Iowa Football 2017: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ...

Since 2014, the Iowa Hawkeyes have won 10 of 12 rivalry game trophies,
including three straight against the Nebraska Huskers on Black Friday.
Iowa rolled to a 55-14 win on Friday, after a 14-14 deadlock at the half.

Cedar Rapids, IA -- The Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5, 4-5 B1G West) wrapped up the 2017 regular season with a 56-14 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-8, 3-6 B1G), who had their lowest finish, since 1957, due to the loss in Lincoln. The Hawkeyes have now won four of the last five games in the series and the fifth game was an overtime lost, leaving fans saying, what if?

Iowa senior RB 25 Akrum Wadley lead the Hawkeyes in scoring, with three
rushing TDs. All four Iowa RBs came away with a rushing TD, fueled by
42 unanswered second half points, as the Hawkeyes moved to 7-5 for the season.

The Hawkeyes were not projected to be a top flight team in 2017 in the Big Ten, but 7-5 isn't where anyone in the Iowa fan base is satisfied with either. But, there were plenty of what if moments this season, as well?

Clearly, throughout the 2017 Big Ten season, Wisconsin became the most consistent program in the Big Ten, aided by a very favorable schedule, much like Iowa, in 2015.

The Hawkeyes were held to only 66 yards offense, as the scoring was fueled
off two Pick 6 touchdowns by Iowa junior CB Joshua Jackson. It knocked
everyone, but Wisconsin out of the Big Ten West division race.

The Badgers rolled over Iowa to jump to 10-0 this season, with a strong arm 38-14 win, up in Madison over the Hawkeyes, who were coming off an historic 55-24 win over Ohio State. The Badgers claimed their first 10-0 record in program history, with the B1G win over Iowa. The Badgers, with a win over Minnesota today, will join Iowa, who went 12-0 in 2015, to finish a season undefeated at 12-0.

The 2017 Iowa Hawkeyes beat Ohio State for the first time, since the 2004 season.

Ohio State finished 12-0 in 2012, during Urban Meyer's first season in Columbus, but the Buckeyes were on probation, so no post-season. They followed it up in 2013, with a 12-0 start, but lost in the Big Ten title game 34-24 to Michigan State. In 2014, the Buckeyes didn't go 12-0, but they won the Big Ten title game 59-0 over Wisconsin and rolled to the inaugural College Football Playoff title.

In the 2015 Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan State RB L.J. Scott scored
in the final minute to hand the Iowa Hawkeyes a 16-13 defeat, as the Hawkeyes
end an undefeated season on the field in Indianapolis.

In 2015, Iowa came up short in a 16-13 loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten title game. No College Football Playoff and no Big Ten title. In 2016, the Hawkeyes finished 8-4 in the regular season, but three tough losses at Kinnick Stadium stung, but a 14-13 win over Michigan to knock them out of the Big Ten title hunt gave the fans hope for 2017.

On the final play of the game, Penn State knocked off Iowa 21-19 to open the
2017 Big Ten season. The Hawkeyes would fall in back to back B1G games, with
a 17-10 road loss in East Lansing, against Michigan State.

What if, Iowa could have avoided the 21-19 loss on the final play of the game, against Penn State at Kinnick Stadium?

The Dean of College Football, Kirk Ferentz, in his 19th season as head coach at
Iowa, handed the play calling duties over to his son, Brian, for the 2017 season.

The Hawkeyes struggled throughout the 2017 season, with a young offense, extremely inconsistent special teams and even at times on defense. Also, the Hawkeyes had four assistant coaches in new roles on the offensive side, lead by first-year offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz. It was truly an up and down season for Kirk Ferentz, who was enjoying his 19th season at the helm for Iowa.

Iowa will head their 15th bowl game under Kirk Ferentz in 2017

Iowa linebackers fueled three interceptions in the 56-14 win at Nebraska. The
Hawkeyes were lead by three senior linebackers, as Josey Jewell, Bo Bower and
 Ben Niemann played outstanding at times. Senior Kevin Ward lead the Iowa
special teams and started in the 17-10 OT loss @ Northwestern this season.

The Hawkeyes will need to replace four linebackers in 2018. One player to watch will be sophomore linebacker Kristian Welsh, who pulled down one of the three interceptions against Nebraska, in the new look linebacker corp. But, the Hawkeyes will have one more game lead by linebackers Bo Bower, Josey Jewell, Ben Niemann and Kevin Ward. Hopefully, the bowl prep will help, linebacker coach Seth Wallace looks to replace the productive unit.

