Iowa’s win over Washington changed the mood of the weekend fast. A 41-24 dominant victory on Friday night gave the Hawkeyes the luxury of sitting back while the rest of the Big Ten sorts itself out, and with Iowa now at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play, there’s real value in watching the scoreboard bounce the right way.
The day opens with a pair of top-25 games that should tell us plenty about where the league is headed. At 11 a.m.
CT on FOX, Indiana is an 8.5-point favorite at Nebraska, and that’s an easy one for Iowa fans to circle. Indiana is the bigger Big Ten threat, but rooting for Nebraska is not an option.
The Hoosiers have a shot to make a statement in Lincoln and show Nebraska where the tiers in this league really are.
Later, at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS, UCLA gets the nod over Oregon, which is favored by 10.5 points.
UCLA has been one of the better stories in the conference so far, and from Iowa’s perspective, knocking Oregon out of the Big Ten Championship picture would be the preferred outcome. The Bruins could still be a problem down the road, but that’s a risk worth taking.
There’s also a 6:30 p.m. CT game on NBC that carries some weight for the bigger picture.
Penn State is a 1.5-point favorite, and the Hawkeyes should be pulling for the Nittany Lions. This is basically a must-win spot for Penn State, with Matt Campbell, a former rival of Iowa, in danger of hearing the noise get louder in Happy Valley.
A Penn State win would also deal a major blow to USC’s Big Ten hopes at 2-2 in conference play.
One of the stranger spots on the slate comes at 11:30 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network, where Northwestern is laying 35.5 points against Ball State.
The answer here is Ball State, I guess. A ranked Iowa-Northwestern matchup in early November suddenly doesn’t look impossible, and while the Wildcats have been rolling through four games, Ball State would need a miracle to slow the run game and shake up the Big Ten race.
Not every game carries the same kind of juice, especially in an 18-team conference where some matchups are just part of the grind. Still, there are a few more spots where Iowa fans can find a rooting interest.
At 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1, Michigan State is a slight 2.5-point underdog to Illinois, and that one is simple enough.
LeVar Woods, Iowa’s former special teams coordinator, is on the Michigan State side, and that alone makes the Spartans an easy pull. It wouldn’t hurt either if Illinois stumbled before Iowa’s trip to Champaign later this year.
At 3:15 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network, Ohio State is a massive 33.5-point favorite over Maryland, and the rooting interest comes with a little more hope than expectation.
Maryland and a prayer is the only way to frame it. The Buckeyes look built for the Big Ten title game, but if the Terrapins somehow land a historic upset, the whole conference picture gets a lot more interesting.
The night ends at 7 p.m. CT on NBC with Minnesota as a 2.5-point favorite over Purdue.
For Iowa, the ideal result is a Boilermakers win. That would give Minnesota its first Big Ten loss, and as always, it’s better when a rival takes one on the chin.
In Other News...
Iowa Just Looked Like A Real Big Ten Problem
Iowa walked into Seattle and left with a win that looked a lot more convincing than a typical road trip in September. Behind backup quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski, who kept the offense steady without turning the ball over, the Hawkeyes put together enough balance to control the game and beat Washington 41-24. Kamari Moulton was the biggest spark, turning in a career day with 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 56-yard burst that broke the game open.
What made the result even more encouraging for Iowa was the way the defense settled in and started creating pressure. The Hawkeyes have long wanted their offense to be efficient enough to complement that side of the ball, and this time both parts showed up together on the road. For a team that has built its identity on winning physical games, this looked a lot like the kind of performance that can make the rest of the Big Ten take notice. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Is Making A Statement In A Long-Awaited Trip To Washington
A long-awaited trip to Husky Stadium has given Iowa a chance to make its case on a bigger stage, and the Hawkeyes have looked comfortable doing it. In a Big Ten matchup against Washington, Iowa put together scoring drives through both the air and the ground, with J. Hecklinski and D.J. Vonnahme each finding the end zone as the offense mixed in steady gains, punts, and timely plays across the first three quarters.
Washington has had its moments, too, but the Huskies have been forced to chase from behind as Iowa has controlled the feel of the game. With the Hawkeyes showing balance on offense and enough discipline to keep drives moving, the rest of the afternoon has started to take on the shape of a statement road performance, even if there is still time left for the home side to answer. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa's Big Win Brought Back A Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Iowa needed a response after the previous loss, and it got one in a win over Washington that looked more like the kind of complete performance fans had been waiting for. The offense found some rhythm behind Kamari Moulton, who powered the running game with 208 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Jeremy Hecklinski stepped in at quarterback because of Hank Browns injury and managed the passing game with 202 yards and two scores.
Even so, the game also revived a familiar conversation about how far this team can go if the defense remains vulnerable through the air. Washington backup quarterback Elijah Brown was able to throw for 251 yards and three touchdowns, which kept the Huskies in striking distance and left Iowa with plenty to celebrate, but also a reminder that one strong outing does not erase every concern. [Read more 🡒]