Our Pick: Iowa vs. Rutgers

We see another Iowa win. Hawkeyes seeking to open 2-0 for sixth straight season.

IOWA 3️⃣5️⃣
Rutgers 1️⃣6️⃣

GameDay: Iowa (1-0) vs. Rutgers from Kinnick Stadium

Iowa City, IA -- The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team are set to play in their first Big Ten game of the seaso, as they face one another for the first time at Kinnick Stadium Iowa on Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon 11 a.m. local kickoff.

It will be the fourth time in five years the Scarlet Knights begin league competition on the road. It will be the third straight Big Ten home opener, after years of typically opening on the road in the Kirk Ferentz era.
 
Watch live on Fox Sports 1 with Justin Kutcher (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst) and Shane Vereen (analyst) in the booth.

Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Ray Lucas (analyst) and Anthony Fucilli (sideline) are set to deliver the action on the Rutgers Sports Network (WCTC 1450-AM, WOR 710-AM, WENJ 97.3-FM, WNJE 920-AM, XM 382). The WRSU 88.7-FM student radio broadcast will have Jake Ostrove and Justin Sontupe on the call.

On the Hawkeye Sports Network it will Gary Dolphin and Ed Podolak on the call.
 
This game marks a homecoming for head coach Chris Ash, who is from Ottumwa, Iowa. In addition, defensive line coach Corey Brown was a member of the Hawkeyes football team from 1995-99 and wide receivers coach Lester Erb spent 13 seasons on the Iowa staff.
 
Jay Niemann. Jay Niemann was named assistant defensive line coach and defensive recruiting coordinator in May, 2019. Niemann joined the Hawkeye coaching staff after serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Rutgers University for three seasons (2016-18).

Saturday will be Rutgers' first trip to Kinnick Stadium. There are two other Big Ten venues the team has not played at: Northwestern (scheduled 2021) and Purdue (2020).
 
The 2019 season marks the 150^th anniversary of the first college football game, which took place between Rutgers and Princeton on Nov. 6, 1869. The historic contest took place on a plot of ground where the present-day Rutgers gymnasium now stands in New Brunswick. RU won that first game, 6-4.

Iowa won the only other meeting between the programs in 2016 in Piscataway. Rutgers had more total offense, 383-355, but the Hawkeyes posted a go-ahead touchdown with 8:35 left in the game to win, 14-7. RU scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Chris Laviano to Andre Patton to cap a 13-play drive. Robert Martin contributed 106 rushing yards on the day. Damon Hayes, Tyreek Maddox-Williams and Kamaal Seymour are the only Scarlet Knights on the current roster that played in that game.

RUTGERS SCOUTING IOWA

The Hawkeyes, ranked 20^th in the preseason AP poll and 19^th in the coaches' poll, notched a 38-14 home win over Miami (Ohio) to start the season. The offense picked up 465 yards (252 passing, 213 rushing). Senior quarterback Nate Stanley threw three touchdown passes, completing passes to 10 different receivers. Mekhi Sargent led the ground game with 91 rushing yards. Defensively, Iowa permitted 11 first downs and 245 yards, with Michael Ojemudia collecting an interception.
 
Kirk Ferentz is the longest tenured head football coach in the nation, now in his 21^st season at Iowa.

SCOUTING RUTGERS

The Scarlet Knights seek to start 2-0 for the first time since 2014 after posting a 48-21 season-opening win over Massachusetts Friday at SHI Stadium. Over the last three quarters, the offense scored 41 points and the defense allowed zero.
 
Sophomore Isaih Pacheco posted four rushing touchdowns, the most in the nation, to become one of nine players in program history to achieve the feat in a game. He finished with 156 rushing yards with an average of 7.8 per carry for his third career game topping the century mark.
 
Fifth-year senior McLane Carter passed for 340 yards, the most in a starting debut for a Rutgers quarterback since 1997 and first 300-yard game since 2015. Junior Bo Melton had a career-high 127 receiving yards with his first touchdown, while classmate Raheem Blackshear also caught a score as one of his nine receptions for 126 yards.
 
Overall, Rutgers is currently ranked third nationally with only two tackles-for-loss allowed, 17^th with 15.82 yards per completion, 18^th with 48 points, 19^th with 554 yards of total offense, and 19th with 348 passing yards. The eight plays gaining at least 20 yards were the most since having nine at Indiana in 2015.
 
