Monday, September 3, 2018

No reason to delay our Week 1 Cidsports Top 40 College Football ratings: as #20 VA TECH @ #19 Florida State kicks off tonight in Tallahassee

Week 1 of the 2018 College Football season concludes with a Top 20 match up in Tallahassee tonight, as Labor Day weekend concludes with a ACC showdown between #20 Virginia Tech (9-4) @ #19 Florida State (7-6). The Hokies lead by head coach Justin Fuente, entering his third season, were 5-3 in the Coastal Division in 2017. While the Seminoles were 3-5 in the Atlantic Division in 2017, they enter the Willie Taggart era, as the former USF and Oregon head coach returns to lead Florida State into the 2018 season.

#20 Virginia Tech @ #19 Florida State, 7 PM CT on ESPN.

Monday, September 3rd
#20 Virginia Tech at #19 Florida State7:00 pmESPN

The dean of college football, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, won his 144th
game for the Hawkeyes, as first year player and now special teams coach
LeVar Woods celebrate, at the end of the Iowa-Northern Illinois game on
Saturday, at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes turn their focus to in-state rival,
Iowa State, as the Cy-Hawk game kicks off on Saturday in Iowa City.
  1. Alabama (1-0) (2) - we push the Crimson Tide back into the #1 slot, after a 51-14 win over Louisville (0-1) by the defending national champions in Orlando. Week 2 - vs. Arkansas State (1-0) Red Wolves, who won over SE Missouri in the season opener.
  2. Clemson (1-0) (1) - the Tigers fall back, after a 48-7 win over Furman (0-1) to kick off the 2018 season. Week 2 - @ Texas A&M (1-0), as the Aggies opened with a 59-7 win over Northwestern State in College Station. 
  3. Georgia (1-0) (3) - the Bulldogs opened 2018 with a 45-0 win over Austin Peay (0-1) on Saturday. Week 2 - @ #28 South Carolina (1-0), where Bulldogs take a three game win streak in this series into the 2018 game
  4. Oklahoma (1-0) (4) - the Sooners rolled then #25 FAU (0-1) 63-14 to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - vs. UCLA (0-1), as the Chip Kelly era opened at home to a 26-17 loss to Cincinnati (0-1).
  5. Auburn (1-0) (6) - the Tigers took down then #5 Washington (0-1) 21-16 in Atlanta on Saturday. Week 2 - vs. Alabama State (1-0), as this is the first meeting between FBS and FCS schools from the same state.
  6. Ohio State (1-0) (7) - the Buckeyes won 77-31 over Oregon State (0-1) in Columbus on Saturday, as interim coach Ryan Day lead the squad. Week 2 - vs. Rutgers (1-0), as the Big Ten opener squares off against the Scarlet Knights, who won their opener 35-7 over Texas State (0-1). Ohio State took down Rutgers 56-0 last year, so Week 2 may not be much different than Week 1.
  7. Wisconsin (1-0) (8) - the Badgers won 34-3 against Western Kentucky (0-1) on Friday night. Week 2 - vs. New Mexico (1-0), in the first meeting, as the Badgers have won 40 straight home non-conference games by an average of over 27 points per game. 
  8. Washington (0-1) (5) - the Huskies drop opener 21-16 to then #6 Auburn (1-0) in Atlanta, so the margin of error for the College Football Playoff gets slim for the favorite in the Pac 12. Week 2 - vs. North Dakota (1-0), in the first meeting between these schools. The Huskies are 27-5 in home openers.
  9. Stanford (1-0) (12) - the Cardinal beat then #45 San Diego State (0-1) by the score of 31-10 to avenge last year's 20-17 loss to the Aztecs. Week 2 - vs. #14 USC (1-0), another payback game for the Cardinal ... last year's 42-24 loss on road against the Trojans!
  10. Notre Dame (1-0) (13) - the Fighting Irish defeated Michigan 24-17 in South Bend to open 2018 on Saturday night. Week 2 - vs. Ball State (1-0), first meeting ever between the two schools located in Indiana.
