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Iowa Football: Ranking Final Six Games of Season

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:15 a.m. ET

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Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

What game in the second half of the season is the most intriguing?

There aren’t a ton of people who love what they saw from Iowa football in the first half of the season. Despite being 4-2, the Iowa Hawkeyes have gotten a lot of scrutiny for their inconsistent play and two losses. For a team who many expected to compete in the Big Ten this year, and possibly be a national title contender, Iowa has not lived up to expectations.

Even though Iowa has had a lackluster first half to the season, they’re still 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. With Wisconsin and Nebraska each with Ohio State and one another left on their schedule, Iowa is still very much in the Big Ten West race.

Falling to Northwestern didn’t help, although if Iowa escapes with a win over Wisconsin or Nebraska, the Hawkeyes have a solid shot of winning the Big Ten West. It’s a somewhat outlandish statement for a team who very well could choke and finish the season with five wins, but the possibility of a nine win season is still alive.

As frustrating as the first six games of the season were to watch, the season is far from over and Iowa is hoping they can catch fire as they head into the heart of their schedule. That being said, which game left on the schedule is the most intriguing?

Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

No. 6 – @Purdue Boilermakers

Not to put down this upcoming week’s game, but not many people are overjoyed with the Hawkeyes taking on Purdue. The Boilermakers might be 3-2 but they haven’t been in a competitive game with a good team this year and might be the worst team in the Big Ten.

Plus, the game is away and starts at 11 a.m. on ESPN2. While it’s not surprising this game isn’t the primetime game of the weekend, the Hawkeyes are once again pushed to the back burner by ESPN and are the forgotten morning game on ESPN2.

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While it’s still Iowa Hawkeyes football, which is enough reason to get excited about any game, this game should not be much of a contest. Although, with the way Iowa has been playing as of late, a blowout win would be thrilling to watch.

After taking down Purdue 40-20 a year ago, it would not be surprising if the score is eerily similar this year. Iowa has only scored 14 points in two of their last three games, however, Purdue allowed 31 points to Illinois a week ago and ranks 93rd in the nation in points allowed per game (31.4).

Unless you’re the biggest David Blough fan in the world, this game really has very little intrigue outside of it being Iowa Hawkeyes football. Iowa should dominate the game, or everyone will be pulling their hair out due to frustration of watching more poorly played football.

Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 – @Illinois Fighting Illini

Iowa has beaten Illinois in each of the past two years, including a 29-20 win last season. Although, like Purdue, Illinois isn’t a good team and doesn’t have any major stars. Also, while the time isn’t determined yet, the game is on the road in Champaign Illinois.

If Illinois won more than one of their first five games then they might be worth watching. But they blew a chance to beat Purdue, one that the Boilermakers placed in their lap, and might be without their most notable player, quarterback Wes Lunt, for an extended period of time.

Backup quarterback Chayce Crouch had to come in for relief when Lunt suffered a leg injury during their loss to Purdue. Lunt is questionable to play against Rutgers this week, showing that his injury could be very serious.

While the Hawkeyes and Illini won’t take the field until November 19, Iowa’s second to last game, the possibility of Lunt not playing makes this game lose a lot of intrigue. Sure, an athletic quarterback like Crouch could cause the Hawkeyes problems, like Easton Stick of North Dakota State, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to take on a stifling defense like Iowa’s.

While game planning and scouting the quarterback situation at Illinois is still weeks away, the Illini just aren’t an exciting team to watch. Maybe the loss to Purdue will ignite a fire in the Lovie Smith led team, although, right now, I can’t imagine anything more than a low-scoring affair between these two teams or Iowa winning in a blowout.

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

No. 4 – @Penn State Nittany Lions

A night game at Happy Valley, it doesn’t get much better than that. Penn State is 4-2 and it wouldn’t be surprising if each team came into the game 5-3 — with wins over Purdue and a Penn State loss to Ohio State and an Iowa loss to Wisconsin. Win or lose, Iowa has played good teams tough this season and has been in games that come down to the wire.

Penn State is a team that never seem to meet expectations under James Franklin. They rank outside of the top-50 in the nation in both points per game and points allowed per game and should simply be better by this point of Franklin’s Penn State career.

Iowa’s defense will have one of their toughest tests of the season with running back Saquon Barkley. He’s one of the most exciting backs in the nation, as he’s rushed for 582 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging five yards per carry.

Along with Barkley, Trace McSorley has taken huge strides during his first full season as starting quarterback. He’s still far from done developing, although he’s completing a respectable 58.2 percent of passes and has only thrown three interceptions this season.

