Gophers @ Iowa: Week 8 Preview

[GopherHole Staff]

Gophers at Iowa: Week 8 Preview​

By Tony Liebert

Gophers @ Iowa: Week 8 Preview - GopherHole.com

–> Follow @Tony Liebert on Twitter Broadcast Info: Date: Sat., Oct. 21 TV channel: BTN Time of kickoff: 2:30 p.m. (CST) Betting line: Minnesota (+5.5) @ Iowa, o/u: (32.5 points) Opponent Information (Iowa): 2023 record: 6-1 V. Utah State 24-14 W @ Iowa State 20-13 W V. Western Michigan 41-10 W @...

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Broadcast Info:​

• Date: Sat., Oct. 21
• TV channel: BTN
• Time of kickoff: 2:30 p.m. (CST)
  • Betting line: Minnesota (+5.5) @ Iowa, o/u: (32.5 points)

Opponent Information (Iowa):​

• 2023 record: 6-1
  • V. Utah State 24-14 W
  • @ Iowa State 20-13 W
  • V. Western Michigan 41-10 W
  • @ Penn State 0-31 L
  • V. Michigan State 26-16 W
  • V. Purdue 20-14 W
  • @ Wisconsin 15-6 W
• Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz (25th year)
• Players to watch: Cooper DeJean (DB), Leshon William (RB), Kaleb Johnson (RB), Jay Higgins (LB), Tory Taylor (P), Erick All (TE)

As much as things change, a lot stays the same. Iowa is atop the Big Ten West standings, while the Gophers head to Iowa City in search of their first win over the Hawkeyes in nine years. Despite adding a high-profiled transfer QB, Iowa still has a massive question mark offensive and specifically at QB with now Deacon Hill, as McNamara is out for the year with an injury. Despite all of the Gophers’ shortcomings, they still enter Saturday’s battle for the Floyd of Rosedale with some cautious optimism.

Iowa Season Storylines:​

• Brian Ferentz is still incompetent:

Iowa made some splashes in the offseason, adding Michigan transfers QB Cade McNamara and TE Erick All from the transfer portal. There was some offensive optimism for the first time in a long time, but as much as things change a lot things stay the same. Brian Ferentz is still calling plays for the worst offense in college football as the Hawkeyes are dead last in total yards per game at 247.4, but they’re somehow 6-1. I could tell you a bunch of more stats about why Ferentz is incompetent, but they wouldn’t be any different than any years in the past. There is allegedly a clause in his contract that he must average 25+ PPG, but they’re currently at 20.9. They’re still a run-first team with an elite defense and elite punter that has remarkable turnover luck, there is not much more analysis needed.

• Cade McNamara’s season-ending injury:

Michigan transfer QB Cade McNamara’s decision to commit to Iowa was one of the biggest moves of the offseason. Many people thought his addition could pull Iowa’s offense out of the dumpster of college football. In his last full season of starting, he completed 64.9% of his passes, for 2,470 yards, 15 yards, and only 4 INTs, leading the Wolverines to a CFP appearance, so the hype might’ve been warranted, but many forgot Brian Ferentz is still the offensive coordinator.

He completed 51.1% of his passes for 505 yards, 4 TDs, and 3 INTs in four full games and some change against Michigan State. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, McNamara tore his ACL against the Spartans and is now out for the season. In comes another transfer QB Deacon Hill who hails from Wisconsin. Hill has completed 38.6% of his passes for 311 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs, essentially putting Iowa at a level of quarterback play lower than they were at last season with Spencer Petras.

• Cakewalk to Indy:

After getting passed Wisconsin last week in Madison, the Hawkeyes have a very clear path to another Big Ten West title and a trip to Indianapolis. I would argue that this week could be their toughest test remaining in the regular season. With home games remaining against Minnesota, Rutgers and Illinois and road games against Northwestern and Nebraska, the Hawkeyes will be favored in all of their regular season games. In the last season of the Big Ten West, it would be very fitting for an Iowa team led by Deacon Hill to play in the Big Ten Championship Game.

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Gophers’ path to victory:​

When it comes to the Gophers winning back the Floyd of Rosedale, I cannot tell you anything that you haven’t already heard. Force Iowa to beat you through the air and win the turnover battle. There are going to be 3-5 plays that decide this game. This season more than ever, both of these football teams are playing a very similar style of football which will result in a very ugly game.

Iowa has one of the best defenses in the country, but one of the worst offenses. Their offense might not be good enough to score on the Gophers’ struggling defense, but Minnesota’s offense might not be good enough to score on Iowa’s defense. Something has to give. This is a very winnable game for the Gophers, that is not necessarily a super unrealistic thing to say. Minnesota will have an opportunity to win this game, Athan Kaliakmanis will have an opportunity to make a throw Joe Rossi’s defense will have an opportunity to make a stop. We have seen them have all these opportunities in recent years, but it’s time to finally capitalize. All of Minnesota’s shortcoming from this season can be quickly overlooked winning this game.