Bleacher Report - Articles by Kevin Trahan

Oklahoma's Win Over Oklahoma State Helps Iowa's BCS Chances

Kevin Trahan — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:43:00 -0500

Bob Stoops's Oklahoma Sooners didn't have much to play for Saturday, except for a bowl "upgrade" to the Alamo Bowl. But he came through for his old team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, who had much more riding on this game.

Playing in the annual Bedlam game, the Sooners faced in-state rival Oklahoma State, who had much more to play for, likely a BCS bowl birth. But the Cowboys weren't up to the challenge, as they were shut out 27-0 in Norman.

And while Oklahoma celebrated on the field, the state of Iowa was celebrating at home. The Hawkeyes were more benefited by the win than any other team, possibly outside of Boise State. An Oklahoma win puts Iowa in very good position for a BCS birth, one that Oklahoma State could have snatched up with a win in Norman.

While Iowa still had hopes for a BCS bowl birth with an Oklahoma State win, those chances would have dropped tremendously. It seems clear that the Fiesta Bowl will take a Big Ten team with its first at-large pick and that team is likely to be Iowa. But if Oklahoma State had won, the Fiesta may have felt obligated to stick with their league tie-in and take a Big 12 team. That means the Big Ten's at-large representative would likely slip to the Orange Bowl, and Penn State looks like it would have been chosen if the Big Ten candidate had slipped that far.

And while Penn State fans will argue that the Oklahoma State loss does nothing for Iowa's chances, it has to be a big blow to Nittany Lion nation. It was a given that two Big Ten teams would reach the BCS, with Ohio State the automatic pick for the Rose Bowl and either Iowa going to the Fiesta Bowl or Penn State going to the Orange Bowl. Since the Fiesta has the first pick, Iowa seems to be in much better position than Penn State for a BCS bid.

But why Iowa to Glendale and Penn State to Miami? Iowa seems to be the better fit for the Fiesta Bowl because of attendance. Both teams travel very well, but Iowa has a huge alumni base in Arizona and the Hawkeyes' fan attendance would likely exceed 50,000. Iowa brought 50,000 fans to Miami in their last BCS appearance, an Orange Bowl record, and could exceed that number because of the huge alumni base in the Valley of the Sun. It also helps that Iowa hasn't played in the Fiesta Bowl, and while TV ratings favor Penn State's past bowl games, Iowa has had good ratings this season because their games are, to say the least, very exciting to watch.

While Penn State lost to Iowa head-to-head in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions may be more attractive to the Orange Bowl. That seems odd, considering Iowa sold more tickets than any other team in Orange Bowl history, but a statement by Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms tells the story.

"We examine a myriad of factors when making our decision for the opponent of the ACC champion, including in no particular order: ticket sales, tourism, local economic impact, television appeal, maintaining our brand tradition, [and] appeal for our local and national fan base," Poms told CBS.

While Iowa and Penn State are equal in many of those categories, Penn State looks to have the "maintaining our brand tradition" factor nailed down. The Orange Bowl loves the Nittany Lions, who are no strangers to Miami. Plus, Penn State has a larger alumni base in Florida than Iowa does.

Although Saturday's game is by no means a guarantee that Iowa is heading to Glendale, Oklahoma certainly helped the Hawkeyes' chances of booking a trip to the Valley of the Sun. There is also no guarantee that the bowl pecking order, as Texas still needs to beat Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game. And while a Nebraska upset doesn't seem likely, Iowa could still be headed to Glendale, with the Fiesta taking Nebraska with its first pick, the Orange taking Texas with its pick, and the Fiesta taking Iowa with its second pick.

While Iowa won't be sure of their bowl destination until BCS selections are made next Sunday, the Hawkeyes made huge strides without even playing a game. And even though one can only speculate so much, Iowa is looking more and more likely to be having a Fiesta in the desert come January.

Iowa-Penn State: The Case for the Big Ten At-Large Candidates

Kevin Trahan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:46:17 -0500

Right now, it's pretty clear that a Big Ten team will play in a BCS bowl game, likely the Fiesta Bowl or the Orange Bowl. The only question is, will that team be Iowa or Penn State? Here's the case for Iowa in the BCS. Let's see who has the advantage in each category

Fan Base
While Penn State has an extremely strong fan base as well, Iowa has one of the strongest fan bases in the country and an even stronger traveling fan base.