  11. Michigan State (1-0) (9) - the Spartans were tested in the season opener on Friday night, but pulled out a 38-31 win over Utah State (0-1). Week 2 - @ Arizona State (1-0), as the Sun Devils opened up the Herm Edwards era, with a 49-7 win over UTSA (0-1). A battle in the desert that typically has favored the local Pac 12 school ....
  12. Penn State (1-0) (10) - the Nittany Lions had to scramble back and force OT, as PSU beat Appalachian State 45-37 in Happy Valley on Saturday. Week 2 - @ Pittsburgh (1-0), a game that went to the Panthers 42-39 two years ago. 
  13. LSU (1-0) (17) - the Tigers took out then #11 Miami-FL (0-1) 33-17 in Arlington on Saturday to win in Week 1. Week 2 - vs. Southeast Louisiana (0-1), as the Lions lost 34-31 @ Louisiana Monroe (0-1).
  14. USC (1-0) (15) - the Trojans beat UNLV (0-1) 43-21 on Saturday. Week 2 - @ #9 Stanford (1-0), as the series opens in Week 2 again this season.
  15. UCF (1-0, 1-0 AAC) (23) - the Knights won @ UConn (0-1) 56-17 on Thursday night and we will bump the undefeated 2017 program, since they did finished 13-0 last year and new coach Josh Heupel has the offense rolling already. Week 2 - vs. South Carolina State (0-1), as UCF won in the 2016 season opener 38-0 over the Bulldogs.
  16. TCU (1-0) (16) - the Horned Frogs pounded Southern (0-1) 55-7 in the season opener on Saturday. Week 2 - @ SMU (0-1), as the former SWC schools square off for their annual showdown on Friday night. The Mustangs lost 46-23 @ North Texas (1-0) in the AAC vs. C-USA showdown.
  17. Northwestern (1-0) (35) - the Wildcats opened Thursday night in the Big Ten @ then #36 Purdue, pulling off a 31-27 win for last year's #17 team. Boost them back up. Week 2 - vs. Duke (1-0), who beat the Wildcats 41-17 in Durham, as this year's game returns to Evanston, where Northwestern won 24-13 in 2016.
  18. Mississippi State (1-0) (18) - the Bulldogs won 66-3 over Stephen F Austin (0-1) to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - @ Kansas State (1-0), who struggled in the season opener against South Dakota (0-1) 27-24, as Coyotes miss a tying FG late.
  19. Florida State (0-0) (19) - the Seminoles host #20 Virginia Tech to close out Week 1. Week 2 - vs. Samford (1-0), as the Seminoles have hosted at least one FCS program the past ten seasons.
  20. Virginia Tech (0-0) (20) - the Hokies travel to Tallahassee to open 2018 @ #19 Florida State tonight. Week 2 - vs. William & Mary (1-0), as the Hokies square off in the 64th meeting in this series.
  21. Boise State (1-0) (21) - the Broncos opened 2018 with a win @ then #40 Troy (0-1) 56-20. Week 2 - vs. UConn (0-1), as the Broncos return home, before a Week 3 road trip to P5 Okie State. 
  22. Oklahoma State (1-0) (22) - the Cowboys won 58-17 over Missouri State (0-1) to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - vs. South Alabama (0-1), who lost home opener against LA Tech (1-0) 30-26, as they fall in back to back years against the Bulldogs.
  23. West Virginia (1-0) (27) - the Mountaineers beat Tennessee (0-1) in Charlotte 40-14 on Saturday to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - vs. Youngstown State (0-1), as WVU looks to win their 15th straight home opener and eighth under coach Dana Holgorsen.
  24. Iowa (1-0) (24) - the Hawkeyes opened 2018 with the 144th win under Kirk Ferentz, as he opened his 20th season, as head coach and past Hayden Fry in all-time win in a 33-7 win over Northern Illinois (0-1). Week 2 - vs. #31 Iowa State (0-0), as the Cyclones come to Kinnick Stadium for the annual Cy-Hawk trophy game. The Hawkeyes pulled out a 44-41 OT win last year in Ames. Twenty years ago, the Cyclones ended a 15 game losing streak to end the 20 year reign of Fry in the State of Iowa, back in 1998.
  25. Miami-FL (0-1) (11) - the Hurricane lost 33-17 to then #17 LSU (1-0) in Arlington on Sunday. Mark Richt has struggled in big games, dating back to his 15 seasons at UGA. Week 2 - vs. Savannah State (0-1), as Tigers were pounded 52-0 by UAB (1-0).
