Game Day Iowa: Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy from Jack Trice Stadium, in Ames

The Iowa Hawkeyes won back the Cy-Hawk Trophy, after a
31-17 win over the Iowa State Cyclones in 2015. The Hawks
are seeking to make it three straight, in Ames and in the series.

Ames, IA -- The Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0) are looking to carry off the Cy-Hawk Trophy for the third straight time, from the field of Jack Trice, as the Hawkeyes face the Iowa State Cyclones (1-0), with an 11 a.m. kickoff on ESPN2.

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is making his 2nd
appearance in the Cy-Hawk Game today.

It is Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz's 19th season, as head coach, and 28th season overall, connected with the Cy-Hawk Game, as part of the Hawkeyes coaching staff. Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell heads into Round 2 of the series, after the 42-3 loss in Iowa City, in his first season at the helm, leading the Cyclones.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has been involved in 27 Cy-Hawk
games in his coaching resume, as an assistant and now leading.

The dean of college football enters the game tied 9-9 in the series, as head coach. The rubber match today should be a good one.

It was 40 years ago, since the renewal game was played in Iowa
City. The Hawkeyes were the underdog back in 1977, but Iowa
pulled out the win in an exciting 12-10 win, which included a
77 yard TD run by WB Dennis Mosley for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa generally wins 2 out of every 3 against the Cyclones, but after a 15 year win streak from 1983 to 1997, the Cyclones pulled off 27-9 win at Kinnick Stadium in 1998, to begin a five year win streak of their own.

The 2002 game may have done more to spice up
the Cy-Hawk Game, as the Cyclones won another
one in Iowa City, with a 36-31 win over what would
become a Top 10 Iowa Hawkeye team, under Kirk Ferentz.
The first of three straight Top 10 seasons for the Hawkeyes.

What could we see at Jack Trice on Saturday on offense?

• A back and forth game early on, unlike the affair last season, in Iowa City, where the Hawkeyes jumped off to an early 14-0 lead.
• Two young QBs, as both Iowa sophomore Nate Stanley and Iowa State junior Jacob Park make first starts in the Cy-Hawk Game today.
• Both Iowa and Iowa State have seasoned running backs, but none of them have had huge games in the Cy-Hawk Game, as of yet. Both Iowa senior RBs Akrum Wadley and James Butler will be making a debut at Jack Trice Stadium, while ISUs has sophomore David Montgomery and junior Mike Warren.
• ISU's top WR Allen Lazard is a senior, but he has never scored in a Cy-Hawk Game.
• Iowa's top WR Matt VandeBerg is fifth year senior, after having a career day as a senior last season in the Cy-Hawk Game. Suffering a season ending foot injury, after the game, he returns for one more stanza with ring already in hand.
• Let's not forget, both teams have others at wide receiver and tight end, who could step up and become Hawkeye or Cyclone legends today, in the Cy-Hawk Game ...
• It wouldn't be fair to two former offensive line coaches, as, they now lead their respective teams, if we didn't talk about the offensive lines today. The Hawkeyes have a veteran unit coming into Jack Trice, while Cyclones are younger, though senior LT Jake Campos returns from injury to make his final appearance today. Iowa hopes to see junior C James Daniels making his first start of 2017 today.

Iowa senior MLB 43 Josey Jewell is a pre-season all-American.

What could we see at Jack Trice on Saturday on defense?

• The Hawkeyes are coming off a 24-3 win last Saturday over Wyoming, who were lead by NFL prospect in junior QB Josh Allen. The Hawkeyes defense played a very strong game to kickoff 2017. 
• The Hawkeyes rotated in eight defensive linemen, who will be tested heavily today at Jack Trice, with a duo threat in both the rushing and passing games, by the Cyclones. The senior is DT Nate Bazata, but the Hawkeyes debuted five-star true freshman DE A.J. Epenesa in Week 1 for ten snaps. Bazata lead the 4th down stand for the Hawkeyes against Cowboys last Saturday and will be a key player to watch today, as Iowa must stop the duo threat of run and pass from the Cyclones.
• The Cyclones are coming off a 42-24 home win against in-state Northern Iowa, where 14 points was fueled by two early Pick 6 interceptions by the Cyclones back 7.
• The Cyclones can play using a 3-4 defensive set, as well as a 4-3, so look for some different looks, especially with Iowa's QB only making his second collegiate start today. The Cyclones defensive line is anchored by JC transfer, sophomore NG Ray Lima.
• The Hawkeyes return three senior starters at LB in 2017, and last Saturday, they accounted for 38 tackles. Lead by the Outlaw ... MLB Josey Jewell, flanked by OLB Ben Niemann, a Cyclone legacy, and WLB Bo Bower.
• The Cyclones moved former starting QB senior Joel Lanning to MLB for the 2017 season, while junior WLB Willie Harvey is his counterpart in the middle of the ISU defense again.
• Both teams have solid secondaries, though the Hawkeyes are younger, they will see the return of sophomore CB Manny Rugamba today, after missing Week 1, due to a violation of team rules. The Cyclones are lead again by junior LC Brian Peavy and senior LS Kamari Cotton-Moya for 2017.

