The Day After: Hawkeyes Can Still Play A Role In West Division Race
A lot of things — a lot of things — have to happen for Iowa to get the Big Ten West Division title.
Let's see — Iowa would have to win out, Minnesota would have to lose its last three games (at Iowa and Northwestern, at home vs. Wisconsin), and Wisconsin would have to lose to Nebraska on the road and Purdue at home.
The odds of all of that happening are, well, not good.
Iowa's 24-22 loss at Wisconsin on Saturday put the Hawkeyes on the edge of extinction in the conference race.
Iowa won the West in 2015, and hasn't been back. The Hawkeyes have had their opportunities in the last four seasons to be factors in the division race, and missed each time.
"It's hard to do," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "There are seven teams (in the two Big Ten divisions), right? One's going to go and six aren't. That's the way football goes sometimes. Everybody's competing for the same thing. It's a tough conference, like most conferences. It's hard to be at the top."
The top belongs to Minnesota. The Gophers, at 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Big Ten, controls the division, but the Hawkeyes can put a dent in that with a win in next Saturday's game at Kinnick Stadium.
For the Hawkeyes, it's a matter of staying focused. Ferentz teams have always preached the "24-hour rule," one day to celebrate or lament, and then move on to the next week.
"We're just looking forward to the next opportunity," running back Toren Young said.
The game against Minnesota will be to keep Floyd of Rosedale, the bronzed pig trophy that won't be in its usual spot in the Iowa football building this week. It's a chance to dent Minnesota's title hopes as well.
But time is running out on the Hawkeyes to do something with this season.
Getting to Indianapolis isn't a thought anymore. Finishing strong is, but the Hawkeyes have to be better than what they have been in the big games in October and now November.
Being a spoiler isn't always that exciting. But that's all that's realistically left.
Other takeaways from Saturday:
Open up the offense
The Hawkeyes scored 16 points in the fourth quarter against one of the best defenses in the nation, with a tempo fueled by the desperation of the situation.
Iowa isn't a tempo team, so don't expect a lot of throwing the ball around the yard.
Still, quarterback Nate Stanley can deliver an accurate ball, especially when he gets protection. And his receivers can make plays — Nico Ragaini had six catches on Saturday, Tyrone Tracy had five receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette can be a difficult matchup for secondaries.
It's desperation time.
Tyler Goodson touches
Freshman running back Tyler Goodson averaged more than five yards per carry on Saturday, and six yards per reception.
The problem? He only had five carries and one reception.
Young is a good power back. Mekhi Sargent has the speed and can do well in pass protection.
You want more tempo? Then Goodson has to be involved.
Better starts
Iowa's first eight possessions on Saturday were punt, field goal, fumble, field goal, end of half, punt, punt, punt.
That's not how you win critical games.
So, we're back to talking tempo. A better early pace helps get the offense in a rhythm.
Even in their two wins over Purdue and Northwestern, the Hawkeyes never threw an early punch.
That will have to change against Minnesota.