  26. Michigan (0-1) (14) - the Wolverines debuted new QB Shea Patterson, but they fell short chasing then #13 Notre Dame, in a 24-17 loss in South Bend on Saturday night. Week 2 - vs. Western Michigan (0-1), as the Wolverines have won 25 of last 28 home openers.
  27. Oregon (1-0) (29) - the Ducks opened the 2018 season with a 58-24 win over Bowling Green (0-1) Week 2 - vs. Portland State (0-1), as the Ducks continue a non-P5 non conference slate, ahead of hosting #9 Stanford in the Pac 12 opener in Week 4.
  28. South Carolina (1-0) (28) - the Gamecocks win opener 49-15 over Coastal Carolina (0-1) in the season opener. Week 2 - vs. #3 Georgia (1-0), as the Bulldogs seek to win their first SEC home opener, since 2013 over Vanderbilt.
  29. Texas A&M (1-0) (NR) - the Aggies won 59-7 over Northwestern State, after being left off inadvertently from our preseason ratings. Week 2 - vs. #2 Clemson (1-0), as new HC Jimbo Fisher wins his debut, just in time for the first showdown. He is 4-4 vs. Clemson, while he was at Florida State. 
  30. North Carolina State (1-0) (30) - the Wolfpack won 24-13 over James Madison (0-1) to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - vs. Georgia State (0-1), who were ruffed up by then #8 Wisconsin (1-0) in the road opener.
  31. Iowa State (0-0) (31) - the Cyclones, like the Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-0), both witnessed each season openers get called for thunderstorms on Saturday night in the Heartland. Week 2 - @ #24 Iowa (1-0), while the Cornhuskers host Colorado (1-0) in Lincoln. Can a Dec 1st twelve game be arranged between these former Big 8/12 opponents to make up the season opening cancellation?  
  32. Boston College (1-0) (32) - the Eagles beat UMass (1-1) 55-21 to kickoff 2018 with a victory. Week 2 - vs. Holy Cross (0-1), as Eagles enjoy back to back home games, before a Week 3 Thursday night ACC road opener @ Wake Forest (1-0).
  33. Utah (1-0) (33) - the Utes beat Weber State (0-1) 41-10 to kickoff 2018. Week 2 - @ Northern Illinois (0-1), who are looking to rebound after a disappointing 33-7 loss @ #24 Iowa.
  34. Washington State (1-0) - the Cougars opened 2018 with a road win @ Wyoming (1-1) 41-19. Week 2 - vs. San Jose State (0-1), first meeting, since 1996. Cougars have dropped three of last four home openers under Mike Leach.
  35. Ole Miss (1-0) (NR) - the Rebels opened the 2018 season with a 47-27 win over Texas Tech (0-1) in Houston on Saturday. Week 2 - vs. Southern Illinois (1-0), in their third meeting, ahead of the SEC home opener in Week 3 against the defending national champions.
  36. Kansas State (1-0) (34) - The Wildcats pulled out a narrow win over North Dakota (0-1) 27-24 to open 2018. Week 2 - vs. #18 Mississippi State (1-0), as the Wildcats host a Top 25 SEC team for the first time in Manhattan, since the 2014 Week 3 game against Auburn, which they lost 20-14 in route to a 9-4 season under Bill Snyder.
  37. BYU (1-0) (NR) - the Cougars won 2018 opener @ then #37 Arizona (0-1) 28-23 on Saturday. The Cougars opened 2016 with a 18-16 win over the Wildcats on the way to a 9-4 season, back in HC Kalani Sitake's first season at the helm in Provo. Week 2 - vs. California (1-0), as the Golden Bears are coming off a 24-17 home season opener against North Carolina (0-1).
  38. Houston (1-0) (38) - the Cougars won 2018 season opener @ Rice (1-1) 45-27. Week 2 - vs. Arizona (0-1), as the Wildcats fell short in new HC Kevin Sumlin's debut 28-23 against BYU (1-0).
  39. Memphis (1-0) (39) - the Tigers beat Mercer (0-1) 66-14 to open the 2018 season. Week 2 - @ Navy (0-1), as the Midshipmen fall 59-41 in the season opener @ Hawaii (2-0).
  40. Kentucky (1-0) (42) - the Wildcats won the 2018 opener 35-20 over Central Michigan (0-1). Week 2 - @ #41 Florida (1-0), who opened the Dan Mullen era, with a 53-6 win over Charleston Southern (0-1). The Wildcats pulled off the home win 28-27 last season over the Gators.