What could the special teams bring to the equation?

• Iowa is young at placekicker and punter, while ISU senior punter Colin Downing could provide  huge boost in flipping the field position today. 
• Field position is huge in this series ...
• Both teams have capable players in the return game.

Iowa sophomore QB 4 Nate Stanley is making his first road
start for Kirk Ferentz, following three other Hawkeye starters
during the KF era making it on the road against ISU.
(Nathan Chandler 2003, Jake Christensen 2007 and Jake Rudock 2013)
The previous three were 2-1, mirroring the average for Iowa-ISU games.

The two deep on the Iowa Hawkeyes:

The two deep for the Iowa State Cylcones:

Our Pick in Cy-Hawk Game today:

• Iowa 30
• Iowa State 17

The series has been very competitive, 50/50, for the most part during the Kirk Ferentz era. Like 2013 and 2015, look for the Hawkeyes to play better on the road, rather than some of the close wins, ISU has had recently in Iowa City, 2012 and 2014. Of course, the 2011 went to ISU in triple overtime, so often the close ones have bounced the way of the Cyclones. Separation is often important for Iowa ...

Can Iowa senior RB 25 Akrum Wadley pull a Dennis Mosley
game today? The former Iowa RB, had a great senior season,
including breakout game that lead to the first 1,000 yard season
by a Hawkeye in 1981. Iowa brings two 1,000 yard runners
to the game, with Wadley and Nevada grad transfer James Butler.

The 2017 College Football kicks off with a Big Ten showdown in Bloomington

Iowa will kickoff on Saturday hosting Wyoming in a B1G-MWC
showdown, as MLB 43 Josey Jewell leads the Hawkeyes defense ...

The Big Ten Conference kicks off the 122nd season, as The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Bloomington for Big Ten opener against the Indiana Hoosiers, for the first Week One conference opener in 19 seasons.

Big Ten Football Release PDF 

•  The 122nd season of Big Ten football will commence this weekend with all 14 schools kicking off the 2017 campaign. For the first time since 1996, there will be a Big Ten matchup on the opening weekend of the season as Ohio State visits Indiana at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday. That same night, Minnesota will make its 2017 debut, playing host to Buffalo. Rutgers and Wisconsin will open the season on Friday night, as the Scarlet Knights entertain Washington and the Badgers welcome Utah State to Camp Randall. The remaining 10 schools will begin the 2017 campaign on Saturday. The complete opening weekend schedule appears to the right.

•  The first Saturday of the season will feature a pair of Big Ten teams competing at neutral sites. Michigan will face Florida at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, while Purdue will take on Louisville at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

•  The 2017 campaign will feature 33 All-Big Ten players (seven first-team, 12 second-team, 14 third-team) and 46 honorable mention selections from last season.

• Nearly 160 Academic-All Big Ten selections return from the 2017 season, along with 19 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.

•  The winners of five regular-season individual awards from last season will also hit the field again this fall, including Minnesota’s Emmit Carpenter, Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett and Mike Weber and Penn State’s Saquon Barkley.

•  The Big Ten will continue to feature the largest bowl lineup in conference history. This season, the Big Ten’s bowl lineup will be highlighted by 16 potential bowl destinations in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Tennessee and Texas.

•  Penn State was crowned Big Ten Champion last season after its 38-31 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. It was the Nittany Lions’ fourth Big Ten title and first since 2008. Penn State will look to repeat as conference champions for the first time in program history.

•  Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin will all look to repeat as division champions this season, as the Badgers finished 7-2 to win the Big Ten West Division and the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions both completed the season with 8-1 marks to finish tied atop the East Division. Last season’s divisional crowns marked the second for Penn State, third for the Badgers and fifth for the Buckeyes.


