kirk Ferentz, it has punched above its weight class
IOWA CITY, Iowa — In unseasonably warm air and beneath a blueish haze over Kinnick Stadium, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz took a moment to himself with two minutes left and his team wrapping up a 40-16 win against Washington.
Ferentz stood apart from his team on the sideline with his headset on as his offense huddled during the media timeout. On the video board, his picture appeared. Public address announcer Mark Abbott relayed that Ferentz was about to win his 200th game as Iowa’s head coach, passing Amos Alonzo Stagg for second in Big Ten history. The crowd stood and applauded, and Ferentz acknowledged them with a wave.
GO DEEPER
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz earns 200th career win as Big Ten coach
Tight end Luke Lachey gave him a hug, as did running back Kaleb Johnson. Backup quarterback Marco Lainez III shook his hand. With 33 seconds left, Ferentz walked to the TigerHawk at midfield, shook hands with Washington counterpart Jedd Fisch and completed an interview with Fox Sports. More subdued than emotional, Ferentz jogged off the playing surface, up the tunnel and into Iowa’s locker room where his players welcomed him with a water bottle shower.
Sunshine and 70-degree days — literally or figuratively — rarely have followed Ferentz into October in his coaching career, so the picturesque autumn setting was abnormal for college football’s longest-tenured coach. However, how Ferentz and the Hawkeyes responded to a 35-7 loss to Ohio State last week went entirely by script.
There are two defining characteristics through the highs and lows of Ferentz’s 26 years at Iowa: One, his players trust him and believe in him. The other truth is, no football coach — thus, no program — responds better to adversity than Ferentz and his Hawkeyes.
Ferentz’s entire career has revolved around continual improvement. And Iowa has gone very far following Ferentz’s ethos.
“He’s the same person every day,” said left tackle Mason Richman, who is in his fifth season. “He brings the same exact energies. You know exactly what to expect from him, no matter what the scoreboard says.”
Iowa rarely recruits five-star players and mostly signs three-star prospects. Only once in his career did Iowa finish in the top 15 in national recruiting, and that was in 2005. The Hawkeyes are a low-offer program because they heavily research character in recruiting. They want high achievers with good grades who were team captains in multiple sports. To Ferentz and his staff, those players invest themselves and improve others.
“I feel like we recruit the type of the right type of guys,” Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins said. “We just don’t have selfish guys in the locker room. So when you have good guys who understand what a team should look like, and then you also have a good leader, it’s easy to stand together. I just think this team, this program, anytime there’s adversity, we only get closer.”
Those types of players are built to handle challenges, and Iowa continues to have the right coach to navigate them through it. The examples in Ferentz’s era abound.
• In 2016, the Hawkeyes gave up 599 yards in a 41-14 massacre at eventual Big Ten champion Penn State. As a three-touchdown home underdog to No. 2 Michigan the following week, Iowa bounced back with a stunning 14-13 upset.
• Sitting at the midpoint of the 2008 season, Iowa was 15-16 over 2 1/2 seasons. Ferentz never wavered, and neither did his team. The Hawkeyes won their final four games to end that season, and then their first nine in 2009. They finished with their highest final ranking (No. 7) since 1960.
• In 2014, Iowa continued a slope of mediocrity by losing all four rivalry trophy games and finishing 7-6. The next year, dubbed “New Kirk,” Ferentz switched practices from afternoon to morning and became much more open in the public. The players responded in 2015 with a spirit of togetherness, leading to a school-record 12 wins. From that year onward, Iowa ranks tied for 10th among power-conference teams in victories.
• Two years ago, Iowa’s offense was among the nation’s worst in every category. After a 7-3 season-opening win against South Dakota State in which the Hawkeyes scored on two safeties and a field goal, linebacker Jack Campbell shot down any question that dealt with division. Campbell’s attitude set the tone for that season and it carried over to 2023, in which Iowa’s offense posted the Big Ten’s worst statistical numbers in nearly 40 years. Yet there was no sniping, let alone dissension. The team eventually claimed the Big Ten West Division crown.
• In 2004, Iowa started 2-2, including a 44-7 loss at Arizona State. Despite losing four scholarship running backs to injury, the Hawkeyes held it together with defense mixed with an occasional highlight-reel play. The Hawkeyes won their final eight games, claimed a share of the Big Ten title and won the Capital One Bowl with a 56-yard touchdown pass on the game’s final play.
That 2004 team was honored Saturday before the second quarter to rousing applause. One of its stars, defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, was Iowa’s honorary captain on Saturday. It was a team molded by adversity, and it charted an unconventional path of success. It even took a safety midway through the fourth quarter against Penn State in a 6-4 win. Ferentz gave the eulogy at his father’s funeral in Pittsburgh the day before that game.
Most teams would have crumbled in any of those situations, but Iowa never did.
Why? Ferentz.
“It’s definitely his leadership,” Higgins said. “He truly only cares about the guys in the locker room. When you’ve got a guy like that thinking you’re able to respond, it’s nice. He’s not gonna freak out. Doesn’t matter what the headline is. He’s not gonna come to the meeting room and read off the headlines. He keeps his voice, and we all respond off him. If he’s calm and he knows that we need to respond after a bad game or a tough situation, we’re all going to follow that.”
