By the numbers

[homes]

Facts:
Hayden's non-conference record: 39-22 63.9%
Kirk's non-conference record: 48-19 71.6%

Number of Power 5 non-conference games for Hayden: 43 record: 24-19
Number of Power 5 non-conference games for Kirk: 31 record: 16-15

Number of Power 5 non-conference games, not including ISU, for Hayden: 23 record: 8-15
Number of Power 5 non-conference games, not including ISU, for Kirk: 13 record: 7-6

Percentage of Power 5 non-conference games for Hayden: 70.5%, removing ISU: 56.1%
Percentage of Power 5 non-conference games for Kirk: 46.2% removing ISU: 26.5%

Opinion:
Hayden feasted on weak ISU teams once he got better talent (he started out losing 3 of the first 4). However, Hayden had to play a much tougher non-conference schedule, his non-ISU Power 5 opponents were, overall, better than the ones Kirk has had to play, and he played more of them (I'm guessing, but I bet many of those early years were already set, when other Power 5 teams were scheduling Iowa because it was thought to be an easy game for them). For example, in the first 6 years, he played Nebraska 4 times, Arizona twice, Penn State twice, Oklahoma and UCLA.

Hayden had 2 bad non-Power 5 losses, to Hawaii in 1988 and Tulsa in 1996. Kirk has had 4 bad non-Power 5 losses, to W. Michigan in 2007, C. Michigan in 2012, N. Illinois in 2013 and NDSU in 2016.

Would you be willing to watch, likely, more losses against better opponents, such as what Hayden faced in his first few years? Is that even possible any longer, with ISU a seemingly required game each year, i.e., a rivalry game? Most other top schools have their rival in their conference, so they don't have to occupy a non-conference game like Iowa does against ISU. Solutions - drop ISU (not likely) or hope ISU gets better so it's seen as a quality opponent (perish that thought).

 

[SpiderRico]

Facts:
Hayden's non-conference record: 39-22 63.9%
Kirk's non-conference record: 48-19 71.6%

Number of Power 5 non-conference games for Hayden: 43 record: 24-19
Number of Power 5 non-conference games for Kirk: 31 record: 16-15

Number of Power 5 non-conference games, not including ISU, for Hayden: 23 record: 8-15
Number of Power 5 non-conference games, not including ISU, for Kirk: 13 record: 7-6

Percentage of Power 5 non-conference games for Hayden: 70.5%, removing ISU: 56.1%
Percentage of Power 5 non-conference games for Kirk: 46.2% removing ISU: 26.5%

Opinion:
Hayden feasted on weak ISU teams once he got better talent (he started out losing 3 of the first 4). However, Hayden had to play a much tougher non-conference schedule, his non-ISU Power 5 opponents were, overall, better than the ones Kirk has had to play, and he played more of them (I'm guessing, but I bet many of those early years were already set, when other Power 5 teams were scheduling Iowa because it was thought to be an easy game for them). For example, in the first 6 years, he played Nebraska 4 times, Arizona twice, Penn State twice, Oklahoma and UCLA.

Hayden had 2 bad non-Power 5 losses, to Hawaii in 1988 and Tulsa in 1996. Kirk has had 4 bad non-Power 5 losses, to W. Michigan in 2007, C. Michigan in 2012, N. Illinois in 2013 and NDSU in 2016.

Would you be willing to watch, likely, more losses against better opponents, such as what Hayden faced in his first few years? Is that even possible any longer, with ISU a seemingly required game each year, i.e., a rivalry game? Most other top schools have their rival in their conference, so they don't have to occupy a non-conference game like Iowa does against ISU. Solutions - drop ISU (not likely) or hope ISU gets better so it's seen as a quality opponent (perish that thought).

In regard to your "bad losses" section....

The 2 bad losses Hayden had were, in my opinion, much worse than the 4 from KF.

In 1988, we were preseason #1 in the nation according to The Sporting News and top 10 in the AP, and lost that first game to a mediocre Hawaii team. In 1996, we were Top 20 in the country, decided to travel to Tulsa ON THE DAY OF THE GAME, and got beat by a BAD Tulsa team.

In 2007, we stunk. In 2012, we really stunk. In 2013, we were pretty decent, and got beat by a N. Illinois team that ended up in the Orange Bowl. In 2016, while NDSU was something like the 6 time National Champs of FCS, there really was no reason whatsoever to lose to them.

Those 2 losses Hayden had in 1988 and 1996 were way worse than the 4 that KF had.

 

[HawkGold]

In regard to your "bad losses" section....

The 2 bad losses Hayden had were, in my opinion, much worse than the 4 from KF.

In 1988, we were preseason #1 in the nation according to The Sporting News and top 10 in the AP, and lost that first game to a mediocre Hawaii team. In 1996, we were Top 20 in the country, decided to travel to Tulsa ON THE DAY OF THE GAME, and got beat by a BAD Tulsa team.

In 2007, we stunk. In 2012, we really stunk. In 2013, we were pretty decent, and got beat by a N. Illinois team that ended up in the Orange Bowl. In 2016, while NDSU was something like the 6 time National Champs of FCS, there really was no reason whatsoever to lose to them.

Those 2 losses Hayden had in 1988 and 1996 were way worse than the 4 that KF had.

Traveling to Hawaii....

Traveling to Tulsa....

KFs were at home. Traveling to Hawaii isn't easy for any team. Wasn't the Tulsa lost the game they basically wore tennis shoes and couldn't get a grip?

Losing to ISU is almost always a bad loss.

HF had some valid excuses. KF's were basically lack of preparation. Injuries, inexperienced players..... Wait a minute, isn't that NC about every year under KF?

 

[SpiderRico]

Traveling to Hawaii....

Traveling to Tulsa....

KFs were at home. Traveling to Hawaii isn't easy for any team. Wasn't the Tulsa lost the game they basically wore tennis shoes and couldn't get a grip?

Losing to ISU is almost always a bad loss.

HF had some valid excuses. KF's were basically lack of preparation. Injuries, inexperienced players..... Wait a minute, isn't that NC about every year under KF?

I don't care if we were travelling to BFE, you don't lose a game like that as a Top 5-10 team, you just don't. The Tulsa game was Hayden being Hayden and thinking we could just breeze down there the morning of the game, kick butt in the afternoon, and then come back that night. That was stupid and cost us a 10 win season.

 

[HawkGold]

I don't care if we were travelling to BFE, you don't lose a game like that as a Top 5-10 team, you just don't. The Tulsa game was Hayden being Hayden and thinking we could just breeze down there the morning of the game, kick butt in the afternoon, and then come back that night. That was stupid and cost us a 10 win season.

Agree basically, but SoS is not equal between the 2 though.