Game watch in Week 2 outside the Top 40

  • Georgia Tech (1-0) @ USF (1-0) - winner is good candidate for Top 40 ... USF ended 2017 at #21 in both major polls.
  • Colorado (1-0) @ Nebraska (0-0) - in many ways it is fitting the Scott Frost debut will now come against former conference mate, the Buffaloes, as the two teams kickoff at 2:30 pm CT in Lincoln on Saturday. Both programs were sub-.500 in 2017.
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost saw his team rained out on Saturday. His first
official debut will now come Saturday in Lincoln against Colorado (1-0).
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Sunday, September 2, 2018

Week 1: Iowa 33, Northern Illinois 7, as Hawkeye head coach Kirk Ferentz wins 144th game

Kirk Ferentz wins 144th game at Iowa on Saturday, in a 33-7 win over NIU.
Iowa City, IA --- Kirk Ferentz went into the University of Iowa record books on Saturday, as the winning-est head coach in football, passing Hayden Fry, as KF notched his 144th win, in a 33-7 victory for Iowa (1-0) over Northern Illinois (0-1) at Kinnick Stadium.

The North End-zone project at Iowa made its debut in the season
opener. Construction will not be complete next summer, but the
new look appears to make Kinnick Stadium a better place for
football and fans.
Kirk Ferentz's first win at Iowa in 1999, and his 144th win to open the 2018 College Football season were both against Northern Illinois Huskies. 

Kirk Ferentz heading into Kinnick Stadium
ahead of Saturday's game against NIU.
Like the 2017 season, the University of Iowa enjoyed the second season of the "Iowa wave" which takes place between the first and second quarter of each game. The Hawkeyes, Huskies, game officials and fans all took time to wave to the patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

Like the first win, Iowa took a 3-0 lead into halftime. At one point, the score stood at 24-0, just like the final score in his first victory at Iowa. But, on Saturday, his defense rose up to force a safety, to move the score to 26-0. The final score for Iowa came from the second unit, as QB redshirt freshman Payton Mansell made his first debut in relief for junior QB Nate Stanley. NIU closed on the game, avoiding a shutout, with a touchdown against the Iowa second team defense.

Iowa was without four players, two starting offensive tackles and two defensive tackles, due to suspensions. NIU was without players of their own, due to a suspension and a couple of injuries. It showed at times for both teams.

It was a competitive game much of the first half. But, Iowa came out in the second half and established the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, in the third quarter.
Iowa went on to outscore NIU 30-7 in the second half, fueled by a solid ground attack that went for over 200 yards on the day for the Hawkeyes.

The Iowa defense stepped up with five sacks on the afternoon.  The Hawkeyes replaced their top four linebackers from last season. The defense also got into the scoring, after the offense put up the first 24 points on the afternoon.

The Hawkeyes showed a lot of enthusiasm through early mistakes on Saturday. Clearly, the players appeared happy to be back on the gridiron. The Hawkeyes will be back in Kinnick Stadium this Saturday, as the Iowa State Cyclones (0-0) will come to Iowa City for the annual Cy-Hawk Trophy game. The Cyclones, along with the Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-0), had their opening game canceled due to thunderstorms on Saturday night. Iowa gets both programs at Kinnick this season.

The Hawkeyes are back, as a young Iowa team, with on thirteen seniors made
their way back into Kinnick Stadium for the 2018 season opener against NIU.
One of the seniors who emerged on Saturday was senior MLB Jack Hockaday, who entered the game in relief of junior starting MLB Amani Jones, who struggled in his first start. Hockaday went on to record five tackles on the afternoon.

Jack Hockaday, Nick Niemann
Senior MLB 48 Jack Hockaday and sophomore OLB 49 Nick
Niemann both emerged with strong performances in the new LB
unit, that was replacing their Top 4 performers from a year ago.


"Game action is always different than practice," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. "When you have so many young players playing and guys in first-time situations, you learn more about the guys on the game field.
 
"Jack stepped in and did a really nice job; that was great to see."

The Hawkeyes face a challenging 12 game schedule in 2018. One down, eleven to go, with two in-state opponents ahead, before the Big Ten season kicks off against the defending West division champion, Wisconsin Badgers (1-0).

