So, what happens when Iowa beats Penn State this Saturday?

[Fryowa]

You’re basing your view of Michigan on a the fact that they will likely lose of few more games and a rough day at UW. Having a tough schedule doesn’t mean they aren’t a formidable team.

Almost every metric objective or subjective, ranks Michigan as a top 20 team nationally. You know how when Iowa gets a 4* recruit and we are gushing over their talent and athleticism... Michigan has a team full of those guys.

I’ll ask you this. Where do you rank Michigan? Are they not a top 25 level team? Are they not a top 30 level team? Where do you have them? I don’t want to hear about how they will lose a few more games to Ohio State and Notre Dame. Playing a tough schedule doesn’t make them a weak team.

Here’s what the computers say:
Massey: 14
Sagarin: 13
Team Rankings: 13

None of that matters, though.

I get your argument but it doesn't matter if Michigan is rated 1st or 100th in Sagarin. Wisconsin either has to lose more games than Iowa or get beat by Iowa. Neither of those things is going to happen.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Nothing changes.

Still have to play Wisconsin, and I guarantee you Iowa drops three or four of the rest.

To be honest, the people all butt hurt about this loss being the end of the season apparently were too stupid to realize that Iowa was never winning the west anyway. The team just isn’t that good. We beat 4 wet blankets and all of a sudden people think we have a shot at the CFP or something.

Like I said before, having conference divisions where you play everyone in your division every year is fun if you’re somewhat competitive, but your season gets the door slammed on it real quick if you slip up. You’re either fighting for a conference title, or hoping to make a toilet bowl. No in between.

Also, might as well enjoy this shit while it lasts, no matter how bad it may be. The Brain will be taking over here real shortly and we’re gonna be back to the 1970s before you know it. In five years you bastards are gonna be wishing like hell for 7 win seasons.

I agree with all of this, unfortunately.

I'm just not smart enough to figure out what the hell Brian Ferentz was trying to do against Michigan. Why didn't we just run the ball and throw quick slants and balls to our tight ends and running backs like Goodson? Wasn't that the answer against a team throwing the kitchen sink at us? I think brian Ferentz is a blockhead, arrogant moron. Horrible coach

 

[NikeHawk21]

None of that matters, though.

I get your argument but it doesn't matter if Michigan is rated 1st or 100th in Sagarin. Wisconsin either has to lose more games than Iowa or get beat by Iowa. Neither of those things is going to happen.

I would say the way Wisconsin has looked so far our chances of winning the west have very much dwindled, I don’t argue that. Having them on the road doesn’t help.

But this is college football a lot can happen. Maybe Iowa beats Penn State this week (unlikely). What if Michigan State pulls the upset in Madison this weekend? What if Jonathan Taylor sprains his ankle and is out 4-6 weeks? What if Iowa catches a few breaks and pulls the upset in Madison?

Here is a question for you. Can you name the best offense Wisconsin has played this year? I’ll answer for you. It’s that Michigan unit that really only mustered 7 points at home against Iowa this weekend. Against northwestern UW only managed one offensive TD.

Point being while UW has looked like a juggernaut thus far maybe it’s not as good as it appears.

Although Saturday was awful on offense for Iowa the season isn't over. You can throw in the towel today if you want I’m not there just yet. No reason for me to do that at this point with plenty of opportunities ahead.

 

[deanvogs]

How would you explain the string of "downs" vs Northwestern and Wisconsin?

That's football? The cycle of life?

I’m not even sure what you mean here? We haven’t played Wisconsin or Northwestern yet this year.

 

[iloveyoularrystation]

I'm confident most people will be where was this last week, with a long drawn out dogging of Brian and Kirk. Personally i agree with you this will happen, also cause it seems to be what usually happens, and i'll be like way to get back after it boys. Last week was disappointing, here's what happens when you don't beat yourselves. Or if psu wins i'll probably be back here talking about how nate won't go win us a game in the 4th quarter, cause you know we are either winning, or were losing in a game we had a chance to win in the 4th quarter.

 

[Fryowa]

I think brian Ferentz is a blockhead, arrogant moron. Horrible coach

I like this new side of you.

