Should the Big Ten Schedule Early Season Conference Games?

Discussed on the Big Ten Network on Wednesday night. Our answer is "NO" since the conference schedule is better for October and November, with the new Big Ten Championship Game in December. Play the out of conference games first, then open the Big Ten and work to avoid any out of conference once the Big Ten season begins. It can occur now, with an equal number of teams again.

In other conference races, we saw a couple of conference games in Week 1. There was an ACC conference opener, along with an conference opener in the Sun Belt in Week 1.

• Miami-FL @ Maryland was a great game, with the Terps winning 32-24 over the Hurricane, in the first games for new head coaches at both schools. Maryland's Randy Edsall beat Miami-FL's Al Golden in College Park, as both coaches began their respective eras as head coaches.


• North Texas @ FIU was a blowout. FIU beat North Texas and coach Dan McCarney's debut, with a 41-16 win in Miami. McCarney's first game in Denton will be in Week 2, as Houston (1-0) comes to town on the heals of a 38-34 home win over UCLA (0-1)

In Week 2 - There are some monster in-conference openers:

• In the ACC, North Carolina State (1-0) @ Wake Forest (0-1)


• In the C-USA, Southern Miss (1-0) @ Marshall (0-1); Tulsa (0-1) @ Tulane (1-0); and UTEP (1-0) @ SMU (0-1)


• In the MAC, Temple (1-0) @ Akron (0-1)


• In the MWC, TCU (0-1) @ Air Force (1-0)


• In the Pac 12, California (1-0) @ Colorado; Utah (1-0) @ #21 USC, as both newcomers of the new Pac 12 open conference play for the first time in their new conferences.


• In the SEC, #16 Mississippi State @ #25 Auburn; #14 South Carolina @ Georgia

Again, we are thankful, the Big Ten remains in the out of conference heading into Week 2. It should be an interesting Week 2.

Thursday, September 8Th

Arizona at #9 Oklahoma State, 7:00 p.m. on ESPN (HD) (3D) / espn3

• Do we really expect coach Mike Stoops and the Arizona Wildcats to upset the #9 team on their home field in Stillwater? Not really, but we sure hope the former Hawkeye football player can lead his Wildcats to victory.

Upset Alert for Week 6: Does Oregon State continue to get #13 Arizona's number in Football?

It's 9 of 11 for Oregon State over Arizona isn't it? Oregon State enjoyed a win the last time in Tucson in 2008, with a 19-17 win, kicking a 24 yard FG as time expired.

Will it be three's a charm for the Oregon State offense? They have already faced the #1 and #3 defenses in College Football. #2 is next!

Our #13 ranked Arizona Wildcats team is ranked #2 in team defense. WR James Rogers for Oregon State should be back per ESPN, after the injury he sustained in Week 4 @ #3 Boise State.

James Rodgers should play at Arizona - ESPN (Blog)

Oregon State was able to beat Arizona State at home without James Rodgers. Will his return from a concussion be enough for the Beavers to record an upset at No. 9 Arizona on Saturday ...

Arizona did beat Oregon State last season on the road, in junior QB Nick Foles, first start in the Mike Stoops era. Foles hit 25-34 for 254 yards and 3 TDs.

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The Iowa Hawkeyes fall 27-34 @ Arizona in Week 3

Iowa's previous loss was 24-27 in OT at Ohio State last year. In a way, the Iowa loss @ Arizona in Week 3 was similar to the loss in '09 @ Ohio State. Both games witnessed an Iowa opponent on their home field gain separation, due to Iowa's poor execution or turnovers.

In both games, Iowa scored a big touchdown in the endzone by WR Marvin McNutt in the come back. But, at the end, the Iowa play calling couldn't keep the momentum on track as another opponent pulled the game out.

Former Iowa safety and now seventh year head coach Mike Stoops at Arizona appeared to have everything riding on the Iowa @ Arizona game in Week 3. He paced, he shouted, he disagreed with just about every negative play that impacted his Wildcats, despite what replay would have suggested as a good call on the field.

On the flip side, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz remained calm and quiet in his demeanor as Iowa fell behind 7-27 at halftime in Tucson. The Hawkeyes midway in the fourth quarter came back to tie the game 27-27. A missed extra point became costly, on a night where Iowa's special teams were not playing well.

"Both teams had their share of sloppy plays, but we got off to a fast start in
that department. That makes it tough, but our guys battled back." - Kirk Ferentz

Arizona blocked an Iowa punt deep in Iowa territory on Iowa's first possession. Arizona went on to take a 7-0 lead. Iowa made some positive plays in their next possession taking the ball nearly into the Arizona redzone, only to drop a pass that deflected right into the hands of Arizona CB Trevin Wade for a pick 6. Wade scored a pick 6 in Iowa's 27-17 win in '09 in Iowa City.

Iowa bounced back with another drive to make the score 7-14, but on the next kickoff, Arizona took the kickoff 100 yards for another Wildcat touchdown. Turnovers and special teams lead to 21 points right out of the gate for the Wildcats in what the ESPN television coverage called a "Hawkeye ambush." The "red out" was working in Arizona Stadium on Saturday night in the Desert in Tucson. And that was all in the first 16 minutes of the game.