Image result for Iowa football schedule
The first of seven home games are in the books for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2018.
Hawkeye fans have been excited about the September slate of games for the Hawks, and the Big Ten season opener to finish out the month of the September is the biggest of them all.
Over the past 20 seasons in Iowa City. Not everyone has been equal in their joy of the accomplishments under Kirk Ferentz. In 2012, Iowa finished the season 4-8. In the opening game of the 2013 season, the Hawkeyes lost 30-27 to Northern Illinois, as head coach Rod Carey notched his first win, as a head coach. It wasn't the case on Saturday. Ferentz got the W to kick off the new season.

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Opening Weekend of College Football continues with a couple of games in FBS on Sunday


Thunderstorms on Saturday night shelved two games in the Midwest, as the Akron @ Nebraska game, as well, as the South Dakota State @ Iowa State games were canceled due to thunderstorms.

East Carolina will kickoff their season today against North Carolina A&T (1-0), while a showdown on ABC in Arlington, with LSU and Miami-FL, matching the SEC vs. the ACC.

Sunday, September 2nd
2018 College Football season
North Carolina A&T at East Carolina2:30 pmespn3 Video
LSU vs. Miami-FL (Arlington)6:30 pmABC / espn3 and Skycam Video
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Saturday, September 1, 2018

GAME DAY IOWA: the Northern Illinois Huskies come to Kinnick Stadium to kickoff the 2018 season ....

Iowa City, IA --- The Iowa Hawkeyes (8-5 in '17) will seek to earn the 144th victory for head coach Kirk Ferentz in the season opener at Kinnick Stadium, as the Northern Illinois Huskies head into town on Saturday afternoon. Currently, Ferentz is tied with Hall of Fame coach Hayden Fry, who reached 143 wins over 20 seasons, while head coach of Iowa from 1979 to 1998.

For the 40th season, Iowa will use the swarm, as the Hawkeyes
open the 20th season under head coach Kirk Ferentz.
Iowa's Kirk Ferentz is heading into his 20th season as head coach. On the other side, Northern Illinois head coach Rod Carey is entering his sixth full season leading the Huskies out of DeKalb, IL. Both head coaches earned their first win, at their respective schools against each program. For Ferentz, it was a 24-0 win in 1999 against the Huskies, back when that program was lead by Joe Novak.
For Carey, his first win as a head coach came against Iowa in the 2013 season opener, when the Huskies pulled off a 30-27 win, at Kinnick. Carey is 4-1 against B1G teams over the past five plus seasons, as head coach. Both coaches have mutual respect for one another, as former offensive line coaches.

Back in 2013, clearly Northern Illinois had the edge at quarterback, since senior QB Jordan Lynch lead the Huskies to the Orange Bowl the previous season and a 12-2 mark. Iowa's QB was sophomore Jake Rudock, who was taking his first college snap and making his first start for the Hawkeyes. A turnover played a key in the Huskies upset win, as a +3 underdog.

Iowa QB 4 Nate Stanley is getting a lot of praise by the NFL,
as the junior heads into his second season, as a starter. He
finished just one TD behind the season record last year.
This year, both teams return starting quarterbacks, as Iowa turns to second year starter, junior Nate Stanley, who will make his 14th start for the Hawkeyes. Stanley is beginning to pick up a lot of interest in NFL draft boards. For the Huskies, sophomore Marcus Childers will be making his eighth start at QB. Iowa should hold the advantage at QB heading into the season opener.

Iowa will be lead by three sophomore running backs heading into
the 2018 season. Getting the start, 21 Ivory Kelly-Martin is penciled
as the new starter, replacing Akrum Wadley and James Butler.

Both Iowa and Northern Illinois have a new starter at running back in 2018. Both teams will employ running back by committees for 2018. For Iowa, sophomores Ivory Kelly-Martin, Toren Young and Mekhi Sargent are all expected to help in the Iowa ground and air attack in 2018. For the Huskies, redshirt junior Marcus Jones, with redshirt sophomore Tre Harbison and redshirt freshman Jordan Nettles up next at running back. Iowa's returning two backs had five touchdowns rushing last year, compared to six touchdowns by the Huskies returning two backs. Iowa has the stronger rushing attack, in general, though QB Childers is a threat in the ground game for the Huskies.

Iowa junior TE 87 Noah Fant and sophomore TE 38 T.J.
Hockenson provide the 1-2 punch in Iowa's air attack. They
are QB Nate Stanley's safety valve often in the air game.
Iowa appears to have a stronger receiving corp, lead by what could be the nations top TE corp in 2018. Northern Illinois' will take the field without their #1 wide receiver, junior Spencer Tears (suspended) and #1 tight end, sophomore Mitchell Beckman (injury). The Huskies will have two true freshman involved in the receiving corp, lead by Leon Payne, who is slated to make his first start. Iowa appears to have the edge in the receiving corp.