First year offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz had his ups and downs in 2017,
including a Senior Day loss at the hands of Purdue. He also received a reprimand.
after a halftime melt down up in the press box during another Big Ten game.

Kirk Ferentz opened the 2017 season, with four coaches in new positions all on the offensive side the ball, as mentioned. Brian Ferentz was promoted from offensive line/run game coordinator, while Ken O'Keefe returned from the NFL, after five seasons to serve as quarterbacks coach. New offensive line coach Tim Polacek and new wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland arrived in the Spring, from North Dakota State and Northern Illinois, respectively. There has been growth, along with frustration and inconsistencies.

Iowa saw two true freshman step up against Nebraska, as CB 8 Matt Hankins
made his first career start, while SS 9 Geno Stone, came into the game early,
to provide eight tackles, in place of injured senior SS 19 Miles Taylor.

Iowa defensive coordinator and secondary coach Phil Parker saw his defense get three more interceptions to raise the season total to 19, which leads the FBS in 2017. Iowa junior cornerback Joshua Jackson is a Thorpe finalists, as a first-year starter, leading the nation in interceptions and among the best in pass breakups.

Nebraska junior WR 8 Stanley Morgan takes on role of breakup guy, as he fights
for the ball with Iowa junior CB 15 Joshua Jackson during the Heroes Game, on
Black Friday. Morgan scored two touchdown receptions to lead the Huskers.

Building blocks for the future in Iowa City

Iowa will need to replace 18 seniors, after the 2017 season. On offense, the Hawkeyes will have four returning offensive linemen back, two strong tight ends, as sophomore, first-year starting quarterback Nate Stanley will likely build on solid numbers, after his first full season under and behind the center.

Iowa sophomore QB 4 Nate Stanley enjoyed two five touchdown games, in his
first season, as a starting quarterback. In his first road start at Iowa State, and his
huge breakout party nationally against Ohio State, Stanley showed solid skills.

The Hawkeyes, as of this week, played the fourth most challenging schedule, in 2017. The Hawkeyes beat Iowa State and Ohio State, but lost to Penn State, Michigan State, Northwestern and Wisconsin, who at one time or another were all among the Top 25 in the nation.

The Iowa Hawkeyes also introduced "The Wave" in 2017. 

While the Iowa Hawkeyes didn't successfully compete for the Big Ten West division title in 2017. The University received tremendous national press, after unveiling "The Wave" at the end of the first quarter at home games at Kinnick Stadium. Clearly, college football is a competitive sport, but at the end of the day, it is only a game, unlike the real fight children face over at the children's hospital in Iowa City.

Mike Riley is relieved of his duties as Huskers head coach

Mike Riley was fired in Lincoln on Saturday, as the three year experiment ends.
It was 20 years ago that Michigan and Nebraska were co-National Champions,
as the 1997 season, under Lloyd Carr for the Wolverines and Dr. Tom Osborne for
the Huskers. How the fans in Lincoln want to get back into the national conversation.

Lincoln, NE – Athletic Director Bill Moos announced today that the University of Nebraska has ended Head Football Coach Mike Riley’s employment effective immediately. Moos will talk with members of the media at 1 p.m. today (Nov. 25) in the West Memorial Stadium Don Bryant Press Box (Sixth Floor) and has begun the search for Nebraska’s next head football coach.

“Mike Riley has brought tremendous professionalism and energy to the Nebraska football program, but unfortunately, those attributes have not translated to on-field success,” Moos said. “After a thorough review of all aspects of our football program, I have chosen to move in a different direction.”

After consulting with university leaders, Moos decided to seek a new coach for the storied football program, which finished with a disappointing 4-8 record in 2017. The University of Nebraska Football Program has won five national championships and entered the 2017 season ranked fourth all-time with 889 victories since the program’s first year in 1890. Hired as Nebraska’s 29th coach on Dec. 5, 2014, Riley posted a 19-19 mark over three seasons.

Moos said the focus now turns to hiring a head coach who will put the Huskers in the best position to compete in the Big Ten and nationally. Nebraska will move quickly in its search to secure a new head coach and Moos has appointed Assistant Coach Trent Bray, who coaches Husker linebackers, to serve as head coach in the interim.

“I expect to find a leader for our football program that will put our student-athletes in a position to compete for championships and grow as young men. I am confident our next coach will meet that standard.”