None of those anecdotes mean Ferentz is perfect. Far from it. Critiques are plentiful about his son, Brian, running his offense for seven years, especially when the final three were so rough. Brian remained in place until university president Barbara Wilson and athletic director Beth Goetz stepped in and dismissed him following the 2023 season. Other complaints about Ferentz’s game-day decision making are fair.
And in 2020, dozens of former players accused the program of racial insensitivity and bias, which was confirmed through an independent investigation. Instead of resisting necessary changes or stepping down, Ferentz opted for a new course. He accepted responsibility and sought counsel from former players, relieved longtime strength coach Chris Doyle and extended a leadership council to include more voices. Many arbitrary rules such as not using X or wearing hoodies in the football complex were vacated. Although some feel the changes didn’t go far enough — while others believed they went too far — there’s no doubt the program has become more welcoming to all players. Its attrition rate is among the lowest in the Big Ten, and it has won the third most games in the Big Ten since that season.
With Ferentz’s guidance, Iowa has punched well above its weight class.
Its recruiting rankings are closer to those of Illinois and Purdue than Michigan and Penn State, yet the Hawkeyes’ results are closer to the latter. Iowa finds ways to win where its peers fall short. It’s not always pretty and perhaps it won’t ever win the ultimate prize. But that Iowa remains anywhere near the College Football Playoff rankings most years is a credit to Ferentz.
“I appreciate him how much this program means to him,” Richman said. “When you get an appreciation like that, you’re less stressed out. With him at the helm, this place has a really special place in my heart and the hearts of many across the entire state.”
(Top photo of Kirk Ferentz: Matthew Holst / Getty Images)
Iowa
What channel is Iowa State vs. West Virginia game tonight (10/12/24)? FREE LIVE STREAM, Time, TV, Channel for college football, Week 7
The No. 11 Iowa State Cyclones, led by quarterback Rocco Becht, face the West Virginia Mountaineers, led by quarterback Garrett Greene on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 (10/12/24) at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, W. Va.
How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of DirecTV Stream or fuboTV. You can also watch via a subscription to Sling TV.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: NCAA Football, Week 7
Who: Iowa State vs. West Virginia
When: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024
Where: Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Live stream: fuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial)
***
Here are the best streaming options for college football this season:
Fubo TV (free trial): fuboTV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS.
DirecTV Stream (free trial): DirecTV Stream carries ESPN, FOX, NBC and CBS.
Sling TV ($25 off the first month)– Sling TV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC and NBC.
ESPN+($9.99 a month): ESPN+ carries college football games each weekend for only $9.99 a month. These games are exclusive to the platform.
Peacock TV ($5.99 a month): Peacock will simulstream all of NBC Sports’ college football games airing on the NBC broadcast network this season, including Big Ten Saturday Night. Peacock will also stream Notre Dame home games. Certain games will be streamed exclusively on Peacock this year as well.
Paramount+ (free trial): Paramount Plus will live stream college football games airing on CBS this year.
***
Here’s a preview capsule via the Associated Press:
No. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) at West Virginia (3-2, 2-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (Fox)
BetMGM College Football Odds: Iowa State by 3.
Series record: West Virginia leads 6-5.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Iowa State is off to its best start since 1980, and a win would make them 6-0 for the first time since 1938. The Cyclones are looking to extend their road winning streak to seven games. West Virginia is going after its third straight win after a 1-2 start. Iowa State and West Virginia are 2-0 in conference play. One of them will forge a first-place tie with idle Texas Tech.
KEY MATCHUP
Iowa State’s defense vs. West Virginia QB Garrett Greene. Of the dual-threat quarterbacks the Cyclones have faced so far, Greene could be the best. He had runs of 39, 15 and 10 yards against Oklahoma State last week and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 59 yards per game. Run defense hasn’t been a strength for the Cyclones, who hope to force Greene to try to beat them through the air. Iowa State has the Big 12’s top defense, allowing just 10 points and 272 yards per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Iowa State: LB Kooper Ebel has led or co-led the team in tackles in three straight games. He made just three tackles in eight games as a freshman last year. He added 15 pounds to get up to 240 on his 6-foot-4 frame and has made at least six stops in all five games. Last week he had eight tackles and a quarterback hurry against Baylor.
West Virginia: RB Jahiem White. The sophomore ran for a season-high 158 yards in the lopsided win at Oklahoma State and the Mountaineers compiled 389 on the ground. White hopes to be back on track after being limited to 94 yards combined against No. 4 Penn State, No. 22 Pittsburgh and Kansas.
FACTS & FIGURES
Anthony Becht, a tight end for the Mountaineers from 1996 to 1999, will be honored during the game for his induction into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. His son, Rocco, is Iowa State’s quarterback. … The Cyclones have won 12 straight when scoring at least 30 points. They’ve scored at least 30 in the last five meetings with WVU. … ISU had nine plays of 20 or more yards against Baylor last week, tied for the most by a Power Four team against a conference opponent this season. … The Cyclones’ defense gets better as the game progresses. They’re allowing an average of 4.0 points and 112 yards in the second halves. … West Virginia will wear all-black uniforms in honor of the state’s coal mining industry.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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