The defense was led by junior Tyshon Fogg registering a game-high 11 tackles in his first collegiate start. Both junior Tre Avery and sophomore Avery Young brought down their first career interception in the victory, as junior Elorm Lumor assisted on a pair of sacks.
 
Junior Justin Davidovicz converted both field goals attempts to improve to 11-for-13 in his career, including 8-for-8 inside 40 yards.

A look at the Big Ten teams, after Week 1 of the 2018 College Football season

Have a problem with @JLaurinaitis55 keeping Michigan at No. 3?

He hears you, but there's a reason he isn't dropping the Wolverines.

Get his latest power rankings, presented by @ArcelorMittalUS. pic.twitter.com/1ii71JPunF

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 3, 2018

There are various schools of thoughts, when it comes to Top 25 ratings and conference power ratings heading into each season. Around the country, there are certain programs that often are ranked on reputation.

For example, last year, Florida State was a prime example of a school expected to finish in the Top 5, but at season's end, it finished 7-6, with wins over Delaware State, a 4-7 Florida, ULM and a bowl win over Southern Miss to take a 3-6 record and finish with a winning record. Florida State is often one of the most overrated programs each year, in College Football.

Another team with plenty of questions to answer entering 2018 is Michigan. The Wolverines finished 8-5 last year, with three straight losses @ Wisconsin, against Ohio State and in the bowl game against South Carolina. Now, they have lost four straight, with the 24-17 loss @ Notre Dame to open 2018 College Football season.

My problem with Michigan at #3 in the Big Ten power ratings is based on what have they done to earn the preseason #3 rating in the first place?

Despite a new season, familiar struggles returned for Michigan, as the Wolverines fell to No. 12 Notre Dame.

Game story: https://t.co/9OMMwKQJjl pic.twitter.com/AAkDrkceF4

— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) September 2, 2018

The Big Ten appears to be loaded in 2018? Michigan State and Penn State struggled in Week 1, but they won. Michigan shouldn't be awarded for a moral victory, as James Laurinaitis appears to suggest that should be considered?

Notre Dame is a good program, but ultimately, like with Florida State in 2017. We don't know how good any team may be, until after enough games are played. Notre Dame lost to Georgia, @ Miami-FL and @ Stanford last year, so good losses. They are often overrated.

There are five college football teams that are continually overrated.

Notre Dame.
Texas.
Michigan.
USC.
FSU.

I never trust their rankings until the season's progressed a ways.

— Connor Mighell (@cmigbear) September 4, 2018

Michigan and Nebraska are two Big Ten programs that are often among the Top 7 schools overrated in preseason ratings. Texas is the most common example. On Saturday, they clearly rose up and demonstrated why, when they fell 34-29 @ Maryland in a game played in Landover, MD.

Deja vu for the Longhorns.

Texas loses to Maryland in back-to-back season openers. pic.twitter.com/W7C1JDJGJb

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 1, 2018

So, after Week 1, here are the Big Ten power ratings ....