This Week's Schedule

DATE	GAME	LOCATION	TIME (ET)	TV
Aug. 31, 2017	Buffalo at Minnesota	Minneapolis, MN	7:00 pm	BTN
	Ohio State at Indiana	Bloomington, IN	8:00 pm	ESPN
Sep. 1, 2017	Washington at Rutgers	Piscataway, NJ	8:00 pm	FS1
	Utah St. at Wisconsin	Madison, WI	9:00 pm	ESPN
Sep. 2, 2017	Ball State at Illinois	Champaign, IL	12:00 pm	BTN
	Wyoming at Iowa	Iowa City, IA	12:00 pm	BTN
	Bowling Green at Michigan State	East Lansing, MI	12:00 pm	ESPNU
	Akron at Penn State	University Park, PA	12:00 pm	ABC
	Maryland at Texas	Austin, TX	12:00 pm	FS1
	Michigan at Florida	AT&T Stadium, Dallas, TX	3:30 pm	ABC
	Nevada at Northwestern	Evanston, IL	3:30 pm	BTN
	Louisville at Purdue	Indianapolis, Ind.	7:30 pm	FOX
	Arkansas St. at Nebraska	Lincoln, NE	8:00 pm	BTN

Ranking the Big Ten heading into 2017 ...

1. Penn State - defending champions look to repeat in Year 4 under James Franklin ...
2. Ohio State - Urban Meyer's seventh season is primed for a B1G run and another birth in the CFP, but over the past two season, the Buckeyes have fallen once and missed out in Indy!
3. Wisconsin - consistency has become a staple for AD Barry Alvarez's Badgers, who begin Year 3 under Paul Chryst.
4. Michigan - Jim Harbaugh opens 2017 with only five starters back, as the Wolverines look to climb the B1G ladder in Year 3 ...
5. Northwestern - could this be the year for the Wildcats and Pat Fitzgerald to break out in the B1G West?
6. Michigan State - this may appear to be a little high, but Mark Dantonio is looking to rebound, after 1-8 campaign last season.
7. Iowa - the Hawkeyes are home to the dean of college football, as Kirk Ferentz enters his 19th season at the helm ...
8. Nebraska - the Mike Riley era turns 3, with a new QB, Tanner Lee, new DC, Bobby Diaco, with a new 3-4 defense to unveil in Lincoln ...
9. Indiana - new head coach Tom Allen hosts his former boss, new Ohio State OC Kevin Wilson, in the biggest game in Bloomington, since the 1967 championship season, 50 years ago!
10. Maryland - D.J. Durkin enters Year 2, with a challenging road trip to Austin ...
11. Minnesota - the P.J. Fleck era begins, with some urban renewal needed, as the row the boat mantra moves from the MAC to the Big Ten ...
12. Purdue - the Jeff Brohm era begins, with a match up against his alma mater in Indianapolis ...
13. Illinois - Lovie Smith enters Year 2 with questions in the trenches ...
14. Rutgers - there is a lot of work to do, entering Year 2 under Chris Ash ...

• Does the Big Ten get a team in the College Football Playoff in 2017?
• Alabama vs. Florida State is a heck of kickoff match up on Saturday
• Can the Big 12 get back into the CFP picture in 2017?
• Can Clemson stay on top, after winning it all in 2017?
• Does the Pac 12 keep improving in 2017?
• Does anyone other than Alabama represent the SEC nationally?

It should be a great kickoff weekend in 2017 ...

Championship Eve: Big Ten Conference Game ... #4 Iowa Hawkeyes (12-0) vs. #5 Michigan State (11-1)

#4 Iowa vs. #5 Michigan State

Indianapolis, IN -- #5 Michigan State (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) is making its third Big Ten Championship Game appearance in five years as the Spartans will take on undefeated and #4 Iowa (12-0, 8-0) from the Big Ten West Division on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:17 p.m. EST in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Game will be televised on FOX with Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Molly McGrath (sidelines). The Big Ten Network's preview game show will be at 5:30 p.m. CST.


The Spartans clinched the Big Ten East Division crown with a 55-16 win over Penn State last Saturday on Senior Day in Spartan Stadium, while the Hawkeyes completed their first perfect regular season since 1922 with a 28-20 victory at Nebraska on Friday, Nov. 27. The Spartans are seeking their ninth Big Ten title in school history and their third under Mark Dantonio (2010, 2013). The Spartans also have won Big Ten titles in 1953, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987 and 1990.

The Hawkeyes won Big Ten titles in 1900, 1921, 1922, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1981, 1985, 1990, 2004 and 2009. The last outright title was thirty years ago in 1985, when Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz was in his fourth season as an offensive line coach. Ferentz is dean of Big Ten coaches, in his 17th season as head coach and 26th year overall in Iowa City. Iowa beat Michigan State in 1985 and 1990.

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is in his ninth season in East Lansing.
Dantonio is seeking his second Big Ten championship at MSU.

