The Sand People Slowly Learning Their Roles In This World...

[Fryowa]

I know the ISU-Iowa series will continue, but the game makes zero sense in the current CFP playoff format. Zero. I love the bragging rights and it is thrilling to beat ISU, but there is all down side and no up side for Iowa.

Actually if we said we don't want the game anymore it would be the absolute biggest slap in the face to that fan base possible. It'd be better than any win streak we could have.

That's their most important game of any of their sports and always has been, it would be like taking away a baby's pacifier.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Actually if we said we don't want the game anymore it would be the absolute biggest slap in the face to that fan base possible. It'd be better than any win streak we could have.

That's their most important game of any of their sports and always has been, it would be like taking away a baby's pacifier.

yep

 

[okeefe4prez]

Actually if we said we don't want the game anymore it would be the absolute biggest slap in the face to that fan base possible. It'd be better than any win streak we could have.

That's their most important game of any of their sports and always has been, it would be like taking away a baby's pacifier.

I think Pullhard has polished the turd quite a bit in the intervening years and the media money is helping, but I think they had a temporary hiccup when 'Braska left the conference so their only marquis, premium priced game was the Iowa game every other year.

I think it is good to play ISU, though. They are a decent team that always plays Iowa hard and gets us ready for conference play. You're better off playing someone you actually have to scheme for and play well to beat than three shitbag teams if you are a team like Iowa. We ain't ever gonna win the playoff. It will never happen. We need to just get the hell over it. I don't want to go. The thought of Iowa's DBs trying to cover LSU or Clemson this year...ugh. I don't want to play Bama in a game that means something. I don't want any piece of teams that are that stacked.

 

[ChosenChildren]

I think Pullhard has polished the turd quite a bit in the intervening years and the media money is helping, but I think they had a temporary hiccup when 'Braska left the conference so their only marquis, premium priced game was the Iowa game every other year.

I think it is good to play ISU, though. They are a decent team that always plays Iowa hard and gets us ready for conference play. You're better off playing someone you actually have to scheme for and play well to beat than three shitbag teams if you are a team like Iowa. We ain't ever gonna win the playoff. It will never happen. We need to just get the hell over it. I don't want to go. The thought of Iowa's DBs trying to cover LSU or Clemson this year...ugh. I don't want to play Bama in a game that means something. I don't want any piece of teams that are that stacked.

Fair analysis.

I'm always extremely happy when we defeat Iowa State, but it is more a sigh of relief than anything else. The pain of losing to them always exceeds the joy of defeating them. Maybe that is the wrong mind set, but honestly that is how it feels to me.

 

[westender]

If Iowa's goal is to win the Big Ten and qualify for the CFP, the Iowa State game makes no sense at all for the following reasons:

1. Iowa State is rarely, if ever, ranked when we play them, so a win is expected and therefore doesn't move the needle for Iowa. I'm guessing over the last 40 years Iowa has been FAVORED over Iowa State at least 95% of the time, including last fall, If I recall correctly.
2. We don't need to play Iowa State for strength of schedule. Playing in the Big Ten accomplishes that for us.
3. If you LOSE the game because Iowa State is punching above their weight (which can happen), it can COST you the CFP.

Bottom line, we have everything to lose and nothing to gain from the ISU game. Two obvious illustrations:

1. In 2002, ISU stages a miraculous comeback, beats Iowa 36-31, and therefore we finish 11-1. Ohio State (a team that may have been inferior to Iowa in 2002), squeaks out 12-0 and then wins the national championship. Would we have been in the national championship game that year at 12-0? Possibly. Could we have defeated an overrated Miami of Florida team that year in the national championship game? Possibly.

2. In 2015, Iowa beats ISU, goes 12-0, and comes within a few inches of beating MSU, which would have put Iowa in the CFP. If Iowa had lost to ISU in 2015, no way they would have qualified for the CFP, even with a win over MSU.

I know the ISU-Iowa series will continue, but the game makes zero sense in the current CFP playoff format. Zero. I love the bragging rights and it is thrilling to beat ISU, but there is all down side and no up side for Iowa.