The Hawkeyes (2-1) gave it a great effort in the second half, with Broderick Binns returning the pick-six favor with 8-minutes, 12-seconds left to knot the score at 27. Iowa also scored a touchdown after cornerback Shaun Prater recovered a muffed Wildcat punt.

After Iowa tied the ball game up 27-27, with solid defense in the second half and a mix of patient passing and several big plays, it was time for one final drive for the Wildcats. The #21 Arizona Wildcats (3-0) secured the upset by executing a 73-yard scoring drive late in the nonconference contest. #4 Iowa falls in the desert, after running out of momentum on the heals of the missed PAT.

Iowa allowed the most points since Indiana scored 38 in 2007 against the Hawkeyes. "They made the plays they had to make at the end and we didn't get it done," Ferentz said.

"The bottom line is that we made too many mistakes to win the game," UI linebacker Jeff Tarpinian said. "We knew we had to stop them and we didn't get it done." Tarpinian led the Hawkeye defense with 12 tackles. It was the second week in the row the new starting MLB has lead Iowa in tackles.

"We're going to go in (Sunday) and it will be a good teaching tool for us," Tarpinian said. Iowa will regroup with one final nonconference game, before the eight game conference schedule begins in the Big Ten.

Iowa will host Ball State at Kinnick on Saturday, September 25Th. The game will be telecast nationally on the Big Ten Network with an 11 a.m. Central Time start.

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August 2, 2010: Big Ten Media Day with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz

Listening to Iowa Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz address Media in Chicago on the Big Ten Network rebroadcast of the 2010 Big Ten Media Day. Coach Ferentz begins with a little joke about his off season ...

"It's been a good month." ~ Kirk Ferentz about his off season

First up, Iowa has three outstanding defensive players to replace. But, Iowa has outstanding returning starters, as well as experienced reserves filling those remaining spots as the Hawkeyes enter the 2010 season.

The strength is the returning defensive line for Iowa, all four starters back.

On offense, Iowa must replace three starting offensive linemen and an outstanding TE. The offense is lead by senior QB Ricky Stanzi. Iowa returns outstanding skill players. Senior TE Allen Reisner was like a starter, as the second TE in Iowa's offense in '09.

Iowa returns just about everyone in special teams, which is usually a strength of a Kirk Ferentz team.

The Hawkeyes have a solid schedule in 2010.

It's great to see Nebraska coming to the Big Ten in 2011. We agree with Coach Ferentz. It should be a good rivalry game and Nebraska will enjoy some other solid match ups as well in the Big Ten.

The national prospective of the Big Ten Conference. Coach Ferentz was an offensive line coach under J. Hayden Fry from 1981 to 89. He was hired to replace Fry in November 1998 and is entering his 12Th season as head coach at Iowa.

"I just think the Big Ten is fantastic in all regards. I don't think we have to
defend ourselves to anybody. And let the results speak as they may, and that's
really what football's all about anyway. But things are going to swing back and
forth, and that's just how it works." ~ Kirk Ferentz

The team to beat is Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been the most consistent team the past five seasons, winning a share or outright championship. We agree Ohio State has been very solid throughout the Ferentz era as an offensive line coach and as a head coach.

"Ohio State has done a tremendous job the last five years, and, really, since I
go back to 1981, ever since I've been really paying attention to the Big
Ten. And I know there's more than 13 years prior to that."
"But they've traditionally been an outstanding program. And one thing for sure, if
you're going to try to win a Big Ten Championship, you're going to have to find
a way to compete with them and beat them. And not many people have had
much luck doing that." ~ Kirk Ferentz

The game in the desert with Arizona in Tucson in Week 3. Arizona coach Mike Stoops has yet to win a game vs. a FBS program during his tenure in Tucson during Week 3. As Coach Ferentz mentioned, he has been to Tucson twice as an assistant at Iowa in the 1980s. By the way, Iowa picked up important wins each time.

Coach Ferentz recapped the exciting 2009 season, which Iowa nearly missed out of the gate vs. Northern Iowa. But, they pulled out the win and won nine straight, until QB Stanzi's injury stalled Iowa (2 losses). The Hawkeyes pulled out a very good BCS win at Miami in the Orange Bowl over the ACC champion, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Iowa kicks off the 2010 College Football Season on September 4Th vs. Eastern Illinois, an FCS program out of the OVC.

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Week 3: Iowa vs. Arizona at Kinnick Stadium, ABC/ESPN2 @ 2:30 pm

It's Game Day Iowa style, with the University of Arizona, lead by two former Hawkeyes with head coach Mike Stoops and his defensive coordinator brother, Mark, headed back to their alma mater to face the '09 Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes and the Wildcats both enter Kinnick with 2-0 records.