Under Dantonio, the Spartans are 15-20 in 35 games played against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25; however, MSU is 14-11 against ranked teams since 2010, including 3-0 this season (#7 Oregon, #12 Michigan, #2 Ohio State). The Spartans are the favorite heading into the 2015 Big Ten Championship Game against the undefeated Hawkeyes.

Saturday’s game marks the 46th meeting between Michigan State and Iowa. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series, 23-20-2; the two teams have never met on a neutral field. MSU won the last meeting over Iowa in 2013 at Kinnick Stadium with a 26-14 victory. Iowa last won in 2012 in East Lansing in a 19-16 double overtime game.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is the 2015 Big Ten Coach of the Year. In his 17th
season, he is seeking his first outright B1G championship and third overall.

Dantonio is 3-4 in his tenure against the Hawkeyes since 2007, but MSU has won two of the last three meetings. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is 7-6 in his career as a head coach against the Spartans, including the 4-3 record over Dantonio.

The Spartans and Hawkeyes have played each other four previous times when both teams were ranked in the AP Top 25. Iowa has won each game. Saturday’s game marks the first time both teams will be ranked in the AP Top 10 when facing each other.

ESPN College GameDay Built by The Home Depot ...

ESPN College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, celebrating its 29th season, makes its 14th appearance from the site of a Michigan State game – and the fourth time in 2015 – for Saturday’s MSU-Iowa contest (7:17 CST kickoff on FOX). The weekly Emmy Award-winning show (Saturday 9-12 p.m. ET) is hosted by Rece Davis, along with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and David Pollack as well as contributors Samantha Ponder, Tom Rinaldi, George Whitfield and Gene Wojciechowski.

Football Championship Game Transcripts

Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio address media

on Dec. 4th in Indianapolis.

Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz

Michigan State Head Coach Mark Dantonio

Iowa Roster vs. Michigan State Roster

Michigan State's senior QB #18 Conner Cook's first B1G start was against Iowa in
Iowa City in 2013. He lead his Spartans to a 2nd Half to a 26-14 victory, after the
Hawkeyes took a 14-10 halftime lead. Cook is now 33-4, as a starter at MSU.

Michigan State's fifth-year senior quarterback Connor Cook, the winningest quarterback in school history, owns a 33-4 record (.891) as the starter, including a 22-2 (.917) mark against Big Ten opponents. The 33 wins are second most among active starting quarterbacks in the NCAA FBS (Stanford’s Kevin Hogan with 34), and Cook’s .891 winning percentage is No. 1 (minimum 24 starts). Cook is 4-1 against AP Top 10 teams in his career and 7-3 against AP Top 25 opponents. He is a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award, and was a semifinalist for both the Davey O’Brien Award (nation’s best quarterback) and the Maxwell Award (college player of the year).

Iowa junior QB #16 C.J. Beathard is 13-0 as a starting QB. The first-year starter
has lead the Hawkeyes to its first 12-0 regular season in program history. He was
a freshman in 2012, the last time Iowa defeated MSU 19-16 in 2 OT in East Lansing.

Iowa junior quarterback C.J. Beathard is one of only three Power 5 Conference quarterbacks to win each of their first 13 career starts since 2010. The others include Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who led Auburn to the BCS National Championship in 2011 and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, who led Florida State to the 2014 BCS National Championship. Beathard's record in 13 career starts includes a 6-0 mark on the road, a 7-0 mark at home, and an 8-0 mark in the Big Ten.

Iowa senior RB #33 Jordan Canzeri was third in Big Ten games with 108 yards
per game rushing. Canzeri lead Iowa with 12 rushing TDs. He also caught one.

Three Hawkeyes (senior Jordan Canzeri, 256, sophomore Akrum Wadley, 204; junior LeShun Daniels, 195) have combined for nine 100-yard rushing games this season: Canzeri (5x), Wadley (twice), and Daniels (twice). The last time the Hawkeyes had three different players rush for over 100 yards in a game in the same season was 2005: Albert Young (8x), and Shonn Greene and Damian Sims once each. The Hawkeyes and Spartans didn't meet in 2005. Iowa goes four deep at RB, with sophomore Derrick Mitchell often used as a third down back.

Michigan State sophomore RB #24 Gerald Holmes was the leading rushing in
the 55-16 win over Penn State, with 64 yards and one touchdown.

Three different running backs have started this season for Michigan State: freshman LJ Scott, red-shirt freshman Madre London and sophomore Gerald Holmes. All three have posted 100-yard rushing games this season. Junior Delton Williams also has seen action in the backfield.

