How Far Can Iowa Go in 2009 in Football?

The Hawkeyes haven't competed for a Big Ten title since 2004, when the Hawkeyes finished 7-1 and co-champions with Michigan.

So, will the tide change in 2009 for the Hawkeyes? It's been five seasons, since a title run in Iowa City in Football.

Iowa's team to beat clearly starts with Ohio State. The Buckeyes have won a share or outright title in the Big Ten for four straight seasons. Iowa plays at Ohio State on November 14. Iowa's last win over the Buckeyes was in 2004, but the Hawkeyes haven't won in Columbus, since 1991. Both seasons, Iowa finished 7-1 in the Big Ten.

Ohio State has lost 2 of last 5 games heading into the finale with Michigan. The Fighting Illini beat the Buckeyes in Columbus 28-21 in '07, while Purdue beat Ohio State in '04 at home 24-17. Can Iowa make it 3 of 6 heading into Michigan-Ohio State rivalry game?

Iowa travels to Penn State, after knocking Penn State out of the BCS title game last year. The Hawkeyes won 24-23 in Iowa City last year and have won six of seven, since 2000 vs. PSU. The only loss was a 7-27 in '07 in Happy Valley. Can Iowa get back their Happy Valley magic again? Will the Nittany Lions get some payback for '08?

Coach Kirk Ferentz is heading into his 11th year as head coach at Iowa. But, like at Ohio State, the Hawkeyes have yet to win at Michigan State under Ferentz. The Hawkeyes last win in East Lansing was 1995. Last year, the game went down to a 4 and 1 and the Hawkeyes came up short, losing 13-16 in East Lansing. Coach Mark Dantonio has the Spartans on the rise in the Big Ten. Yet, are the Spartans ready to compete for a Big Ten title in Dantonio's third season. This match up is likely a key game for either team, if they wish to compete for a title in '09.

Iowa doesn't play Illinois in '09 or '10. The Hawkeyes have won 5 of the last six in this series, but the Fighting Illini ended the streak for the Hawkeyes in Champaign last year, with a late minute FG in 27-24 game. While the Hawkeyes lost the game, Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi did lead Iowa on a 15 point second half comeback to tie the game at 24-24. The special teams and defense came up short on holding the Illini on the final drive. Purdue is also off the schedule in the Big Ten for '09 and '10.

Iowa gets to welcome Michigan back on the schedule for Homecoming on October 10Th at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes haven't beat the Wolverines, since back to back wins in '02 and '03. Of course, the Wolverines have second year coach Rich Rodriguez and are coming off their poorest season (2-6 in the Big Ten and 3-9 overall), since 1967. Missed there first bowl since 1975. Three of the last four games in Iowa City have been decided by exactly 3 points.

Northwestern gave Iowa its last defeat at home, when the Wildcats upset the Hawkeyes 22-17 on Homecoming last year at Kinnick, fueled by five Hawkeye turnovers. The Wildcats-Hawkeyes series has turned into a rivalry, ever since Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald helped lead the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl in the mid-1990s. Is this Iowa's payback game in '09?

Iowa's fourth Big Ten road game is at Wisconsin, where the Hawkeyes have won two out of last three. But, the Badgers coach Bret Bielema's Badgers won the '07 game 17-13, as the #9 Badgers out last the unranked Hawkeyes, who seemed to lose more offensive players than their ability to score offensive TDs. This game could help place Bielema right on the hot seat, if the Hawkeyes can pull out a win and continue the momentum after last year's 38-16 win over the Badgers.

The Hawkeyes close out the home slate with Indiana and Minnesota. The Hoosiers won the last time at Kinnick in '07 in a blowout 38-20. Last year, the Hawkeyes put some pain in the Gophers final game in the Dome, 55-0. Iowa should win at Kinnick, but haven't gone 4-0 at Kinnick in the Big Ten, since their last Big Ten title run. If the Hawkeyes are going to compete in '09 for a Big Ten title, they better take care of business at home. Of course, in 1990, they went 4-0 on the road, while 2-2 at home to win a share of the Big Ten title. A 6-2 record isn't usually a good formula in the Big Ten for titles.

In the out of conference, Iowa hasn't gone undefeated, since 2003. The only undefeated non-conference schedule in the Kirk Ferentz era. The Hawkeyes will open the season with FCS power Northern Iowa, a trip to Cy-Hawk rival Iowa State, a homecoming of sorts for Arizona coach Mike Stoops. The Hawkeyes open the Big Ten on September 26Th in Happy Valley. They close out the OOC the following week at Kinnick vs. Arkansas State, from the Sun Belt Conference. Arkansas State gave Ferentz's friend and second year head coach Mike Sherman at Texas A&M a tough first game, with Red Wolves winning 18-14.

The Sun Belt pulled off a solid win in '07, when the ULM Warhawks beat Nick Saban's Alabama team 21-14. This was the same weekend that Western Michigan up ended Iowa's season '07. Can Iowa move up the ladder in '09, as the Alabama Crimson Tide did in the SEC in '08? Some comparisons have been made between Iowa and Alabama, heading into '09.

Of course, Iowa must develop this off season, build team unity again for '09 and fill the holes that five starters on offense and three starters on defense created with their departures. Iowa returns 49 or so lettermen in '09, including experience in the O-Line. Can QB Ricky Stanzi step up and lead the Hawkeyes in the Big Ten in '09? It should be fun season to catch the Hawkeyes and will they catch the right Tide in '09 in the Big Ten?

Happy Independence Day Holiday weekend everyone!

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