No. 19 Iowa is back home in Iowa City with a chance to do more than just take care of business against Purdue. With two of its final three games coming at home, the Hawkeyes have an opportunity to put together a win that could carry some extra weight, especially if they can add a little style to it.
The matchup also brings a few fresh wrinkles, starting up front for Iowa. Starting center Cael Winter was out against Northwestern, and Michael Myslinski stepped in for his first career start.
Myslinski, a sixth-year lineman, was listed as the starter on Iowa’s depth chart Monday morning, and he received a medical hardship waiver to participate in the 2026 season. Unless Kirk Ferentz offers another update, Myslinski appears set for his second straight start when Purdue comes to town.
On the other side, Purdue head coach Barry Odom is seeing Iowa in this role for the first time. He has faced the Hawkeyes before, though, going back to his time as an assistant at Missouri in 2010 during Iowa’s bowl game.
Odom had plenty of respect for Ferentz on Monday, calling him a “hall of fame-level coach” and saying Iowa is “solid in every single area.” He also said he is looking forward to taking part in The Wave for the first time in his first trip to Iowa City.
There’s also a major question hanging over Purdue’s defense. Odom said he dismissed defensive coordinator Kevin Kane after the Boilermakers’ loss to Maryland last week.
He said Purdue’s defensive staff has helped build the game plan for Iowa, but he did not say who will handle play-calling until after the Hawkeyes game. The numbers tell the story of why that matters: Purdue is 124th nationally in scoring defense at 32.3 points allowed per game, has given up more than 400 yards per game, and is allowing nearly 250 passing yards per game.
Outside of its two Big Ten wins, Purdue has surrendered at least 31 points in every game but its opener against Indiana State.
Iowa’s own offense has had to adjust after Kamari Moulton’s season-ending injury at Minnesota, and the run game is still sorting itself out. One player the Hawkeyes wanted more from was LJ Phillips, and he delivered against Northwestern with his first 100-yard outing. Even so, ball security remains part of the picture for Iowa as it tries to keep the ground game moving in the right direction.
And beyond Saturday, the stakes keep building. Selection Sunday is getting closer, and Iowa is still on the outside looking in when it comes to the College Football Playoff picture.
The second CFP rankings will be revealed Tuesday at 6 p.m. on ESPN, which should give the Hawkeyes a clearer sense of where they stand. For now, though, the simplest path forward is the one Iowa controls: keep winning.
In Other News...
Iowa Depth Chart Hints At An O-Line Shakeup Before Purdue
The Week 11 depth chart from the University of Iowa Athletics Department offered a notable look at how the Hawkeyes may line up up front heading into Purdue, with LJ Phillips listed as a starter for the first time since transferring. Michael Myslinkski is now shown at center, while Gene Riordan appears as the backup at right tackle, a set of changes that suggests Iowa is still sorting through its best combination in the trenches as the season enters its stretch run.
It comes at a time when the Hawkeyes remain No. 16 in the rankings with a 7-2 record, so even small shifts on the offensive line carry real weight. Purdue has already made a change of its own by firing defensive coordinator Kevin Kane, adding another layer of uncertainty to a game Iowa will approach with both its standing and its line stability in focus. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Defense Just Sent Another Message With Three Games Left
With Northwestern down to backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol after Aidan Chiles was likely out, Iowas defense had to make a quick adjustment and still looked every bit like one of the nations better units. Marchiol completed 24 of 32 passes for 181 yards with one touchdown and added 52 rushing yards, but the Hawkeyes kept the pressure on all afternoon, finishing with six sacks in a 24-10 win.
It was the kind of performance that has become familiar in Iowa City, where the defense has stayed steady even as opponents try to change plans on the fly. With three games left, the bigger question is how much more this group can still raise the bar, especially if it keeps forcing opponents to play from behind and make tough decisions under center. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Enters Its First Real Test Week With One Roster Question
Iowas basketball season is still young, but the schedule is about to sharpen quickly. The women are 2-1 after wins over Towson and Eastern Illinois and a loss to UConn, while the men are off to a 2-0 start with victories over Lipscomb and Eastern Illinois as they head toward a tougher stretch that includes Virginia Tech and Creighton.
Amid that early-season momentum, one roster question remains on the mens side: Andrew McKeever has yet to make his debut. The transfer is dealing with a back injury, leaving Iowa without a piece it expected to evaluate before the nonconference tests start piling up, and his status is one of the few lingering unknowns as the Hawkeyes move into a more demanding part of the calendar. [Read more 🡒]