The Fiesta Bowl knows of the massive Hawkeye alumni base in Arizona. In fact, Iowa brought 20,000 fans to a regular season game against Arizona State in 2004. Most are projecting the Hawkeyes to bring upwards of 50,000 fans if they are projected to go to Glendale.

And yes Penn State, we know you brought a lot of fans to the 2006 Orange Bowl, but the folks in Miami have seen Iowa's fan base up close and personal. Iowa set an Orange Bowl record in 2003 with 47,000 tickets sold and an estimated 10,000 fans tailgating outside the satdium.

“They have a positive track record,” Orange Bowl representative Larry Gautier said of Iowa supporters’ willingness to travel to bowls. “In the 75-year history of the Orange Bowl, I don’t think anyone’s had more fans there.”

While Penn State fans will try to convince the country they travel better because of their name, the numbers don't lie and Iowa appears to have the advantage on that front. And as any Iowan would say, "People will come. Oh people will most definitely come."

Advantage: Iowa

TV Ratings
While Penn State thinks they own the TV ratings argument, they shouldn't be as cocky. The Nittany Lions are more of a national name and definitely have the edge in bowl game ratings. PSU had a TV rating of 12.3 in the 2006 Orange Bowl, ranked ninth all time, while Iowa had a rating of 9.7, at 29th all time.

But this year, Iowa has had impressive TV numbers, largely due to their exciting finishes. The Iowa-Indiana game ranked second of all ESPN 12:00 games this season. So while Penn State may have the edge, the Hawkeyes are right on their heels.

Advantage: Penn State

Bowl records
This is where Iowa stands out from the rest of the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes own the conference's only bowl win from 2008-2009, manhandling South Carolina 31-10 in the Outback Bowl. In fact, Iowa owns a 4-3 bowl record this decade, going 3-1 against the SEC (with wins against South Carolina, Florida, and LSU) and 3-2 overall in January.

Penn State has also had success, going 3-2 this decade, but the Lions are coming off of an embarrasing 38-24 thrashing by USC. The Hawkeyes, on the other hand, always show up to play during bowls and two of their losses came as heavy underdogs.

Advantage: Iowa

On-Field
While this may be the smallest factor in determining where each team will go, Iowa can still use it as a bargaining chip.

The Hawkeyes beat the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley earlier this year by a score of 21-10. Of course 21-10 doesn't sell tickets are bring in TV audiences, but if the BCS wants to solidify itself as a token of fairness, it may encourage its games to choose Iowa.

The Hawkeyes have also played a much tougher schedule, with road games against Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State. They also beat Arizona handily at home. The loss against Ohio State came with Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg making his first career start in a 27-24 OT defeat that was supposed to be a blowout loss.

In fact, one could argue that Iowa would still be undefeated if quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who will be back for the bowl game, hadn't gotten hurt. Penn State dominated most of their games, while Iowa squeaked by, but the Nittany Lions lost their only two tough games. Plus, bowls like excitement.

Advantage: Iowa

Match-ups
There are a lot of proposed match-ups going around the web, but the most popular choice is Iowa vs. Boise State, which figures to be a great game and is by far the most appealing of all the possibilities. Penn State versus Boise State is far less appealing to sports fans around the country. Either Georgia Tech versus Iowa or Georgia Tech versus Penn State would be a good game. But because of the Fiesta Bowl match-up, Iowa has the advantage here.

Advantage: Iowa

Overview
While Iowa has the advantage in all but one of the areas of consideration, Penn State has the advantage in one of the most influential, ticket sales.

It's pretty clear that Iowa will get a Fiesta Bowl bid if Oklahoma State loses. Even if the Cowboys win, the Hawkeyes could get the spot considering the Fiesta Bowl has no obligation to the Big 12 South runner-up and Oklahoma State averages 7,000 empty seats per home game.

If the Fiesta Bowl lets a Big Ten team go, they won't get another shot, as the Orange Bowl will pick up Iowa or Penn State. That could be a financial tragedy for the Fiesta Bowl due to ticket sales and TV ratings, especially if they end up with an Oklahoma State vs. Boise State match-up. Because of this, I don't see a Big Ten team getting past the Fiesta Bowl, and Iowa will most likely be the team that's chosen.