Lincoln, NE- The Nebraska football team practiced for a little more than an hour without pads in the Hawks Championship Center on Wednesday in preparation for Friday's game against #4 and unbeaten Iowa.

The Hawkeyes are seeking to close out the regular season with a program first, a 12-0 regular season. The Hawkeyes have already clinch their first Big Ten West Division title, after defeating Purdue 40-20 last Saturday, in Iowa City.

Nebraska is coming off a bye week and is seeking their third straight win, in the month of November, after opening 3-6 for the first time, since 1958. A win over Iowa would make the Huskers bowl eligible, with their sixth win. It would preserve Nebraska's season, avoiding their first losing season, in eight years.

In last year's comeback victory over Iowa Nebraska's
De'Mornay Pierson-El burned Iowa on special teams,
with an 80 yard punt return for a touchdown to take
their first lead in the ball game, after being down 24-7.

It has been a tough first season for Nebraska's new head coach, with a 1-5 record on games determined by a touchdown or less. Nebraska coach Mike Riley addressed the media with good news on the injury updates. 

"Defensively it sounded like the first game (defensive depth chart). It was pretty close to that. We are in pretty good shape." Riley said. "One of the only guys is De'Mornay (Pierson-El), which we won't be able to see again this year, but overall pretty good."

Riley also commented on what he believes it will take to beat Iowa.

"Defensively, if I had to pick two things it would be that we have to control the run and the bootlegs off of the run." Riley said. "Offensively, things always go better for us when we run the football."

Coach Riley said that decision-making in the passing game will be a key to Nebraska’s chances for a victory on Friday. 

Riley also talked about the home field advantage against Iowa this week, and what he thinks of the Huskers’ unbeaten opponent. Home field advantage wasn't enough in 2013, when the Hawkeyes beat Nebraska 38-17, for the first victory, since 1946, in Lincoln.

Last season on Black Friday, Nebraska QB #4 Tommy Armstrong, Jr. lead a comeback
down 24-7 to push the game into the overtime, where the Huskers won 37-34.
Iowa fans have lost senior DE #95 Drew Ott to a knee injury in 2015, so he will
he will serve as one of the Hawkeyes' game captains from the sidelines this year.

"I think it is great we are at home. I think this crowd has just been amazing." Riley said. "Everybody always knows about this place. I do not know how much it will affect the game because I think this team (Iowa) has gotten where they are because they are very solid and consistent."

Nebraska junior TE #11 Cethan Carter will seek to get the Huskers into the end
zone. In Iowa's win last Saturday against Purdue, the Hawkeye defense gave up
two touchdowns, but also head the Boilermakers to two field goals in the red
zone. Red zone play will be important for both teams on Black Friday.

Friday's game against the Iowa Hawkeyes kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CST at Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised on ABC/WatchESPN, as the 11-0, 7-0 B1G West division champion Iowa Hawkeyes face Nebraska @ Lincoln, who are 5-6 overall, 3-4 in the B1G West.

The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrated the upcoming Heroes Game, ahead of heading
to Lincoln on Thanksgiving, which could be a little troublesome with weather
heading into the route between Iowa City and Lincoln on Thursday and Friday.

Black Friday: Iowa Hawkeyes now #4 in CFP Poll, as the head to Lincoln for the Heroes Game vs. Nebraska

Iowa City, IA -- The Iowa Hawkeyes (11-0, 7-0 B1G West) learned on Tuesday night that they have moved to #4 in the Week 4 College Football Playoff poll ahead of their final regular season game against Nebraska @ Lincoln on Black Friday.

Kirk Ferentz was hired in 1981, as an offensive line coach ahead of Hayden Fry's third season at Iowa. Iowa's first opponent was Nebraska to open the season. In his first season, returning to Iowa to be head coach, again his first opponent was Nebraska. Now, in his final regular season game of his 17th season as head coach and 26th season overall at Iowa, Ferentz faces a familiar opponent, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This year, the game is in Lincoln.

Unlike Ferentz, this is Nebraska's head coach Mike Riley's first Black Friday game in the Heroes Game, as a first year coach for the Huskers. The roles have shifted and Nebraska is the home team and the underdog to Iowa.

How will Riley's first game finish out in the Heroes Game?

Will Nebraska upset a Top 5 program at home, as Iowa did in 1981 or will Riley take the role of a program that goes down to a Top 5 opponent at home, as Iowa and Ferentz did in his first season, as head coach at Iowa?

What will be the final record and season result of the 2015 Iowa Hawkeyes?