1. Wisconsin (1-0) - the Badgers have won 3 of the first 4 West division titles; and 5 of the first 7 division titles, when you toss in the first 3 seasons of Leaders and Legends, when division play began in the 2011 season in the Big Ten. Week 1 - beat Georgia State 34-3. Week 2 - vs. New Mexico (1-0) - first meeting between each program.
2. Michigan State (1-0) - the Spartans return 19 starters from last year's team, including one 3 OT loss @ Northwestern. It's not uncommon for Mark Dantonio teams to start slowly. The Spartans won the Big Ten in 2015. Week 1 - beat Utah State 38-31. Week 2 - @ Arizona State (1-0) - which is certainly going to be a big test, at night, in the Valley of the Sun! 
3. Ohio State (1-0) - the Buckeyes have had some off the field issues, since Big Ten Media Days. In the past two seasons, OSU has lost two games by 31 points. The Buckeyes won the Big Ten last year. Week 1 - destroyed Oregon State 77-31. Week 2 - vs. Rutgers (1-0), as head coach Urban Meyer returns to practice on Tuesday, but Meyer's three game suspension remains in force.
4. Penn State (1-0) - the Nittany Lions enter 2018 needing to replace play-makers on offense and welcome a new offensive coordinators. They won the Big Ten in 2016. Week 1 - beat Appalachian State 45-37 in OT. Week 2 - @ Pittsburgh (1-0), the Panthers beat the Nittany Lions here in 2016, so this one should be very interesting.
5. Northwestern (1-0, 1-0 B1G West) - the Wildcats opened 2018 in conference play for the first time in a long, long while. Week 1 - won @ Purdue 31-27, as two QB system of Clayton Thorson and T.J. Green is utilized by head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Week 2 - vs. Duke (1-0), who beat the Wildcats 41-17, after the Wildcats had won back to back non-conference games against the Blue Devils in previous seasons.
6. Iowa (1-0) - the Hawkeyes tallied the 144th win to boost Kirk Ferentz into the all-time win leader, as head coach. Week 1 - beat Northern Illinois 33-7. Week 2 - CyHawk game against Iowa State (0-0), who are looking to complete a game, after thunderstorms shelved their opener on Saturday night.
7. Michigan (0-1) - the Wolverines have one victory over a rival entering the fourth season of head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines will get plenty of opportunities to move up, since they play 1-5 in conference play. Week 1 - lost @ Notre Dame 24-17. Week 2 - vs. Western Michigan (0-1), the Wolverines should be safe in another home opener, having won 25 of last 28.
8. Purdue (0-1, 0-1 B1G West) - the Boilermakers play two quarterbacks and often the old saying with quarterbacks, if you have two, you likely have none. This appeared to be the case, watching game one. Week 1 - lost to Northwestern 31-27. Week 2 - vs. Eastern Michigan (1-0), who will start former Iowa QB Tyler Wiegers, who had a solid first start for the Eagles.
9. Indiana (1-0) - the Hoosiers were the only Big Ten team to pick up a win on the road to open the season. Week 1 - won @ FIU 38-28 to pick up first win of season. Week 2 - vs. Virginia (1-0), as the Hoosiers have won 14 of the past 16 home openers.
10. Nebraska (0-0) - the Scott Frost era has to wait one week to officially kickoff, after a thunderstorm Saturday night canceled the home opener. Week 1 - vs. Akron - canceled. Week 2 - vs. Colorado (1-0), the Huskers have won three straight in the series and three straight in Lincoln. Last meeting was 2010.
11. Rutgers (1-0) - the Scarlet Knights open the third season, with head coach Chris Ash. Week 1 - won 35-10 over Texas State. Week 2 - @ Ohio State (1-0), the Buckeyes defeated the Scarlet Knights 56-0 last season in New Brunswick, after 58-0 previously in Columbus.
12. Maryland (1-0) - the Terrapins opened 2018, with new offensive coordinator Matt Canada, also in the interim head coach role, after D.J. Durkin was placed on administrative leave in August. Week 1 - beat Texas 34-29 to begin back to back seasons, with an upset win over a ranked Longhorns team (note - not ranked in my Top 25). Week 2 - @ Bowling Green (0-1), which is ironically Durkin's alma mater.
13. Minnesota (1-0) - the Golden Gophers opened the second year under head coach P.J. Fleck, with another non-conference win. They Golden Gophers are 4-0 OOC under Fleck. Week 1 - beat New Mexico State 48-10. Week 2 - vs. Fresno State (1-0), the Bulldogs were 10-4 last season and are likely the best non-conference, since Fleck arrived that the Golden Gophers have lined up against.
14. Illinois (1-0) - the Fighting Illini entered 2018, coming off a ten game losing streak. Week 1 - despite playing from behind much of the game, Illinois beat Kent State 31-24. Week 2 - vs. Western Illinois (0-1), the Fighting Illini are 2-0 in this series outscoring the Leathernecks 65-0.

Preseason has ended: Bring on the 2018 Big Ten Football

So, who do we like in the Big Ten pecking order, as we kickoff the 2018 College Football Season begins tonight?

All five returning starters are back for the 2018 UW Badgers,
who have won 3 out of 4 West divisions, since 2014 and the
kickoff of the College Football Playoff. Can they win the B1G?

• #1 Wisconsin (13-1) - the loaded offense and 34-7 over the past 3 seasons under HC Paul Chryst makes the Badgers the team to beat in the West and a likely participant in Indianapolis in 2018 ....

