Iowa gets Week 3 at home with a clear path to 3-0, and the matchup with Northern Iowa offers more than just another expected win. Yes, the Hawkeyes are heavily favored over the FCS Panthers. But this one also gives Iowa a chance to smooth out the rough edges that have shown up over the first two games.
The passing game feels like the cleanest place to start. Against Iowa State, Iowa was solid through the air, and this is a chance to lean into that and get more production from Tony Diaz, Reece Vander Zee, DJ Vonnahme, and others. That kind of rhythm would matter no matter whether Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklinski is operating at quarterback.
Northern Iowa has already shown it can be attacked through the air. Through two games, the Panthers have given up 553 passing yards, four touchdowns, and nearly 68% completions. If Iowa wants to settle in early while the starters are still on the field, there’s a strong case for throwing often and getting the ball moving right away.
The ground game is another area where Iowa should be able to create problems. Northern Iowa ran for 201 yards last week, but it took 43 carries to get there, and the opener against Eastern Washington was much less productive at 63 yards on 35 attempts. So far, the Panthers are averaging just 3.38 yards per carry.
That sets up a chance for Iowa’s defensive line to have a productive afternoon. With a rotation expected to be part of that group all season, every rep matters, and this game should give plenty of players a chance to build confidence.
At the same time, Iowa doesn’t need to empty the playbook. The goal isn’t to reveal everything before Big Ten play begins.
Still, there’s value in putting a little more on film. Unique personnel groupings, odd formations, and different looks could give Michigan more to study later on.
Iowa can still keep things basic out of those sets and avoid tipping anything major, but a few extra wrinkles would be useful.
In Other News...
Tony Diaz Added Extra Edge To Iowa's Emerging Passing Attack
Tony Diaz has given Iowas passing game a different kind of jolt through the first two weeks, emerging as the Hawkeyes most productive receiver and helping widen an attack that has looked more varied than it has in recent seasons. With more options showing up in the passing game, Iowa is no longer leaning on just one route to move the ball, and Diaz has been at the center of that early expansion.
After the win, Diaz added a little more spice to the week by calling out Iowa State coach Jimmy Rogers for mistakenly referring to him as Nate Diaz. He was quick to acknowledge the Cyclones as a strong opponent, but the moment also underscored how a receiver making noise on the field can create a little edge off it too, especially when an emerging passing game is still trying to establish its identity. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Iowa Test Just Became A Lot More Real
Michigans early-season runway gets a little more interesting from here, because the Wolverines now know their Big Ten opener against Iowa will land in the traditional 3:30 p.m. ET CBS window. Michigan is 2-0 and gets UTEP before conference play begins, but the Hawkeyes are the opponent that will start to define what this first stretch of the season really means.
Iowa arrives at 2-0 and ranked No. 18, with a new starting quarterback in Hank Brown and a running game that has already looked like the backbone of the offense behind Kamari Moulton. The setting only raises the stakes for both sides, since this is the kind of matchup that can turn into an early measuring stick for a Michigan team still settling in and an Iowa group trying to prove its formula travels against a bigger stage. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Just Sent Iowa Fans A Frustrating Cy-Hawk Message
Iowa walked out of the Cy-Hawk game with the result it wanted, improving to 2-0 after beating Iowa State, but the mood around the Hawkeyes got a little less pleasant once ESPNs latest FPI update arrived. Despite the win, Iowa fell six spots to No. 32 in the rankings, a reminder that the advanced metrics still have plenty of questions about how high this team can climb.
The bigger picture for the Hawkeyes did not shift much, at least not in ESPNs projections. Iowas outlook still points toward a bowl trip with a 91.4% chance to get there, while the College Football Playoff remains a long shot at 8.1%. For a team that already has one of its biggest rivalry wins in hand, the challenge now is proving the numbers wrong in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]