POLL: With a new coordinator poised to take over the juggernaut Iowa offense …
- Thread starter Zenophile
- Start date
They do have the most returning starters in the Big 10 and a new O.C. Offense has to be better right? They could have another 10-win season this year. Don't sleep on Iowa. No Penn State, no Michigan, no Oregon, no USC on their schedule either.
they do have a surprisingly easy schedule, at least on paper.
8/31 - Illinois St
9/7 - Iowa St
9/14 - Troy
9/21 - @ Minnesota
10/5 - @ Ohio State
10/12 - Washington
10/19 - @ MSU
10/26 - Northwestern
11/2 - Wisconsin
11/8 - @ UCLA
11/23 or 24 - @ Maryland
11/29 - Nebraska
tOSU is the only team they'll be a clear underdog, and they have a bye before that game. Iowa St. is an in-state rivalry, and strange things happen in those, but Iowa will be favored. Washington is a mystery, with a new coach and a almost entirely new starting roster. Nebraska could be a tough final game, though they have a bye before their last two games.
Pretty much identical to PSU's schedule (strikingly so)
Six Identical opponents:
Maryland
Minnesota
Washington
Ohio State
Wisconsin
UCLA
The differences:
PSU's other 3 (2023 Overall Record, Conference Record):
USC (7-5, 5-4)
Illinois (5-7, 3-6)
Purdue (4-8, 3-6)
TOTAL 16-20, 11-16
VS
Iowa's other 3:
Nebraska (5-7, 3-6)
Northwestern (7-5, 5-4)
MSU (4-8, 2-7)
TOTAL 16-20, 10-17
Even down to their respective "marquee" out-of-conference game:
Iowa State for Iowa
West Virginia for PSU
Both in the Big 12, both went 6-3 in conference last year (they didn't play head-to-head)
We’re counting on our new OC to produce a better offense too right? They (Iowa) can’t be worse than last year.
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Don‘t sell the new guy short. They could be plenty worse.
Three of the four Iowa losses last year were via shutout. PSU (31-0). Michigan (26-0). Tennessee (35-0). The other was to Minnesota (12-10). Five of their wins were by less than seven points. Ferentz does have a knack for winning (and losing) ugly. He's benefited from being in the woeful B1G West. Even with divisions gone, as noted above Iowa is still getting a soft schedule on paper. I think Nebraska and Wisconsin will be much better this year with both their coaches being in year #2. But Iowa has both of those games at home.
Every season brings new surprises. Last year alone can't be used to predict what will happen.
Every season brings new surprises. Last year alone can't be used to predict what will happen.
Amen. Predicting that Iowa sucks requires years of exposure.
