Iowa does not need a miracle on offense this weekend. It needs a spark, and it needs one early.
Against a Wisconsin defense that looks stout on paper, the Hawkeyes cannot afford to wait until late in the fourth quarter for Tony Diaz and Reece Vander Zee to get involved again. That kind of sluggish start leaves too much to chance, especially if Iowa is trying to scrape together 13 points and hope it holds up.
The most obvious place to look is the run game. Iowa found something there against the Washington Huskies, when the offense had creases, showed some creativity, and turned multiple runs into chunk gains. The next time out against Minnesota, though, it felt like the Hawkeyes were running into a brick wall over and over again.
With Kamari Moulton out for the rest of the season, the door is open for other backs to take control. Xavier Williams feels like the first name to watch.
He is listed as the starter on Iowa’s depth chart, and at 5-foot-10 and almost 230 pounds, he has the build of a physical, downhill runner. He has also shown he can break one loose, including twice against Wisconsin last year.
This would be a good week for Iowa to lean into that style more heavily. More snaps under center.
Less of the shotgun grind. More chances to let Williams hit the line downhill, get between the tackles, and try to wear down Wisconsin over four quarters in what figures to be a tight game.
DJ Vonnahme is another player who could matter in a bigger way. His season has been solid so far - 24 catches, 250 yards, two touchdowns - but he has not had that signature breakout performance yet. This matchup feels like a spot where it could happen.
If Iowa commits to the run and keeps trying to sustain drives, the play-action game should be there. That opens the door for Vonnahme to sneak into the flat or work across the field on a crossing route. Against a defense that is likely to load up against the run, that kind of movement behind the linebackers could create the kind of plays Iowa badly needs.
It does not have to be flashy. It just has to function.
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The moment came together in the family section after Minnesota offensive lineman Tony Nelson brought the trophy over, turning a postgame scene into something much more shareable than ceremonial. Minnesota coach PJ Fleck said the image captured the spirit of college football, but it was the kind of viral snapshot Hawkeye fans probably had no interest in seeing on their feeds. [Read more 🡒]