Junior QB 14 Brian Lewerke leads the MSU Spartans and
the hope to pull the rope back into Indianapolis, after missing
last season. Behind UW, who have been to five Big Ten Title
games. The Spartans have been to three themselves.

• #2 Michigan State (10-3) - HC Mark Dantonio returns 19 starters from last year and a favorable schedule, with key games coming to East Lansing in 2018 ....

Member of the Ohio State of Trustees resigned over the light
punishment given to Urban Meyer in light of the August news
unfolding in Columbus, leading to the suspension of Meyer
and athletic direction Gene Smith. Meyer loses 3 games in 2018.

• #3 Ohio State (12-2) - the off the field issues surround HC Urban Meyer's program should likely knock the Buckeyes lower, but we shall see how the football plays out in 2018 ....

The Penn State Nittany Lions return senior QB Trace McSorley, but some top
play-makers have moved onto the NFL and new players will need to step up
at RB, WR and TE for the 2018 College Football season.

• #4 Penn State (12-2) - the Nittany Lions are seeking to get back to the Big Ten title game, after falling short last year. New players will have to step up and HC James Franklin will have his third OC, since arriving in State College, in 2014.

Junior Ole Miss QB transfer 2 Shea Patterson will engineer the
4th season of Michigan football under HC Jim Harbaugh, as
the Wolverines travel to South Bend, to face Notre Dame.

• #5 Michigan (8-5) - the Wolverines fell short last season and were the only Big Ten bowl team, out of eight bowl participants, to lose their bowl match up. The defense should be strong, but how will the offense step up in 2018 ....

Northwestern senior QB 18 Clayton Thorson is coming off knee
surgery and is questionable for the B1G season opener tonight.

• #6 Winner of Northwestern (10-3) @ Purdue (7-6) - the Wildcats beat the Boilermakers 23-13 last season, it appears more and more likely junior QB T.J. Green will have to lead his team into West Lafayette for a program known for slow starts lately under HC Pat Fitzgerald ....



It's about that time! To Fight For Iowa | #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/2s6cXSIIsC

— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) August 30, 2018



• #7 Iowa (8-5) - the Hawkeyes are seeking to get back in the West division title position, after back to back seasons falling short against the Badgers and Wildcats. How much has Iowa's offense, defense and special teams improved this off season, as the Hawkeyes enter the 20th season under HC Kirk Ferentz?

The Boilermakers have two QBs coming off injuries. Tonight,
the QB jerseys stay off and the 2018 starter will make his debut
for the 2nd season of Purdue football under Jeff Brohm. Will
it be senior 11 David Blough or junior 2 Elijah Sindelar at QB?

• #8 Loser of Northwestern (10-3) @ Purdue (7-6) - the Boilermakers only return four defensive starters from last season, so how fast can they get out of the blocks, after a strong first season under Jeff Brohm, know mostly for offense?

New HC Scott Frost returns to Nebraska in 2018. A place back
 in 1997, where he lead the Dr. Tom Osborne to the Cornhuskers last
co-national championship, shared with the Michigan Wolverines.

• #9 Nebraska (4-8) - the Huskers will open the 2018 season, with a true freshman at QB, with an offense, with talent in the skill positions, but questions in the trenches and with zero Blackshirts to pass out Day 1 ....

The Indiana Hoosiers head to Florida to kickoff the 2018 College
Football season at Florida International (8-5).

• #10 Indiana (5-7) - the Hoosiers enter the second straight season under HC Tom Allen, who continues to lead the IU defensive unit, as well.

Like Nebraska and Minnesota, Rutgers will ask a true freshman,
QB 8 Artur Sikowski, to lead the Scarlet Knights offense in 2018.

• #11 Rutgers (4-8) - the Scarlet Knights enter the third season under HC Chris Ash, who will have his third offensive coordinator to lead the offense. How will Rutgers step up in the trenches, when they get into Big Ten play?

This was supposed to be D.J. Durkin's third season at the helm
of the Maryland Terrapins. But, following the release of a player's
autopsy, the media found underlying questions of abuse in the
Maryland football program. Durkin hasn't been fired, but members
of the strength and conditioning program are gone and plenty of ???  

• #12 Maryland (4-8) - the Terrapins turn to first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada to lead the program, as D.J. Dirkin remains on administrative leave. Injuries hampered the quarterback position last season, as five players took the position. Can this team weather the storm in 2018?