Home or away night games are always fun. In a historic place like Happy Valley with both teams looking to become bowl eligible, it’s bound to be an amazing game. Neither team is built to blow teams out, therefore a close game is exactly what everyone should expect, and what Big Ten Network is hoping for since it’s the game of the week.

Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 – Michigan Wolverines

Barring a change in time, Iowa and Michigan are set to kickoff on November 12 at 7 p.m. on ABC. There’s no doubt that ESPN is hoping Iowa can find some of their 2015 magic and save the game they hoped would be a highly-anticipated Big Ten game. The way the first half of the season went, ESPN will likely be disappointed.

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There’s good reason to believe that Michigan is the best team in the nation. Sure, Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson are all ranked ahead of them, but it’s not impossible to envision the Wolverines winning the national championship this season.

A night game at Kinnick Stadium with arguably the best team in the nation lining up against them sounds amazing. At the beginning of the season, this game was number one on my list. I couldn’t wait to get to November 12 and watch the Hawkeyes try to upset Michigan. Although, I have a different feeling about it now.

It will be fun to watch stars such as Jabrill Peppers, Amara Darboh, Rashan Gary and De’Veon Smith play live, and Jim Harbaugh walking the sideline with his khakis is always a much anticipated sight. Seeing future NFL players in college is always a unique experience, and there will be no shortage between the two teams.

However, considering Iowa’s struggles moving the ball against Rutgers and Minnesota, it’s almost painful to imagine how they’ll perform against a defense that is allowing a mere 10.3 points per game. This game has gone from a “Man, an upset could mean the College Football Playoff” to “Man, I hope Iowa doesn’t embarrass itself too bad.”

Don’t get me wrong, Jabrill Peppers and company will be fantastic to see live, especially in primetime under the lights. Although, Iowa will be huge underdogs and a blowout could occur quickly.

Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 – Nebraska Cornhuskers

There’s always one game every year that not many students attend because of Thanksgiving break, and this year it’s when Nebraska comes to Iowa City on November 25. That being said, considering Nebraska’s top-10 worthy season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see plenty of students come back to watch Iowa take on one of the better teams in the nation.

Besides the crowd, any game with this Nebraska team has the potential for a lot of fireworks. Tommy Armstrong Jr is one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the nation, as well as position players like Devine Ozigbo and Jordan Westerkamp. Iowa will need to take chances and score, meaning this game could have a lot of highlight plays.

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Plus, this game could have huge implications on the Big Ten West race. Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin are still in contention to win the Big Ten West. Although, each team still has to play one another and also has either Michigan or Ohio State scheduled. Therefore, in the last week of the season, Nebraska or Iowa could desperately need a win to clinch the division title.

That would make this the biggest game between these two teams since Nebraska joined the Big Ten. Not to mention, the Heroes Game trophy is on the line and Iowa is 0-2 against Nebraska in Iowa City since they started The Heroes Game in 2011.

If Iowa stays afloat the rest of the season then there’s a chance this game will be a primetime game. Either way, a lot will likely be riding on this game, and Iowa will have a chance to add their third or fourth trophy in 2016.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 – Wisconsin Badgers

The Hawkeyes will finally return home on October 22 after their first stretch of back-to-back road games. Iowa City is dying to see another home game so Iowa can rebound from their disappointing loss to Northwestern. Even though Wisconsin is playing a very tough Ohio State team this week, they won’t fall out of the top-25, marking this the time since 2014 that Iowa will take on a ranked team at home.

Barring a loss to Purdue, a win over Wisconsin could potentially save Iowa’s season. It would give them a leg-up in the Big Ten West, as well as send a message to voters that this team might be worthy of jumping back into the top-25.

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It won’t be a battle of top-25 teams like many thought heading into the year, however Iowa and Wisconsin have a history of close games. In fact, three of their last four meetings were decided by fewer than five points. With the defensive-minded style of play and lack of offense these two teams have shown this season, another close game wouldn’t be surprising.

Sure, an 11 a.m. start isn’t ideal, but home games make it a lot more manageable. Plus, Iowa will try to win their third trophy in as many tries this year. The Hawkeyes already won the Cy-Hawk Trophy and Floyd of Rosedale but upsetting a ranked team at home for the Heartland Trophy would be extra special.

Students and fans in general are itching for a home game this week, which will make the atmosphere even crazier when the Badgers are in town. There might not be a lot of explosive offensive plays, however, a home game against one of Iowa’s biggest rivals is always a treat. Besides, this will be a crucial game for both teams when it comes to the Big Ten West.

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