NIU senior LT 73 Max Scharping is one of the best returning
offensive lineman in the MAC and across the nation in 2018.
Like 2013, Northern Illinois returns all their starters in the offensive line, lead by all-MAC left tackle senior Max Scharping. The Hawkeyes lost their starting offensive tackles to suspension for the opener. This will be a new unit, with only 21 starts in the Hawkeyes line, with 20 starts by senior center Keegan Render. Clearly, the Huskies are at full strength, while the Hawkeyes are not heading into the season opener. Iowa will also make it an all-Iowa starting unit in the offensive line.

Due to suspension of both starting offensive tackles, Iowa
will start three players, without a previous start, in the
2018 season opener against Northern Illinois, with a strong
defensive line returning from a team that went 8-5 in '17.
Defense and special teams are often very important in season openers. Turnovers, miscues and explosive special teams can often make the difference in win or lost in an opener.

Northern Illinois is anchored in the defensive line by junior DE
15 Sutton Smith, who had a monster game in the 21-17 win over
Nebraska in Week 3 last season. Smith wasn't shy about the upcoming
game with Iowa, suggesting "We’re coming in there to punch
them right in the face, just like we did at Nebraska.”
Both teams are very strong in the defensive line heading into the 2018 season. Iowa will have two defensive tackles in the two deep unavailable, due to suspensions. Northern Illinois will be missing starting senior DE Josh Corcoran, due to injury. Otherwise, the Huskies do return three other starters, lead by junior all-American DE Sutton Smith, who collected 14 sacks in 2017. While Iowa will be short two defensive tackles, this is the Hawkeyes deepest units up front, outside of tight end. Look for seniors Parker Hesse, Matt Nelson, Sam Brincks, junior Anthony Nelson and sophomore A.J. Epenesa to lead the unit in the season opener. Like the offensive line, the starting defensive line is an all-Iowan unit as well. Both units are worth to watch in this one!

The"Full Nelson" debuted in the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston
College, as junior DE 98 Anthony Nelson and senior DT 96
Matt Nelson, moved inside next to his former running mate at DE.
Both teams have new starters in all three linebacker positions heading into 2018. Northern Illinois gets redshirt junior MLB Kyle Pugh back from injury. He is the anchor, while two Floridians flank him, with redshirt sophomore OLB Antonio Jones-Davis and OLB junior Lance Deveaux, Jr. make their debuts. For Iowa, junior MLB Amani Jones finally gets his starting assignment, after all-American Josey Jewell departed to the NFL Denver Broncos. Sophomore Nick Niemann will replace his brother, Ben, who is having a strong NFL camp with the Kansas City Chiefs, as an undrafted free agent. The final starter for Iowa will be junior WLB Kristian Welch, who had a nice interception at Nebraska last year, as Bo Bower's backup.

Iowa's front 7 for the 2018 season opener
against Northern Illinois (7-5 in '17). NIU
is picked first by the Media in the MAC West
for the 2018 season.
The secondary is always important to a successful defense. Iowa returns four defensive backs, with starting experience, lead by junior SS Amani Hooker and senior FS Jake Gervase. Northern Illinois returns two starters with redshirt senior Albert Smalls and redshirt junior BS Mykelti Williams. Preventing explosive plays, forcing turnovers and drops will be a component to watch in the 2018 season opener.

Special teams likely favor Iowa in the season opener. Iowa returns both kickers in senior PK Miguel Recinos and junior punter Colton Rastetter; while Northern Illinois welcomes grad transfer PK Andrew Gantz and sophomore punter Matt Ference. Iowa and Northern Illinois will have new return specialists, with some experience. What could we see at Kinnick on Saturday?

Iowa sophomore WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette should get an opportunity
to shine in both the kick and punt returning game in 2018. He showed
some explosiveness on kick return duties last year. Now, he will
get an opportunity on the punt return squad. Keep an eye on #6.