Year 0 is in the books, as HC P.J. Fleck and the Minnesota Golden
Gophers open 2018 against New Mexico State (0-1 in '18,
7-6 in '17) in TCF Bank Stadium tonight. Row the boat ....

• #13 Minnesota (5-7) - the Golden Gophers will be the third B1G program turning to a true freshman quarterback to run their offense. The Gophers should be more physically ready to compete in 2018.

Coming off a 2-10 season, is Lovie Smith on the hot seat entering this year? pic.twitter.com/4ZmM4dAkDh

— Outside The Lines (@OTLonESPN) August 30, 2018

• #14 Illinois (2-10) - the Fighting Irish enter 2018 coming off a ten game losing streak, as HC Lovie Smith brings in a new offensive coordinator and the spread offense, last played at Arizona and Michigan, as Rod Smith returns to B1G to serve under HC Lovie Smith.

Big Ten Football: B1G East showdowns, while Iowa hits 10-0 for first time in program history ...

Cedar Rapids, IA -- Two of the four Power 5 programs that remain unbeaten come from the Big Ten Conference, as #2 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0 B1G East) and #6 Iowa (10-0, 6-0 B1G West) lead their respective division, heading into the final two weekends of the regular season. We have seen the Buckeyes at 10-0 before, but it is the first time in program history for the Hawkeyes.

Last Saturday, Ohio State defeated Illinois 28-3 in Champaign to capture sixth
B1G win and tenth overall win on the 2015 season. Meyer is now 30-0, in
conference regular season games, since arriving in Columbus in 2012.

Fourth year Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has won thirty straight conference games in the regular season, since joining the program in 2012. Meyer has only three losses, since joining Ohio State and the Big Ten. The lone bowl loss, ironically was against Clemson, in his second season, in the Orange Bowl. Clemson is now #1 in the rankings. The Buckeyes beat current #3 Alabama in last year's College Football Playoff semi-final game, in the Sugar Bowl.

The Iowa Hawkeyes leaned on the TEs in the game on Saturday night against
Minnesota. The Hawkeyes will play in their final home game of the season
on Saturday, when Purdue comes to Kinnick Stadium to face Iowa.

The Hawkeyes have not won a bowl game, since the 2010 season. The Hawkeyes had a 19-21 conference record ahead of this season. The Iowa fan base was frustrated heading into the 2015 season, but with the 40-35 win on Saturday night against Minnesota for their 10th victory on the season ... it has been a 180 degree turn for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa junior CB #14 Desmond King leads Iowa and the Big Ten with 8 of
the Hawkeyes 13 interceptions this season. Back in 2013, Iowa and Ohio State
last played. The Buckeyes edged the Hawkeyes in the 4th quarter, 34-24.

The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes each host Senior Day games on Saturday, as the #7 Michigan State Spartans come to Columbus, and the Purdue Boilermakers comes to Iowa City. The showdown in Columbus is huge, since the Spartans can jump into first place in the B1G East with an upset win over Ohio State. The Hawkeyes need only one more win to wrap up the West division and a date in the Big Ten Championship Game, for the first time.

Iowa leads the West at 6-0, ahead of Wisconsin (5-1) and Northwestern (4-2);
while Ohio State leads the East at 6-0, ahead of Michigan and
Michigan State at 5-1. Penn State needs a lot of help at 4-2.

Since the Big Ten Championship Game, began in 2011, the following programs won the Big Ten:

• Wisconsin in 2011 went 7-2
• Wisconsin in 2012 at 5-4 (Ohio State was undefeated in the Big Ten, but on probation)
• Michigan State in 2013 went 9-0 
• Ohio State in 2014 went 9-0
• The final two weekends will determine who plays in the 2015 Big Ten Championship Game on December 5th ... will it be the Buckeyes and Hawkeyes or will we see some surprises?

ESPN's A team will be on the call on Saturday in Columbus, as former
Ohio State QB Kirk Herbsteit, Heather Cox and Chris Fowler come to town.

Senior Day in Columbus, Ohio State will host Michigan State, as questions surround the health of senior quarterback Connor Cook, who was injured in the Spartans 24-7 win over Maryland on Saturday. Kickoff will be at 2:30 CST on ABC/ESPN as ESPN GameDay comes to Big Ten country, with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Heather Cox on the call.