For Iowa, an interesting question will soon be answered in Ferentz's 17th season at Iowa. It may take 3 or 4 games to know what it will finally be for the Hawkeyes.

Ferentz meet with the media on Tuesday, as he does each week before each Hawkeye regular season game.

It's the 12th week of a one game at a time season for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa has an 11 game winning streak on the line, while Nebraska is seeking to finish November with three straight wins.

"Good teams do it," Ferentz said of the one-game-at-a-time motto.

Not only have the No. 3 Hawkeyes taken 11 games one Saturday at a time this season -- all of them victories -- but they have also seen leadership develop as fast as its win total.

The University of Iowa football program has 16 players on its 2015 Leadership Group, including 13 seniors, two juniors, and one sophomore. Ferentz tweaked the Leadership Group, similar to making a change at quarterback in January, as well, as moving practices to the morning and finally shifting the off day from Monday to Thursday, with the Black Friday game in mind.

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 OL Austin Blythe, RB Jordan Canzeri, DL Darian Cooper, FB Adam Cox, TE Jake Duzey, WR Jacob Hillyer, PK Marshall Koehn, DB 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.

"I'm not sure where our leadership was in April, but it has been growing rapidly since August," Ferentz said. "Typically, any team that is doing well has good leadership."

Ferentz also emphasized that in the Big Ten Conference, there are no easy days. The next challenge for Iowa is a Black Friday battle for the Hy-Vee Heroes Game trophy and Ferentz isn't fooled by Nebraska's 5-6 record (3-4 B1G West).

Here's why:

1. The Huskers have won two consecutive games and need one victory to become bowl eligible.
2. Nebraska received its bye after Week 11, giving it 12 days to prepare for the Hawkeyes while Iowa has eight fewer days to formulate a game plan. 
3. Nebraska rallied for a 37-34 overtime victory last season in Kinnick Stadium after the Hawkeyes jumped to a 24-7 lead in the third quarter.

"The big thing right now is that they're meshing," Ferentz said of Nebraska. "They are coming off two impressive victories, beating Michigan State (39-38 on Nov. 7 in Lincoln) and most recently, Rutgers (31-14 on Nov. 14 in Piscataway, New Jersey)."

The 2014 Hy-Vee Heroes games was a centerpiece of inspiration that led to an offseason attitude overhaul in Iowa City. For the Hawkeyes, that season also included a three-point loss to Iowa State, a seven point loss at Maryland, and a two-point loss to Wisconsin. It culminated with a 45-28 defeat to Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl in a game where the Volunteers led 42-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

"That game (against Nebraska in 2014) is the centerpiece for the discussion," Ferentz said. "It's nothing against them, they did what they were supposed to do. We didn't, and that's our responsibility. It's all about taking ownership. There are a lot of things we didn't do well (in 2014) and the word finish gets thrown out there all the time in sports. It just so happens that was our last regular scheduled football game and we didn't close the season in a strong fashion."

"Our job is to be able to play with those guys, go out and compete with them," Ferentz said. "They recruit well. They've had great teams in the past and they've got a good football team this year. Our challenge is to be ready for them on Friday."

Iowa won 38-17 in 2013, the last game in Lincoln. The Hawkeyes seek to remain unbeaten, as well, as win their second straight in Lincolin.

Nebraska won the 4th Heroes Game in 2014, with a 37-34 OT win in Iowa City
over the Hawkeyes. Since joining the Big Ten in 2011, the Huskers lead 3-1 in
the series. The Iowa-Nebraska game on Black Friday will be the 46th game
overall and the fifth game, since the Huskers joined the conference.

The Huskers practiced for just under two hours Tuesday in the Hawks Championship Center and Gass Practice Facility in preparation for Friday's game against the third-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes.

Nebraska offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf spoke to the media after Tuesday's practice about facing the Hawkeye defense.

Iowa junior QB #16 C.J. Beathard and the Iowa offense over the last 5 games.
Over the 2015 season, the Iowa offense has often shown a lot of balance.

"They don't give up many big plays, they're really sound and really solid across the board," Langsdorf stated when asked about the biggest challenge the Iowa defense will bring. "They're well coached and they're always in good position, and you see that week in and week out."

Iowa junior CB #14 Desmond King leads the nation in interceptions, as well,
as Iowa's primary kick and punt returning this season. He is also a finalist
for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the top college defense back.