(picture - Iowa's Tim Dwight vs. Arizona back in the '90s the last time the Wildcats visited Kinnick to face the Hawkeyes)

Iowa's offense

• Junior Ricky Stanzi has had two slow starts, will game 3 be a charm?
• Running backs Adam Robinson (rs-Fr.) and Brandon Wegher (true Fr.) appear 1-2 entering Week 3 ... will Jeff Brinson (rs-Fr.) see a couple more carries too?
• Iowa has a nice mix at WR and TE in '09 developing
• Does Iowa's offensive line lead the Big Ten in '09 - good test today
• PK Daniel Murray appears to be carrying the full load this year

Iowa's defense

• The defensive line will be tested by U of A's run game, which DC Norm Parker often finds a way to take away, whether it be PSU in '09 or other programs making their way to Kinnick
• The linebackers are looking forward to this one, absent a spread flare for a change
• The secondary loves to pick the ball lately ... will it continue today?
• Iowa's punter Ryan Donahue is one of the best weapons in Black & Gold

Key's to the game

1. Control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football
2. Win the turnover game
3. Get on the Wildcats early, which points to both Stanzi and the run defense

Prediction:

#20 Iowa 24
Arizona 20

Final thoughts: The U of A are 0-4 in OOC games on the road under coach Mike Stoops, now in his 6Th season in Tucson. This will be Wildcats' sophomore Matt Scott's first road test as a starter. Junior RB Nic Grigsby enters the game #2 in the nation in rushing, but the Wildcats best offensive player, TE junior Rob Gronkowski, is projected out. He has missed all three game thus far and this could be the first game that his absence is really missed. This should be a classic Big Ten-Pac Ten match up, like last week's USC @ Ohio State, this should be a close game at the end. Special teams could play a big role down the stretch. The Hawkeyes hold on and win @ Kinnick by less than a touchdown.

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Former Iowa safety Mike Stoops bringing his University of Arizona team to Kinnick

"It wouldn't be my first choice. I didn't say, Let's go play Iowa.' I'd rather
have a home game." - Arizona coach Mike Stoops

Stoops prepares for return to Iowa - Associated Press

• Arizona is 8-17 on the road under Stoops.


• The Wildcats have played four nonconference road games in his six year tenure - at LSU, Utah, Brigham Young and New Mexico - and lost them all.

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Who will be next in College Football?

Prior to last season, Indiana University from the Big Ten Conference hadn't reached a bowl game, since the 1993 season, Independence Bowl (L 20-45, Virginia Tech). Under first year head coach Bill Lynch, who replaced the late Terry Hoeppner in '07, finished 7-6 overall (3-5 in the Big Ten) and reached the Insight Bowl last year (L 33-49, Oklahoma State).

Longest droughts around the FBS, by conference affiliation:

• SEC East - Vanderbilt (1962, Hall of Fame Bowl)
• SEC West - Mississippi State (2003, Cotton Bowl)
• Big Ten - Northwestern (2005, Sun Bowl)
• Big 12 North - Iowa State (2005, Houston Bowl)
• Big 12 South - Baylor (1994, Alamo Bowl)
• ACC Atlantic -North Carolina State (2005, Car Care Bowl)
• ACC Coastal - Duke (1994, Hall of Fame Bowl)
• Pac Ten - Arizona (1998, Holiday Bowl)
• Big East - Pittsburgh (2004, Fiesta Bowl) and Syracuse (2004, Champs Sports Bowl)
• Mountain West - San Diego State (1998, Las Vegas Bowl)
• Conference USA East - Marshall (2004, Fort Worth Bowl) and UAB (2004, Hawaii Bowl)
• Conference USA West - SMU (1984, Aloha Bowl)
• WAC -New Mexico State (1960, Sun Bowl)
• Independents - Army (1996, Independence Bowl)
• MAC East - Kent State (1972, Tangerine Bowl)***
• MAC West - Eastern Michigan (1987, California Bowl)
• Sun Belt - Three teams have never bowled***

*** The Buffalo Bulls of the MAC have never been to a bowl game. Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Florida International of the Sun Belt Conference have never been to a bowl game, either.

The SEC is recognized as the top FBS conference, but at the bottom, it shows some weaknesses as compared to the other BCS conferences. The Big Ten had IU with a nearly 15 year drought before last year, but Vanderbilt hasn't been to a bowl game, since the Kennedy Administration was in power in the White House.

A strong season for head coach Mike Stoops would greatly relieve some pressure on the University of Arizona fan base. Patience may be in order, if Stoops isn't successful in 2008, but the fan base may get a little restless, if they are shutout for a 10th straight season.

Ball State from the MAC ended an eleven year drought last year earning a bid to the International Bowl in Toronto (L 30-52, Rutgers). Ball State and IU were two Indiana FBS schools that ended longer bowl droughts in '07.

Last year, Florida Atlantic of the Sun Belt played in their first bowl game winning a bid to the New Orleans Bowl (W 44-27, Memphis). It will be interesting to see who ends a drought in '08.

• Most Likely Team to Bowl in '08 - Pittsburgh Panthers (Big East)

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