But if both Big Ten teams slip to the Orange Bowl, there's a 50-50 chance either way. But because the overall odds favor the Hawkeyes, I project Iowa to be the Big Ten's BCS at-large representative.

Prediction: Iowa

BCS and January Bowl Projections: Round Three

Kevin Trahan — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:18:34 -0500

BCS National Championship: Florida vs. Texas

None of the top three teams really had a win that solidifies them as the top team in America. Florida and Alabama both destroyed Florida International and Chattanooga, but that won't help the Crimson Tide in the National Title discussion. But it's all irrelevant, because the winner of the Alabama vs. Florida game in two weeks will decide one of the National Championship's representatives. Texas, on the other hand, had a more impressive win, beating Kansas 51-20, but they still won't move up much in the polls. They're in if they can get a win against Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship game against Nebraska, which doesn't seem too daunting.

FedEx Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. TCU

Georgia Tech will be locked to the Orange Bowl if they are able to beat Clemson and win the ACC. The other pick changed from last week. With no Big Ten team projected available, the Orange Bowl will likely choose between the Big East Champion and TCU. Both TCU and the Big East Champion will have low ticket sales, so that won't be a factor. But the Orange Bowl is tired of the ACC-Big East match-ups that have ruined their TV ratings and Georgia Tech-TCU is a much more intriguing match-up than Georgia Tech-Cincinnati.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Iowa vs. Boise State

After the Sugar Bowl's replacement pick, which will almost certainly go to the SEC runner-up, the Fiesta Bowl gets its replacement pick. The Fiesta's first pick comes down to Oklahoma State or a Big Ten team. I don't think the Cowboys will be eligible, so Iowa or Penn State will be going to Glendale. Both teams travel extremely well, but Iowa has a huge alumni base in Arizona, beat Penn State head to head, and has never been to the Fiesta Bowl. If Oklahoma State is eligible, the Fiesta Bowl may even take the Hawkeyes over them, considering the Cowboys can rarely sell out their own stadium and Iowa will bring 40,000-50,000 fans.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Cincinnati

The Sugar Bowl will almost certainly take the SEC runner-up, and with Florida projected to go to the National Championship, Alabama will end up in New Orleans for the second straight year. The Sugar Bowl also gets the last pick. If the Big East champion is left, they will be headed to New Orleans by rule. The winner of the Big East, Cincinnati or Pittsburgh, won't sell many seats, but Alabama's presence won't make this a problem. Plus, this is a semi-attractive TV draw.

Rose Bowl presented by Citi: Ohio State vs. Oregon State

I'm going out on a limb with this one. Last year, Oregon ruined Oregon State's Rose Bowl chances by upsetting the Beavers in Corvallis. Expect an exciting Civil war again this year. But this time, the the Beavers will upset the Ducks in Eugene and advance to the Rose Bowl to play Ohio State, who clinched the Big Ten last week with a win against Iowa.

AT&T Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. LSU

If Oklahoma State loses to Oklahoma next week, this match-up looks pretty set in stone. LSU lost to Ole Miss last week, likely sending the Rebels to the Capital One Bowl, while the Tigers will end up in the Cotton Bowl. If Oklahoma State wins next week, expect Nebraska to take this spot, but the Cotton Bowl should pray for an Oklahoma State-LSU match-up, as it could be one of the best games of the bowl season.

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Virginia Tech

A few weeks ago, the Gator Bowl looked like an extremely exciting, offensive match-up, hosting Miami vs. Notre Dame. But with both teams in a downward spiral, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech look to be in prime position for this bid. Of course, it is a much less interesting match-up, but it could be a chance for the Big East to gain some national respect.

Capital One Bowl: Penn State vs. Ole Miss

Either Iowa or Penn State will land in Orlando, and with Iowa projected to go to the Fiesta, Penn State will end up in the Capital One. Ole Miss looked like it would end up falling back down to be an SEC irrelevant after an embarrassing beginning of the year, but after a win against LSU this past weekend, the Rebels are in prime position to gain a Capital One bid.