Michigan State WR #16 Aaron Burbridge was awarded top Big Ten honors, as
the leagues top receiver in 2015. Burbridge has been held to 3 touchdowns in B1G play.

Senior WR Aaron Burbridge led the Spartans in receptions for the 10th time in 12 games this season, with six catches for 75 yards against Penn State, including a 29-yard touchdown grab from QB Connor Cook in the third quarter. Burbridge ranks among MSU’s single-season leaders in receptions (third with 75) and receiving yards (sixth with 1,158). He moved into sole possession of second place on MSU’s all-time list with 155 career receptions.

Dating back to Iowa's bowl game in January, junior WR #89 Matt VandeBerg
has been a favorite for Hawkeye QB C.J. Beathard in 2015.

The Hawkeyes also have three receivers with 100-yard receiving games: junior WR Matt VandeBerg (1), senior WR Tevaun Smith (1), and true freshman WR Jerminic Smith (1). It is the first time since 1995 three different Hawkeyes recorded 100-yard receiving games: Tim Dwight (2x), Demo Odems (1), Scott Slutzker (1). Iowa beat Michigan State 21-7 in 1995.

Iowa cousins at TE: senior #80 Henry Krieger Coble and junior George Kittle
are two options in Iowa's passing game for QB C.J. Beathard on Saturday.

One area of the game to watch will be the play of the tight ends. In Iowa's game against Nebraska, the TE position was big for both teams. Iowa is lead by two cousins, with senior Henry Krieger Coble and junior George Kittle. Senior Jake Duzey was expected to be a top performer, but he was slowed all season, after knee surgery in the Spring. The Spartans have experience at TE, as well. Juniors Josiah Price, Jamal Lyles and senior Paul Lang are the top options for Cook in the Spartans passing game.

@JoeMooreAward

Both Iowa and Michigan State offensive lines are finalists for the Joe Moore Award, which honor the top offensive line unit in the country. Michigan State is anchored by all-Big Ten center Jack Allen, a senior, and all-Big Ten junior LT Jack Conklin.

Iowa has used seven different starters in 2015 in the Offensive Line, coached by
former Hawkeye OL Brian Ferentz, Kirk's oldest son. The line has been anchored
by seniors #63 Austin Blythe at C and #65 Jordan Walsh at RG during 2015.

Leadership is a very important element for both programs.

The University of Iowa football program has 16 players on its 2015 Leadership Group, including 13 seniors, two juniors, and one sophomore. The purpose of the group is to assist in formulating policies, and being involved in team decision-making matters regarding the upcoming season. Players are selected by a team vote. The seniors are C Austin Blythe, RB Jordan Canzeri, DT Darian Cooper, FB Adam Cox, TE Jake Duzey, WR Jacob Hillyer, PK Marshall Koehn, FS Jordan Lomax, DE Nate Meier, DE Drew Ott, LB Travis Perry, FB Macon Plewa and WR Tevaun Smith. The junior class is represented by QB C.J. Beathard and RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., and LB Josey Jewell represents the sophomore class.

Michigan State senior #85 Macgarrett Kings, Jr. is one of 23 seniors, who
lead the Spartans to a 2015 Big Ten East Division title.

The 23-member senior class for Michigan State includes: C Jack Allen (Hinsdale, Ill.), WR DeAnthony Arnett (Saginaw, Mich.), WR Aaron Burbridge (Farmington Hills, Mich.), DE Shilique Calhoun (Middletown, New Jersey), RG Donavon Clark (Cincinnati, Ohio), CB Arjen Colquhoun (Windsor, Ontario), QB Connor Cook (Hinckley, Ohio), LB Ed Davis (Detroit, Mich.), LB Darien Harris (Silver Spring, Md.), DT Joel Heath (Cincinnati, Ohio), WR Macgarrett Kings Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), DT Damon Knox (Muskegon, Mich.), S Chris Laneaux (Kalamazoo, Mich.), TE Paul Lang (Pittsburgh, Pa.), FB Trevon Pendleton (Lucasville, Ohio), LS Taybor Pepper(Saline, Mich.), DE Lawrence Thomas (Detroit, Mich.), LB Michael Topolinski (Richmond Hill, Ontario), WR AJ Troup (Minneapolis, Minn.), QB Tommy Vento (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Phillip-Michael Williams (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) and RJ Williamson (Dayton, Ohio). Offensive lineman Zach Higgins (Alliance, Ohio), who retired early from football due to injuries, is also being recognized with the 2015 class.