If a team is serious about the CFP and you are in the Big Ten, you are better off to play 3 MAC teams. I know that is a boring thought for Iowa fans, but it is reality. Go 3-0 in your nonconference with no injuries, go 8-1 in the Big Ten, win the conference championship game, and you may qualify for the current 4 team CFP. The Big Ten is a brutal conference, so playing tough non-conference games makes no sense. It is the same reason why Penn State doesn't play Pitt every year.

Dude we got our doors blown off in the second half of that Orange Bowl game against USC. If we would have won that one then your what-if argument might hold water.

And we got our doors blown off in the Rose Bowl against Stanford. Had we won that one, then maybe your argument that we deserved better would hold water and we lost to Mich State anyway.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Dude we got our doors blown off in the second half of that Orange Bowl game against USC. If we would have won that one then your what-if argument might hold water.

And we got our doors blown off in the Rose Bowl against Stanford. Had we won that one, then maybe your argument that we deserved better would hold water and we lost to Mich State anyway.

Yeah, agreed. I'm having a hard time imagining a world in which an Iowa team that is not good enough to beat ISU is somehow good enough to manage to win a Big Ten conference title game in Indy and follow that up with 2 wins against top 4 teams. I'm not sure if our win percentage is that much better against MAC teams that are over .500 in MAC play than it is against Iowa State.

 

[homes]

I contend this is the typical Nebraska fan when asked about their football program.

 

[Fryowa]

I think Pullhard has polished the turd quite a bit in the intervening years and the media money is helping, but I think they had a temporary hiccup when 'Braska left the conference so their only marquis, premium priced game was the Iowa game every other year.

I think it is good to play ISU, though. They are a decent team that always plays Iowa hard and gets us ready for conference play. You're better off playing someone you actually have to scheme for and play well to beat than three shitbag teams if you are a team like Iowa. We ain't ever gonna win the playoff. It will never happen. We need to just get the hell over it. I don't want to go. The thought of Iowa's DBs trying to cover LSU or Clemson this year...ugh. I don't want to play Bama in a game that means something. I don't want any piece of teams that are that stacked.

I’d love a home and away with Pitt every year. That’d be a better matchup and I know it wouldn’t happen but those games are always competitive and fun as shit for both sides.

 

[Chickenlounge]

Minnesota beat the Huskers 5 times in a row at Lincoln back in the 40s. Pitt has done it as well back in the 30s.

Sorry, those years don't count. The only years that count are the ones where NE won their Nattys. All other years are irrelevant.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Dude we got our doors blown off in the second half of that Orange Bowl game against USC. If we would have won that one then your what-if argument might hold water.

And we got our doors blown off in the Rose Bowl against Stanford. Had we won that one, then maybe your argument that we deserved better would hold water and we lost to Mich State anyway.

I never said we deserved better. You missed the point. The point I was trying to make is that playing Iowa State doesn't help Iowa win the Big Ten or advance in the national rankings. We are supposed to win that game. Every year.

Watch the SEC. They know how to schedule out of conference games.

USC was the best team in the nation in 2002. Miami of Florida was not. It is all about match-ups.

The Iowa team wasn't ready to play against Stanford, after losing the heartbreaker against MSU. I was at the game and it was pretty obvious. Yes, Stanford was good, but Iowa played with zero emotion. When you are not ready to play against a good team, you can get blown out. That is what happened, IMHO.

 

[Ree4]

Dude we got our doors blown off in the second half of that Orange Bowl game against USC. If we would have won that one then your what-if argument might hold water.

And we got our doors blown off in the Rose Bowl against Stanford. Had we won that one, then maybe your argument that we deserved better would hold water and we lost to Mich State anyway.

USC was the best team in the country in 2002 IMO. They just laid some eggs against Wazoo (who was really good that year) and Kansas State.

 

[westender]

Everyone can admit though that Clone clocking his own dude on the punt return was one of the most glorious things. It was heard 'round the state.

 

[Ree4]

Everyone can admit though that Clone clocking his own dude on the punt return was one of the most glorious things. It was heard 'round the state.