This game could go either way, but the Iowa Hawkeyes should win at home. Our prediction for this game:


  • IOWA HAWKEYES 30
  • NIU Huskies 20
The University of Iowa has had two coaches and three athletic directors over the
past forty years. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is the dean of College Football.
He enters his 20th season, after replacing Hayden Fry, who coached 20 at Iowa,
as well. Many around college football find this a very unique situation and place.
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Game Day Saturday: Week one of the 2018 College Football Season

Saturday, September 1st
Coastal Carolina at South Carolina11:00 amSEC Network
Florida Atlantic at Oklahoma11:00 amFOX
Houston at Rice11:00 amCBSSN 
James Madison at North Carolina State11:00 amESPNU 
Kent State at Illinois11:00 amBTN
Maryland vs. Texas (Landover, MD)11:00 amFS1 
Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech (Houston)11:00 amESPN 
Oregon State at Ohio State11:00 amABC 
Southern at TCU11:00 amFSN 
Texas State at Rutgers11:00 amBTN (alternate) 
Villanova at Temple11:00 amESPN News 
Furman at Clemson11:20 amESPN Extra / ACC Network 
Alcorn at Georgia Tech11:30 amESPN Extra / ACC RSN 
UMass at Boston College12:00 pmESPN Extra 

Albany at Pittsburgh2:30 pmESPN Extra
Appalachian State at Penn State2:30 pmBTN
Auburn vs. Washington (Atlanta)2:30 pmABC 
Austin Peay at Georgia2:30 pmESPN 
Central Michigan at Kentucky2:30 pmESPNU
Northern Illinois at Iowa (pick 30-20)2:30 pmBTN (alternate) 
Tennessee vs. West Virginia (Charlotte)2:30 pmCBS 
Washington State at Wyoming2:30 pmCBSSN
Eastern Illinois at Arkansas3:00 pmSEC Network
North Carolina at California3:00 pmFOX
UNLV at USC3:00 pmPAC-12 Network 
UT Martin at Missouri3:00 pmSEC Network alternate
Boise State at Troy5:00 pmESPN News
Delaware State at Buffalo5:00 pmESPN Extra 
North Carolina A&T at East Carolina5:00 pmESPN Extra
Cincinnati at UCLA6:00 pmESPN 
Grambling at Louisiana Lafayette6:00 pmESPN Extra 
Indiana at Florida International6:00 pmCBSSN

Charleston Southern at Florida6:30 pmSEC Network
Stephen F. Austin at Mississippi State6:30 pmESPNU / WatchESPN Video
Abilene Christian at Baylor7:00 pmFSN / FSGo Video
Akron at Nebraska7:00 pmFOX / FSGo Video
Alabama vs. Louisville (Orlando)7:00 pmABC / espn3 and Skycam Video
Bowling Green at Oregon7:00 pmPAC-12 Network / PAC-12 Video
Incarnate Word at New Mexico7:00 pmESPN Extra / espn3 Video
Michigan at Notre Dame6:30 pmNBC 
Northern Iowa at Montana8:00 pmALT2 / SWX (cable)
UTSA at Arizona State9:30 pmFS1 / FSGo Video
BYU at Arizona9:45 pmESPN / WatchESPN Video
Navy at Hawaii10:00 pmCBSSN / CBSSN Video
2018 College Football season
Middle Tennessee at Vanderbilt6:30 pmSEC Network alternate
Central Arkansas at Tulsa6:00 pmespn3 Video
Northern Arizona at UTEP6:30 pmESPN Extra 
Elon at South Florida5:00 pmespn3 Video
Fordham at Charlotte5:00 pm$espn+ Video
VMI at Toledo6:00 pmESPN Extra 
Howard at Ohio U1:00 pm$espn+ Video
Idaho at Fresno State9:00 pmFacebook Video / Stadium
Jackson State at Southern Miss6:00 pm$espn+ Video

Louisiana Tech at South Alabama6:00 pm$espn+ Video

Marshall at Miami Ohio2:30 pm$espn+ Video

Mercer at Memphis6:00 pmespn3 Video

Nicholls at Kansas6:00 pm$espn+ Video / Jayhawk TV

Old Dominion at Liberty5:00 pmespn3 Video

Richmond at Virginia5:00 pmACC Video

SEMO at Arkansas State6:00 pm$espn+ Video
Stony Brook at Air Force1:00 pmFacebook Video
SMU at North Texas6:30 pmStadium Video / Facebook Video / Stadium
South Carolina State at Georgia Southern5:00 pm$espn+ Video
South Dakota at Kansas State6:00 pmespn3 Video
South Dakota State at Iowa State7:00 pmCyclones.tv (cable IA) / $Video

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