The Hawkeyes have used 14 first time starters: RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., LT Boone Myers, DT Nathan Bazata, DT Jaleel Johnson, LB Cole Fisher, LB Ben Niemann, SS Miles Taylor, TE Jameer Outsey, DE Parker Hesse, WR Riley McCarron, LT Cole Croston, WR Jerminic Smith, LG James Daniels, and RB Akrum Wadley.

Michigan State senior DE #89 Shilique Calhoun was the Big Ten's defensive
lineman of the year in 2014. He is an outstanding player, but his Big Ten numbers
were down, compared to 2014. 

They say defenses win championships, which was certainly the case for Michigan State in 2013, when the Spartans went unbeaten in the Big Ten, winning the championship coming off a 7-6 season, the year before.. Iowa was 7-6 in 2014 and explosive plays were a problem for the Hawkeyes.

This year, Iowa has allowed nine rushing touchdowns; tying Michigan for No. 1 in the conference and seventh nationally. Limiting big plays: Iowa has allowed 12 scrimmage plays of 30-plus yards during its unbeaten path in 2015.

Iowa and Michigan State share the conference lead with 25 takeaways and turnover margin (+14). Iowa leads the Big Ten with 17 interceptions, Michigan State is second with 14. The schools are also 1-2 in interceptions lost. Iowa has thrown only three interceptions, Michigan State has thrown five.

The Hawkeyes feature two linebackers with more than 100 tackles. Sophomore MLB Josey Jewell leads the team and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 111 tackles (9.3 pg.), 7.5 TFL and three sacks; while senior WLB Cole Fisher has 103 stops to rank tied for seventh in the conference (8.6 avg.). The Spartans are lead by MIKE LB junior Riley Bullough with 90 tackles, 6.5 TFL and four sacks.

Iowa's most likely all-American defensive player, is CB Desmond King, who
is tied for #1 nationally, with 8 interceptions. He is tied with 1939 Heisman
Trophy winner Nile Kinnick and 1981 CB Lou King, with 8 on the season.

Special Teams will be an important aspect on Saturday night. 

The Hawkeyes come into the Big Ten Championship Game very balanced in all three phases of the game. Iowa has two senior specialists, with PK Marshall Koehn, who kicked the 57 yard winning FG against Pitt; and punter Dillon Kidd. Koehn also is a part-time punter with his soccer style kicks. Iowa junior CB Desmond King has been inserted this season, as a kick and punt returner. King ranks second in the Big Ten in kickoff returns (25.6 yards) and punt returns (13.3).

The Spartans have a junior PK Michael Geiger, with three years of experience. Redshirt freshman Jake Harbarger is handling the punting duties this season. Field position can play a very important role in games.

Both coaches have been known to dial up a fake kick, with Dantonio, with the success in previous seasons and Ferentz using it during the non-conference in 2015.

Since 1981, Ferentz's first season in Iowa City; the Hawkeyes have a 16-10-1 record in the series. The average score has been 22-19. Michigan State has never won back to back games against Iowa, since 1981, except for a W-T-W from 1987 to 1989. This is the first time the game has ever been played on a neutral field. Back in 1981, the Hawkeyes wrapped up a Big Ten Conference season with a win over Michigan State and a Big Ten title. This time around, the Hawkeyes are playing for an outright title.

Iowa senior PK #1 Marshall Koehn hit a 57 yard FG back in September, in the
27-24 win over former Michigan State DC Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt Panthers.

Our Pick:

Iowa 30

MSU 23

The game will come down to quarterback play, turnovers, explosive plays and play at the line of scrimmage. The Hawkeyes didn't win a trophy game in 2014, but they are 4-0 in 2015 and looking to finish the season with an undefeated year.

The winner will clinch one of four slots in the College Football Playoff ...

The 2015 Iowa Hawkeyes finish first 12-0 season, first unbeaten season, since back to back 1921 and 1922

The Iowa Hawkeyes finished 12-0 during the 2015 regular season, capped off by
a 28-20 win over Nebraska, to bring back their fourth rivalry trophy. Iowa
senior DE #34 Nate Meier and native Nebraskan, sophomore DT #99 Nathan
Bazata carry off the Heroes Trophy off the Memorial Stadium field.

Lincoln, NE -- The Hawkeyes completed the task on the field at Memorial Stadium, in Lincoln. Iowa's first unbeaten season, in a long, long time. The #3 Iowa Hawkeyes finished 1-0 for 12 weeks during the 2015 regular season for the first time in Iowa history. It was the first experience for Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz in his career in coaching.

Iowa 2015 has been very much been TE U for the Hawkeyes. Iowa junior TE
#46 George Kittle put Iowa up 7-0 in the second quarter, with his sixth TD
of the season from his TE position for the Hawkeyes.