I like the "we would have won if that didnt happen" crowd that appeared after that as well

 

[okeefe4prez]

Watch the SEC. They know how to schedule out of conference games.

SC plays Clemson every year and Clemson almost always plays one other SEC team beside SC. UGA plays GT every year. Florida plays one of Florida State or Miami every year. LSU played Texas last year and played Wisconsin. Auburn played Oregon this past year. Bama has routinely scheduled someone tough, but has had some creampuffs and plays USC next year. The SEC actually plays better non-con games than the Big Ten many years. The SEC has the same problem that Clemson has - the ACC has completely fallen off the map so good rivalry games against programs like VA Tech, the Florida or NC schools or GT are dogshit because the ACC sucks so hard.

I want more SEC-Big Ten games in the regular season, particularly if the SEC teams have to go north in October or November.

 

[ChosenChildren]

SC plays Clemson every year and Clemson almost always plays one other SEC team beside SC. UGA plays GT every year. Florida plays one of Florida State or Miami every year. LSU played Texas last year and played Wisconsin. Auburn played Oregon this past year. Bama has routinely scheduled someone tough, but has had some creampuffs and plays USC next year. The SEC actually plays better non-con games than the Big Ten many years. The SEC has the same problem that Clemson has - the ACC has completely fallen off the map so good rivalry games against programs like VA Tech, the Florida or NC schools or GT are dogshit because the ACC sucks so hard.

I want more SEC-Big Ten games in the regular season, particularly if the SEC teams have to go north in October or November.

I would be 100% in favor of Iowa playing Iowa State as the final game of the year. That makes more sense to me. I believe that is how Georgia and Georgia Tech handle it.

 

[Xerxes]

I would be 100% in favor of Iowa playing Iowa State as the final game of the year. That makes more sense to me. I believe that is how Georgia and Georgia Tech handle it.

I wouldn't mind this either. Last week of the season should be a rivalry game & nobody in the B1G considers Iowa their main rival.

 

[Fryowa]

I would be 100% in favor of Iowa playing Iowa State as the final game of the year. That makes more sense to me. I believe that is how Georgia and Georgia Tech handle it.

Not me.

Eventually we're going to lose and then that taste is in our mouths for a whole year. If you lose right away, you have the whole year to kibosh it. Can you imagine being 10-2 with a chance at an actual real bowl game, and then lay an egg against those genetic defects and Matt Cowbell?

 

[Fryowa]

Last week of the season should be a rivalry game...

Ours already is. No matter what their shitbird fans think.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Not me.

Eventually we're going to lose and then that taste is in our mouths for a whole year. If you lose right away, you have the whole year to kibosh it. Can you imagine being 10-2 with a chance at an actual real bowl game, and then lay an egg against those genetic defects and Matt Cowbell?

good point. Maybe play them the first game of the year? The Iowa State game is always a problem for Iowa. Iowa is expected to win (almost every year). Is that really a rivalry? I don't know.

 

[westender]

I never said we deserved better. You missed the point. The point I was trying to make is that playing Iowa State doesn't help Iowa win the Big Ten or advance in the national rankings. We are supposed to win that game. Every year.

Watch the SEC. They know how to schedule out of conference games.

USC was the best team in the nation in 2002. Miami of Florida was not. It is all about match-ups.

The Iowa team wasn't ready to play against Stanford, after losing the heartbreaker against MSU. I was at the game and it was pretty obvious. Yes, Stanford was good, but Iowa played with zero emotion. When you are not ready to play against a good team, you can get blown out. That is what happened, IMHO.

You picked the two years Iowa has done the best and taking Iowa State out of the deal, we lost to other teams. If you want to win a title you have to beat everyone. Every single game. You can take Iowa State out. That doesn't matter nor will anyone else we pop in there if we don't win the games we lost in 2002 and 2015. We lost to Mich state and Stanford in 2015, so again tell me how playing Iowa State in 2015 mattered one bit one way or the other. Or if we would have played Jimbo State from Pascagoola.