Will Michigan State backup QB #7 Tyler O'Connor be the guy leading the
Spartans' offense on Saturday? Or will senior Connor Cook be healthy enough
to lead the Spartans, as Michigan State comes to Columbus on Saturday?

• Ohio State enters the game having won 23 in a row overall, the longest active streak in the nation.
• Ohio State has won a Big Ten-record 30 regular season conference games in a row, a record across the current FBS conference landscape.
• Ohio State leads the B1G in scoring (36.4), pass efficiency (144.1), rushing (244.8) and punting (41.0) and is second in scoring defense (13.8), total offense (453.3) and fewest first downs allowed (15.5).
• Ohio State's defense has surrendered just 8.5 points per game since week 7, the fewest in the FBS.
• Junior running back Ezekiel Elliott leads the Big Ten with 161.7 rushing yards per game in Big Ten play. He has an FBS-leading streak of 15 consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing.
• With 181 yards at Illinois, Elliott moved into third place on Ohio State's all-time rushing list with 3,565 yards. Eddie George is second with 3,768.
• Sophomore quarterback J.T. Barrett has accounted for a total of 14 TDs in his past 4 games (8 rushing, 6 passing).
• Junior wide receiver Michael Thomas has caught a pass in 26 consecutive games. He leads the team with 45 catches for 651 yards and 8 TDs.
• Junior defensive end Joey Bosa leads the Big Ten with 12.5 TFL in Big Ten play. He tied a career high with 3.0 TFL in the win at Illinois.
• Urban Meyer has the highest winning percentage (.854) among active coaches with at least 10 years of experience. He is a perfect 28-0 in games played in October (14-0) & November (14-0) at Ohio State.

PENN STATE vs. MICHIGAN

Senior Day in Happy Valley, Penn State (7-3, 4-2 B1G East) hosts Michigan to close out the B1G home slate of the 2015 season. Last year, the Wolverines surprised the Nittany Lions 18-13, in James Franklin's first season at the helm at Penn State. The Nittany Lions are coming off a bye week, while Michigan is coming off a 48-41 2OT win @ Indiana. Kickoff at Beaver Stadium will be 11 a.m. CST on ABC.

Michigan graduate student QB #15 Jake Rudock and senior WR #86 Julu Chesson
each won co-B1G offensive player of the week honors, in the win @ IU. Rudock
transferred from Iowa, after being a two year starter for the Hawkeyes.

Jim Harbaugh is in his first season, as head coach for his alma mater, Michigan. The Wolverines are 8-2 overall, with a lone B1G loss on the final play at home against Michigan State. Michigan is performing very well, in Harbaugh's first season. The next two games against Penn State and vs. Ohio State could really spark an interesting story. 

Michigan QB #15 Jake Rudock leading the Wolverines offense in win over IU.

Michigan's quarterback dialed up a record-setting effort under center, completing 33-of-46 passes for 440 yards, with six touchdowns to one interception. Rudock's 33 completions are tied for second most by any Wolverine in one game, trailing only Tom Brady's 34 in Michigan's 2000 Orange Bowl win over Alabama, which came on the same number of pass attempts. Rudock's final three pass attempts were all touchdowns against the Hoosiers.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, Rudock is the first Big Ten quarterback to throw for 400 yards and six touchdowns in a game since Kyle Orton accomplished the feat at Purdue in 2004, and just the second in the last 20 years.

First year Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh took over a team that finished 5-7 in
2014. The Wolverines head to State College with a 8-2 record in 2015.

An interesting two week journey could create a storybook ending for two quarterbacks that were 1-2 for the Iowa Hawkeyes last year. If Ohio State beats Michigan State and the Michigan Wolverines closeout  2015 win wins @ Penn State and the B1G finale over Ohio State in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines and Hawkeyes could meet in the 2015 B1G title game in Indianapolis on December 5th. The Hawkeyes can clinch the Big Ten West with a win on Saturday against Purdue.

Penn State junior NT #99 Austin Johnson and redshirt freshman LB #42 Troy Reeder
in the Northwestern game that the Nittany Lions played ahead of the bye week.

Penn State will look to complete its first undefeated home season since 2008, and extend a three-game home winning streak over Michigan that dates back to the same year. The last meeting in Beaver Stadium between the two teams was a historic one, as Penn State prevailed 43-40 in four overtimes for the longest game in the history of the Big Ten.