 

[smitharooney]

I agree with all of this, unfortunately.

I'm just not smart enough to figure out what the hell Brian Ferentz was trying to do against Michigan. Why didn't we just run the ball and throw quick slants and balls to our tight ends and running backs like Goodson? Wasn't that the answer against a team throwing the kitchen sink at us? I think brian Ferentz is a blockhead, arrogant moron. Horrible coach

Did the TE's get any targets????? I know they had zero catches. When the offensive line is failing to protect you the TE's are there to bail you out.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

Did the TE's get any targets????? I know they had zero catches. When the offensive line is failing to protect you the TE's are there to bail you out.

Yes, on the final drive....another out pattern. The middle of the field was open the entire game and we never even tried. Scratch that, we did throw a slant that was dropped on the final drive too by our typical undersized slot WR. Can't have Martin out there!!!!

 

[Hawk4Fan]

I don't see Iowa staying with PSU now, Stanely just doesn't have IT, sure he can put numbers against crap teams, but when it comes down to it, he best choking QB out there!

 

[okeefe4prez]

I don't see Iowa staying with PSU now, Stanely just doesn't have IT, sure he can put numbers against crap teams, but when it comes down to it, he best choking QB out there!

It ain't Stanley. The guy ain't a world beater, but he has gotten his ass absolutely kicked by every defense with a pulse that decides to blitz him.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

*IF* Iowa beats PSU, it won't change anything for me. I need to see more sustained success (see 2002-04) before I'll change my opinion that this is an 8-4 program. Just like how last week's loss didn't change anything for me, one big win won't, either. We've seen them before. For example:

2017: Iowa hangs 55 on OSU in a blowout win, then loses to Purdue later in the season
2016: Iowa loses to NDST, then beats #2 Michigan later in the season

Talk about a bi-polar program.

Hell, even Jim Walden managed to beat Nebraska once.. It didn't mean ISU didn't still suck. Todd Lickliter beat MSU once, too.

Point being, people always overreact to both the losses AND the wins. Longer-term perspective makes more sense.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

I honestly don't think this is all sewn up for Brian Ferentz to be the next HC. At all.... and how could anybody even know that? No one does and to be honest, nothing that's happened over the last few years make that an inevitable connection or scenario IMO. For that to happen, Iowa needs something much more tangible and they don't have it. Call me an idiot, but I think BF has a lot more to prove before he's just handed the keys to the Iowa Hawkeyes. I think people that say it's a foregone conclusion are just trolling fans with Ferentz fatigue.

I agree and that's what I keep wondering. People talk like it's a done deal that BF is already the next head coach in waiting, and that all that has to happen is for KF to retire and he simply slides into that position.

Is Barta really so spineless as to simply hand over the program to BF just because that's what Kirk wants? God, I hope not, but I guess nothing would surprise me.

 

[okeefe4prez]

*IF* Iowa beats PSU, it won't change anything for me. I need to see more sustained success (see 2002-04) before I'll change my opinion that this is an 8-4 program. Just like how last week's loss didn't change anything for me, one big win won't, either. We've seen them before. For example:

2017: Iowa hangs 55 on OSU in a blowout win, then loses to Purdue later in the season
2016: Iowa loses to NDST, then beats #2 Michigan later in the season

Talk about a bi-polar program.

Hell, even Jim Walden managed to beat Nebraska once.. It didn't mean ISU didn't still suck. Todd Lickliter beat MSU once, too.

Point being, people always overreact to both the losses AND the wins. Longer-term perspective makes more sense.

Wasn't that Lickliter-MSU upset some 41-39 game or some shit, too? That was one of the worst basketball games I have ever seen and it was the signature win of that ill-fated Lickliter tenure.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

You’re basing your view of Michigan on a the fact that they will likely lose of few more games and a rough day at UW. Having a tough schedule doesn’t mean they aren’t a formidable team.

Almost every metric objective or subjective, ranks Michigan as a top 20 team nationally. You know how when Iowa gets a 4* recruit and we are gushing over their talent and athleticism... Michigan has a team full of those guys.

