November has a way of exposing every crack in a college football roster, and Iowa and Northwestern are walking into the weekend with a long injury list to prove it. Between the two teams, 29 players show up on the availability report in some capacity, and several of the names are the kind that can swing a game.
Iowa’s biggest concern is up front. The Hawkeyes have leaned on the offensive line all season, but that group is getting thinner by the week.
Starting center Cael Winter is out, and so are key depth pieces Lucas Allgeyer, Trent Wilson, and Cannon Leonard. That leaves Iowa in a tight spot across the line, even if four of the five starters are still available.
Michael Myslinski is set to step in at center for Winter.
The Hawkeyes also have two starters in the secondary listed as questionable. Cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Zach Lutmer are both trying to be ready for Saturday night’s matchup with Northwestern. Neither appeared to come out of the Wisconsin game looking badly hurt, so there’s at least a chance both can go, but their status won’t be settled until closer to kickoff and whatever they show in a pregame workout.
Northwestern’s biggest question mark is even more dramatic: quarterback Aidan Chiles. He’s listed as questionable, and that alone changes the feel of this matchup if he can’t play.
Chiles stayed in last week’s game against Oregon, though he went just 5-for-14 in the second half. Whether that was tied to injury or simply Oregon’s defense tightening up is unclear from the report.
For now, the sense is that Chiles is likely to suit up and may be closer to full strength than his questionable tag suggests. Still, his mobility is something to watch depending on the nature of the injury, especially if it affects what he can do as a runner.
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Jack Campbell Shared An Update After A Frightening Week 8 Scare
Jack Campbells Week 8 scare was the kind of moment that can stop a game and linger long after it ends. The former Iowa linebacker was left motionless on the field for more than 10 minutes after suffering a severe injury in an NFL game, a frightening scene for anyone who followed his career in Iowa City and has watched him become one of the Hawkeyes most respected recent standouts.
Fortunately, Campbell later offered a positive update on his condition and indicated he should be okay, which is the news everyone around the program wanted most. His update came as another busy NFL weekend unfolded for former Hawkeyes, with TJ Hockenson, Sam LaPorta, Amani Hooker, Drew Stevens and Lukas Van Ness all turning in notable Week 8 performances that kept Iowas pro pipeline in the spotlight for another Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas November Edge Could Suddenly Mean Much More This Year
November has long been a comfortable month for Kirk Ferentzs Iowa teams, and the numbers back it up. Since 2014, the Hawkeyes are 36-13 in the month, a stretch that has helped define how this program handles the grind late in the season. Ferentz has pointed to the same ingredients for years: managing stress, keeping the right mindset and leaning on fundamentals when the weather turns and the stakes rise.
This November, though, the usual routine carries a little more weight. Iowa is trying to turn that late-season steadiness into something bigger, with a College Football Playoff berth in view if the Hawkeyes can keep stacking wins. The formula is familiar, but the payoff could be different this time, which is exactly why the next few weeks matter so much in Iowa City. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Playoff Push Rests On A Crucial Road Test At Northwestern
A playoff push can get complicated quickly in November, and Iowa heads into a road trip to Northwestern knowing there is little margin for error. The Hawkeyes have leaned on a defense built to make life difficult for opposing run games, and that approach figures to be central again as they try to control the pace and avoid letting the Wildcats settle in at home.
On the other side, Iowa is looking for its offense to provide enough support, with wide receiver Tony Diaz among the players who could help tilt the game. Cam Buffington and Zach Lutmer are also part of the group Iowa needs to deliver in a big spot, because a road win here would keep the Hawkeyes moving in the right direction and preserve the kind of momentum that matters most in late-season college football. [Read more 🡒]