Opening Statement from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz ...

"We're thrilled to get the victory and it was hard fought. We knew that coming in it was going to be a tough environment and a tough team to play against. Just really excited about getting the victory and really happy for our players. I told them, I said, 'I don't really know what to say.' I've never been around a team that is 12-0. I'm a little bit speechless on that. It is just an unbelievable accomplishment. Unbelievable effort by the players today. We said back in August, our goal is to be a championship level team, a Big Ten championship level team. So today we moved one step closer and we are very happy about that. A couple of things this team has done this season, they've done a great job of taking each week by itself and they treat it with the importance it deserves to be treated with. I told them on Tuesday, they all know every game is as important as game 12. You talk about those kinds of things for players to understand and then act it out. That is impressive and they have done that. And beyond that this is a tough-minded group. They've been tough-minded really since the season began. They believe in each other and care about each other and that is a pretty good combination. We're just really proud of our football team and proud of the staff and what they've done to prepare the team, the adjustments they have been making. I'm happy about that. I also just want to say it was great in the fourth quarter to hear our fans having some fun up there. Them for the first time to be able to say 12-0, chanting that is just fantastic. I appreciate them being here and I know we'll see them in Indianapolis next week on top of it. All-in-all just a really special day and a really special achievement for our players. They deserved all of the good things that certainly came their way."

Iowa sophomore SS #19 Miles Taylor celebrates with Iowa redshirt freshman
DE #40 Parker Hesse, after the deflected pass by Hesse and short Pick 6
to put Iowa up for good at 14-7 against Nebraska. Iowa intercepted Nebraska
QB Tommy Armstrong, Jr. four times, but this was the only INT that lead to
Iowa points on Saturday.

On where this game stands on an emotional standard ...

"It was pretty good. That's what makes this fun. The highs and the lows. If you're going to be involved in that you get both. Today just to see, look at our players and what they've accomplished. It's a pretty good feeling. I know our staff felt the same way. It's a great thing."

Iowa junior QB #16 C.J. Beathard and the Iowa sidelines celebrate, after the
Nebraska onside kick was recovered by the Hawkeyes, sealing the 12-0 record.

On recovering the onside kick, what was going through your mind ...

"First of all, all of us were nervous. You always run that situation, they still needed a two-point conversion. Unlike last week, this one came up big. Once that thing came up I felt pretty good. Then you know you got the game, that's always a good feeling. Anytime we can take a knee, that's as good as it gets in football. It's just been a special thing for all of us."

Iowa sophomore MLB #43 Josey Jewell has been an anchor and primary play-caller
for the 2015 Iowa defense. The Hawkeyes finish 12-0 overall, during the regular season.
The Hawkeyes won all four trophy games, after an 0-4 season last year.

On how pretty a football team he thinks he has ...

"We're not trying to be pretty, we are just trying to be productive. That has been our goal from day one. Football is not gymnastics. Gymnastics is a very demanding sport, an outstanding sport. Here it's about having a little more point than your opponent. I'm trying to do it, day after day, week after week. That's a challenge. These guys were 12-for-12, you can't do anything better than that."

In his 17th season, as head coach at Iowa, 26th season on the sidelines coaching the
Black & Gold; Kirk Ferentz had never experienced a 12-0 season. He has
now, as the Hawkeyes win the Big Ten West and will play next Saturday
in their first Big Ten Championship Game in five seasons, since the game originated.

The Hawkeyes (12-0) return to action Dec. 5 in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game. The Hawkeyes will face either Michigan State, Ohio State, or Michigan.

The six remaining undefeated FBS programs in 2015, as Houston, Baylor,
Clemson, Oklahoma State, Iowa and Ohio State.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is in his 17th season 
and now dean of Big Ten football coaches. 
Iowa is 22-12 against Minnesota,
since Ferentz arrived at Iowa, in 1981, 
first as a OL coach.

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff did a complete evaluation of the program following last season, and one thing that was emphasized was being able to finish games.

As the eighth-ranked and undefeated Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0) look forward to consecutive home games in Kinnick Stadium the next two weekends, that is a trend they will try to continue in closing out the regular season. Iowa holds an 85-53 fourth-quarter scoring advantage through nine games.

Established in 1935
Battle of Floyd of Rosedale
Iowa vs. Minnesota

“The fourth quarter is important to every football team, and something we did not do last year was close games out, to finish games,” said Ferentz. “Saturday was representative of what we are hoping to see. We have been tracking the fourth quarter success throughout the season. The guys are doing a good job there, it’s part of the reason we are 9-0. It’s something we hope to not only maintain, but also to build on.”