I’ll ask you this. Where do you rank Michigan? Are they not a top 25 level team? Are they not a top 30 level team? Where do you have them? I don’t want to hear about how they will lose a few more games to Ohio State and Notre Dame. Playing a tough schedule doesn’t make them a weak team.

Here’s what the computers say:
Massey: 14
Sagarin: 13
Team Rankings: 13

Michigan needed OT to beat Army and got smoked by Wisconsin. They only could score 10 on us, even though we turned the ball over 4 times, etc. They aren't that good.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Wasn't that Lickliter-MSU upset some 41-39 game or some shit, too? That was one of the worst basketball games I have ever seen and it was the signature win of that ill-fated Lickliter tenure.

Yep, that's the one. 42-36 or some crap. Win or lose, I'm glad that brand of basketball is gone.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

There are some parallels between this coming game Saturday and the 2017 game.

PSU looked unstoppable on offense with SB and TM. I thought for sure the game would be a blow out for PSU

But Iowa defense pulled one of the best Bend but Don't Break performances ever. PSU marched up and down the field over and over, Barkley had over 200 yards rushing. McSorley had nearly 300 yards passing, but they couldn't score TD consistently when they got into the RZ. In fact they had a few chances within the 10 yard line.

What's different about this year's game is that we don't have that special player on offense who can score at will, which in 2017 it was Wadley. He had 80+ Rushing, 75+ Receiving, and two TD.

Stanley actually didn't play that bad, hitting a TD to Wadley and to Easley. But in the end they couldn't pull it off.

Where do we get the big plays from this year? ISM is probably our best chance at YAC, and Brandon Smith could be a weapon if we ever get within the RZ.

Without that big play threat opposing teams are fine letting Iowa march up and down the field eventually shooting themselves in the foot.

This is a night game at home though, so the defense could play other worldly and pull it off for the team.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Michigan needed OT to beat Army and got smoked by Wisconsin. They only could score 10 on us, even though we turned the ball over 4 times, etc. They aren't that good.

So where do you rank them? Are they not a top 25 team in your estimation? Top 30? Who do you have in front of them and why? What are the computer models missing?

 

[1977Hawkeye]

So where do you rank them? Are they not a top 25 team in your estimation? Top 30? Who do you have in front of them and why? What are the computer models missing?

I don't know exactly where I'd put them, but based on the eye test, they haven't played like a Top 25 team. By end of year that may change, but based on the product so far, no. I've already given you the "why". Only reason they're ranked is because they wear maize & blue, so they were initially ranked in the Top 10 in the preseason polls.

I don't care how many computer models are trotted out. College football isn't played by a computer.

If you don't start ranking teams until mid-season, how many would pick them as a ranked team? What has Michigan done to prove they deserve a Top 15 ranking?

 

[HaydenHawk56]

It would not shock me in the least to see Iowa take PSU behind the woodshed only to see PSU do the same thing to Michigan....leaving us scratching our heads saying how the hell did we lose to Michigan in the first place? Then, go to Wisky and see the same shit happen again.

One big thing to keep in mind, Iowa is generally a different team when they play at home under the lights. I'm sure Iowa will be quite fired up for this game. Will it be enough, we shall see.

 

[NikeHawk21]

I don't know exactly where I'd put them, but based on the eye test, they haven't played like a Top 25 team. By end of year that may change, but based on the product so far, no. I've already given you the "why". Only reason they're ranked is because they wear maize & blue, so they were initially ranked in the Top 10 in the preseason polls.

I don't care how many computer models are trotted out. College football isn't played by a computer.

If you don't start ranking teams until mid-season, how many would pick them as a ranked team? What has Michigan done to prove they deserve a Top 15 ranking?

Michigan is 4-1 with a win over a top 20 opponent. Their only loss is on the road against a top 10 team.

Again it’s all relative. I understand Michigan has struggled in certain areas but for people to completely discredit them as some patsy is just not realistic either.

They fumbled on the doorstep of scoring to tie the game at 7-7 in the UW game. Completely changed the game. Who knows how that games goes if they punch it in there.

I get it. The negative crowd wants to discredit Michigan so they can discredit Iowa. Saturday’s game will be a chance for Iowa to silence some of the doubts, and if they get walloped maybe the negative group is closer to reality.