When asked about Desmond King, Iowa's star defensive back, Langsdorf said "I think he leads the country in interceptions. He's always in very good position, he's going to be the guy that we are going to have to really understand where he is and be careful. We don't want to be careless around him."

The top two Nebraska WRs are juniors #1 Jordan Westerkamp and #87
Brandon Reilly. who caught the controversial TD reception in the MSU win.

"I think our guys are playing at a high level. They're playing with a lot of confidence, and we have a belief that we can win the game."

Friday's game at Memorial Stadium (capacity 87,000) is sold out. Kickoff is set for 2:36 p.m. CST and the game will be broadcast by ABC.

Nebraska junior #90 DE Greg McMullen holds down one side of the Huskers
defensive line in 2015. He is one of three returning starters in the DL for NU.

Black Friday update: Nebraska prepares for #3 Iowa as the fifth Heroes Game is played in Lincoln in 2015

Nebraska first year coach Mike Riley embraced his seniors and all his players
in the transition from Oregon State to Lincoln. Riley and his Huskers will face
Iowa in the Heroes Game on Black Friday, as Nebraska celebrates Senior Day.

Lincoln, NE --- The Nebraska football team practiced in half pads for 90 minutes on Monday in the Hawks Championship Center and Outdoor Practice Facility, preparing for a Black Friday matchup against the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes (11-0, 7-0 B1G West) in Lincoln. Nebraska (5-6, 3-4 B1G West) looks to hand Iowa its first loss of the season and earn bowl eligibility.

Nebraska defensive coordinator Mark Banker spoke to the media following practice addressing many of Iowa’s offensive weapons. 

Iowa junior QB #16 C.J. Beathard leads the Hawkeyes' offense in 2015. He
played in Iowa's 38-17 win in Lincon, back in 2013 in a mop up role.

"We know they’re a quality team,” Banker said. “It starts with their offensive line. They’re extremely well coached in the offensive line…they perform at a very, very high level. Their foot patterns are very good. They’re very strong upfront. Then you go back to the running backs. They’ve got a stable of four different running backs. They use them in various ways… [C.J.] Beathard as a quarterback does a great job of knowing where to go with the ball. He’s got a good sense in the pocket of timing. The do a nice job with the tight-end, more so on third-down with number 80 (Henry Krieger Coble). They just absolutely feed him the ball. Then 89 (Matt VandeBerg) is their go-to guy. He’s got 50 catches. So it’s just a methodical approach to football. They know what they are doing. They’ve got a good system and they do a great job of it.”

Iowa is ranked third coming into Friday’s game and has yet to lose a game this season. Part of that is their efficiency on third-down plays. Banker acknowledged the importance putting Iowa in tough third-down positions. 

Iowa senior RB #33 Jordan Canzeri leads the Hawkeyes in rushing in 2015.
He was a sophomore the last time Iowa played in Lincoln and got some
meaningful snaps. With four running backs to draw from in 2015, the Hawkeye
coaching staff will need to manage the rotation well, if Iowa is going to be
successful again against Nebraska. Canzeri is one of 21 seniors for Iowa.

“You’ve got to do a great job on first down to begin with,” Banker said. "Then, from there get to a third down situation that they don’t want to be in. This team, more than any other team we’ve seen this year — we break it down into third and medium and third and long and third and extra long — they have by far, more third and mediums than everybody we’ve seen all year. They get themselves on first or second down, not leaving anymore than somewhere in the range of…four or five yards that they find themselves on third down."

The Big Red will be shooting for their third consecutive win after rolling to a 31-14 victory at Rutgers on Nov. 14.

Nebraska junior FS #25 Nathan Gerry leads the Cornhuskers defense in 2015,
after finishing 2nd in tackles during the 2014 season. The Huskers beat
Iowa 37-34 (in OT) in Iowa City on route to a 9-4 season.

Complete transcripts of the Huskers' conversations at the press conference, including Coach Mike Riley, junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., junior wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp, senior fullback Andy Janovich, senior defensive tackle Kevin Williams (who will get a 6th season) and senior defensive end Jack Gangwish are available in the links below.

• Mike Riley, Nebraska Head Coach
• Tommy Armstrong Jr., Junior Quarterback
• Jordan Westerkamp, Junior Wide Receiver
• Andy Janovich, Senior Fullback
• Kevin Williams, Senior Defensive Tackle
• Jack Gangwish, Senior Defensive End

The game will be televised on ABC. Kick-off is set for 2:30 p.m. Check back to huskers.com for more information.