Iowa clinches the B1G West with a win over Purdue on Saturday.

Purdue (2-8, 1-5 B1G West) heads to Iowa for the 86th meeting between the schools on Saturday, with an 11 a.m. CST kickoff on ESPN 2. Purdue is 3-11 against a ranked Iowa team in program history. Purdue last beat a ranked Iowa team in 2003, when the No. 16 Boilermakers defeated the No. 10 Hawkeyes 27-14 in West Lafayette.

Iowa junior QB #16 C.J. Beathard in the Hawkeyes 40-35 win against Minnesota.

Iowa QB C.J. Beathard became the first Iowa quarterback to win his first career start in a road game since Jason Manson in 2006, in last year's 24-10 Hawkeye win @ Purdue. Beathard's start snapped a streak of 17 consecutive starts by QB Jake Rudock in 2014. Beathard completed 17-of-37 passes for 245 yards passing and one touchdown. He also rushed eight times for 29 yards. 

Now the starter in 2015, Beathard has won his first 11 games as a starter for the Iowa Hawkeyes, dating back to last year's start at Purdue. In Iowa’s last 11 games, including the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl, Beathard’s fourth quarter numbers include 35-of-49 passing for 500 yards and four touchdowns, and 17 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Beathard did not play in the fourth quarter against North Texas.

Iowa senior DE #34 Nate Meier against Minnesota freshman RB #27 Shannon
Brooks, who was recognized as the B1G Freshman of the Week, this week.

Beathard and the Hawkeyes’ rush defense have dominated the fourth quarter in 2015. Iowa’s rush defense, the No. 3 defense in the conference, has yielded 191 total rushing yards in the fourth quarter this season (19.1 yards per game).

Beathard is 28-of-42 passing for 405 yards and two touchdowns. He has also rushed 15 times for 42 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter this season. He has engineered game-winning drives in the fourth quarter two times this season (Iowa State and Pitt). He was 4-of-4 for 46 yards and a touchdown against Iowa State, and he rushed for 27 yards on three carries to set up K Marshall Koehn’s 57-yard game winning field goal against Pitt.

During the Iowa-Maryland game, honorary captain Zach Johnson and 2015
game captains, C #63 Austin Blythe, FS #27 Jordan Lomax, QB #16 C.J. Beathard
and DE Drew Ott, who was lost to a season ending injury vs. Illinois.

Iowa's Senior Day will see 21 players wrap up their home career at Iowa. Senior members of the Iowa football program include C Austin Blythe, RB Jordan Canzeri, DT Darian Cooper (who has missed his senior season due to injury), FB Adam Cox, CB Sean Draper, TE Jake Duzey, WLB Cole Fisher, WR Jacob Hillyer, P Dillon Kidd, PK Marshall Koehn, TE Henry Krieger Coble, FS Jordan Lomax, DE Nate Meier, DE Drew Ott (season ending injury vs. Illinois), LB Travis Perry, FB Macon Plewa, C/G Eric Simmons, WR Tevaun Smith, DE Melvin Spears, WR Andrew Stone, and RG Jordan Walsh.

Purdue redshirt freshman QB #11 David Blough completed 28 of 43 pass attempts
 for 274 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. He added 82 yards
 rushing on 10 carries, including a 56-yard touchdown run to open the scoring for the
Boilermakers in the first quarter of the 55-45 win over Nebraska.

Purdue redshirt freshman QB David Blough is scheduled to make his eight straight start, which will give him the most consecutive starts by a Purdue quarterback in the same season since Caleb TerBush started 13 games in 2011.

Purdue scored a touchdown on its first offensive play from scrimmage last week - a 68-yard touchdown pass from QB Blough to junior WR Domonique Young. It is the longest play Northwestern has allowed all season. Purdue lost at Northwestern 21-14 last Saturday, while Iowa won at Northwestern 40-10 earlier in Big Ten play.

The Iowa Hawkeyes in Kinnick Stadium ahead of Minnesota game.

Iowa has its best start in program history (10-0), due to excelling in all three phases of the game.