Iowa junior QB #16 and the Hawkeye receivers entering Indiana's Memorial
Stadium, ahead of the 35-27 win on Saturday to reach a 9-0 record. 5-0 B1G West.

Iowa held a 21-20 lead following an Indiana field goal with 13:22 to play. That’s when the Hawkeye offense put together back-to-back scoring drives of 75 and 76 yards to build a 35-20 advantage. Junior quarterback C.J. Beathard completed 7-of-11 passes in the final period for 102 yards.

The high power Indiana offense was held under their season average in points
and total offense, in the Hawkeye win in Bloomington on Saturday.

After the Hoosiers scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, Iowa’s defense held the home team to three points in the second half until a late touchdown with 2:24 left. Iowa held Indiana five points and 67 yards under its season average. The Hoosiers were able to rush for 227 yards in the game, but just 88 yards in the final two quarters.

“It doesn’t sound like much, but holding Indiana to 27 points is difficult,” said Ferentz. “Indiana is a well-rounded offensive football team; very explosive, and they have played well offensively against everybody when they have been healthy. We saw it last year as well. They have a different running back that is doing a good job and their quarterback can throw it. They have a number of guys who play well in the passing game. For an up-tempo team, they run the ball in a more traditional way and are tough to defend."

“We were happy to get the road win, our third in the Big Ten,” said Ferentz. “To win a conference game in November is significant and something we can build on. Our defense has played well overall, and against the run, all season long; we’ll try to get back on our feet and do a good job the next three weeks.”

Iowa sophomore MLB #43 Josey Jewell and junior CB #14 Desmond King
are among two of the leaders of the Hawkeyes' defense in 2015.

Leading the way for the defense Saturday was sophomore middle linebacker Josey Jewell. In his first year as a starter, and playing a different position from a year ago, Jewell led the Hawkeyes with a career-best 15 tackles. He had 11 solo stops, one tackle for loss, and two pass break-ups.

“Josey has played well all season long, but he was super on Saturday,” said Ferentz. “I’ve said this before, I don’t know how fast he is, but he runs fast when he is running after the ball; he gets there fast and tries to do damage when he gets there, which is what a good linebacker does."

Iowa senior FS #27 Jordan Lomax against Indiana on Saturday.

“He does a great job and embraces the leadership aspect of being a middle linebacker. He does a great job with the checks and communication, similar to senior free safety Jordan Lomax in the secondary. I could not be happier with what he has done thus far. You have to remind yourself that he is young, just a second year player," Ferentz added

Minnesota senior WR 1 A.J. Maye leads the Gophers receiving corp with 49
catches, with 31 of those catches resulting in first downs in 2015.

Iowa hosts Minnesota (4-5, 1-4 B1G West) on Saturday night in its second prime time home game of the season. The football battle for Floyd of Rosedale is one of several events in a busy weekend that will feature a Saturday morning dual wrestling meet in Kinnick Stadium. Prior to the football game at Kinnick, the Iowa wrestling program will host the Oklahoma State Cowboys in an outdoor NCAA wrestling match.

The Gophers played their second game since coach Jerry Kill retired on Oct. 28 because of health issues on Saturday. #2 Ohio State beat Minnesota 28-14, in Columbus. In the closing seconds against Michigan last week, The Gophers interim coach Tracy Claeys decided to go for it instead of taking a tying field goal, and junior QB Mitch Leidner was stopped at the 1 to preserve the Wolverines' 29-26 win.

The Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys at Kinnick on Saturday.

“I’m sorry to miss the wrestling,” said Ferentz. “I’m not surprised our fans have responded so well. We have the greatest fans in the world, and I know they love their wrestling, too. We have basketball on both sides of the Saturday events, and a great venue Saturday for two events. But our focus will be strictly on the football game. Minnesota did a wonderful job against us last year; we are going to have to up our performance and be ready, they are playing tough. My guess would be that it will go right down to the wire, not unlike the Pitt game. We look forward to that and are excited to being back in Kinnick. I know our fans will respond and hopefully our team can match their enthusiasm.”

The Minnesota ground game is lead by senior RB #35 Roderick Williams.

Following Saturday’s contest against Minnesota (7 p.m., BTN) the Hawkeyes close the home schedule against Purdue (Nov. 21, time to be determined). The final B1G game in November will be on Black Friday in Lincoln, against Nebraska (Nov. 27, time to be determined).

Minnesota's lone B1G win was a 41-13 @ Purdue, while the Boiliermakers'
lone B1G win was 55-45 against Nebraska to close out the month of October.