On Offense:

• Iowa has scored 30 points or more in four straight Big Ten games for the first time in school history. 
• Iowa has a balanced offense. Its 4,214 total yards are divided by 2,117 yards rushing, and 2,097 yards passing. Iowa has 30 rushing touchdowns, first in the Big Ten and fifth nationally. 
• Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten with 14 scrimmage plays of 40-plus yards. The Hawkeyes had 12 scrimmage plays of 40-plus yards all of last season, and 13 such plays in 2012 and 2013 combined.

On Defense:

• Iowa has allowed six rushing touchdowns; No. 1 in the conference and fourth nationally.
• Iowa leads the Big Ten in interceptions (13) and ranks second in takeaways (20) and turnover margin (+11). 
• Limiting big plays: Iowa has allowed 12 scrimmage plays of 30-plus yards. Only Michigan (9) has allowed fewer among Big Ten teams. 

On Special Teams:

• Marshall Koehn’s 57-yard game-winning field goal vs. Pitt is the second longest in school history and the second longest in FBS this season. 
• Iowa’s two-man punt team of Dillon Kidd (43.1) and Marshall Koehn (46.2) rank fourth in the Big Ten averaging 42.4 yards per punt.
• Junior CB/RS Desmond King averages 12.7 yards per punt return and 25.1 yards on KO returns, both rank No. 3 in the Big Ten.

Iowa's schedule strength among the five remaining unbeaten FBS teams, only Clemson has a higher strength of schedule rating than Iowa (Sagarin Ratings). Iowa has won two road games over ranked opponents (#18 Wisconsin; #20 Northwestern), joining Alabama (3) as the only programs in the nation with multiple road wins over ranked foes.

Senior Day in Madison: Northwestern @ Wisconsin ... the Badgers need a lot
of help, with Iowa owning a two game lead basically ahead of Wisconsin.
Iowa beat Wisconsin in the B1G opener in Madison, 10 -6.

Senior Day in Madison, as the Wisconsin Badgers (8-2, 5-1 B1G West) hosts Northwestern (7-3, 4-2 B1G West). The game will be played at 2:30 p.m. CST on the Big Ten Network. The Wildcats defeated the Badgers in Evanston, in Wisconsin's Big Ten opener in 2014, by the score of 20-14.

The Northwestern Wildcats celebrating last Saturday's win over Purdue.

Other B1G games in Week 12:

• Indiana (0-6 B1G East) @ Maryland (0-6 B1G East) - one of these teams will pull themselves out of the East cellar on Saturday
• Rutgers (3-7) @ Army (2-8) - as the Scarlet Knights enjoy their final non-conference game of the season
• Nebraska (5-6, 3-4 B1G West) - bye week ahead of the Black Friday home date in Lincoln against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kickoff will be 2:30 p.m. CST on ABC
• Illinois (5-5, 2-4 B1G West) @ Minnesota (4-6, 1-5 B1G West) - the Fighting Illini needs one more win to become the eighth B1G team to be bowl eligible, while the Golden Gophers need two, as they close out B1G play with back to back home games against the Illini and rival, Wisconsin.

Week 11 Results - November 14, 2015

EAST DIVISION
		Overall		Conference		Division
		W-L	%	W-L	%	W-L	%
1.	Ohio State	10-0	1.000	6-0	1.000	4-0	1.000
2.	Michigan State	9-1	.900	5-1	.833	4-0	1.000
	Michigan	8-2	.800	5-1	.833	3-1	.750
4.	Penn State	7-3	.700	4-2	.667	3-1	.750
5.	Rutgers	3-7	.300	1-6	.143	1-4	.200
6.	Maryland	2-8	.200	0-6	.000	0-4	.000
	Indiana	4-6	.400	0-6	.000	0-5	.000
WEST DIVISION
		Overall		Conference		Division
		W-L	%	W-L	%	W-L	%
1.	Iowa	10-0	1.000	6-0	1.000	4-0	1.000
2.	Wisconsin	8-2	.800	5-1	.833	3-1	.750
3.	Northwestern	8-2	.800	4-2	.667	3-1	.750
4.	Nebraska	5-6	.455	3-4	.429	1-4	.200
5.	Illinois	5-5	.500	2-4	.333	2-2	.500
6.	Minnesota	4-6	.400	1-5	.167	1-3	.250
	Purdue	2-8	.200	1-5	.167	1-4	.200

Updated through all games of Nov. 14.