Outback Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Tennessee

Even after its loss to Northwestern, Wisconsin is in decent shape to end up 9-3 and go to the Outback Bowl. Even if they end up 8-4, they will likely go to Tampa because the Outback Bowl doesn't like Northwestern. They chose Iowa over Northwestern even though Northwestern had a better record and won in Iowa City because the Wildcats have a weak fan base. Wisconsin will sell more tickets, and thus get the spot in Tampa. The SEC team is much harder to project. It seems like the frontrunners for the game are Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky. Kentucky won't sell tickets, so they are pretty much eliminated. That leaves Tennessee and Georgia. Georgia lost last week to Kentucky, but that doesn't mean much. If the Bulldogs end up with two more wins, they will get the nod, but I see Tennessee going to the Outback Bowl if they stay within a win of Georgia.

Decoding the BCS Selection Process: The Possibilities for Every Major Bowl

Kevin Trahan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:10:44 -0500

With college football's regular season winding down, bowl projections have been in full swing. The national championship has basically been decided as the SEC Champion vs. Texas, but besides that, there are plenty of mysteries to be solved.

The problem is that a lot of the bowl matchups being projected, such as TCU vs. Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl or TCU vs. Cincinnati in Glendale, are extremely unrealistic given the bowl selection process. So how are the BCS bowls decided? To find that out, we must first look at the selection order. And remember, this is all assuming the SEC champion meets Texas in the National Championship.

BCS Selection Process
1. National Championship: BCS #1 vs. BCS #2
2. Rose Bowl: Pac-10 Champion vs. Big Ten Champion
3. Sugar Bowl Pick #1: Replacement pick for SEC champion
4. Fiesta Bowl Pick #1: Replacement pick for Texas
5. Orange Bowl: ACC Champion vs. BCS at-large
6. Fiesta Bowl Pick #2: BCS at-large
7. Sugar Bowl Pick #2: BCS at-large

(at-large teams must finish in the BCS top 14)

1. BCS National Championship

There really is no dilemna here whatsoever. The BCS National Championship gets the top two teams in the BCS no matter what. For our purposes, we are assuming that the SEC Champion will play Texas.

Possible Teams (in order of likelihood of being chosen)
1. SEC Champion
2. Texas
3. TCU
4. Cincinnati
5. Boise State

Projected match-up : SEC Champion vs. Texas

2. Rose Bowl

Like the National Championship, the Rose Bowl is relatively easy to project. The Big Ten Champion will face the Pac-10 Champion unless one of those teams is chosen for the National Championship. Since there is no danger of that happening, it is safe to assume that the champions of each conference will face each other. The Big Ten is easy, as Ohio State already clinched that spot by beating Iowa last week.

The Pac-10 is much more messy. Oregon and Arizona each control their own destiny. If either of them win out, they go to the Rose Bowl. Stanford can get in if it wins out, Arizona beats Oregon, Oregon State beats Oregon, and Arizona doesn't win out. Oregon State can get in if it wins out and Arizona does not. How about that for a mess.

Possible Teams (in order of likelihood of being chosen)
1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Arizona
4. Oregon State
5. Stanford

3. Sugar Bowl Pick #1

The Sugar Bowl gets the first at-large pick, receiving a replacement team for the SEC Champion, which will go to the BCS National Championship. The Sugar Bowl will almost certainly take the SEC runner-up with its first replacement pick.

Possible Teams (in order of likelihood of being chosen)
1. SEC runner-up

Projected Pick : SEC runner-up

4. Fiesta Bowl Pick #1

The Fiesta Bowl gets the second of the at-large picks, receiving a replacement team for Texas, the Big 12 Champion. But this is where things get tricky. Even if a Big 12 team is available, presumably Oklahoma State, the Fiesta Bowl doesn't have to take them because it is only obligated to take the Big 12 Champion if that team is not in the National Championship. With Texas going to the National Championship, the Fiesta Bowl would not be obligated to anyone.

As stated earlier, a TCU vs. Boise State or TCU vs. Cincinnati match-up almost certainly won't happen. The bowls are about money and the Fiesta Bowl certainly won't pass up a Big Ten team, such as Iowa or Penn State, for Cincinnati, TCU, Boise State, or Pittsburgh. None of those teams sell tickets and the Fiesta Bowl could have a financial disaster if they end up taking one of those teams and are forced to take another team from that group later on in the selection process. Iowa is projected to bring around 50,000 fans, while Cincinnati only brought 13,000 to the Orange Bowl last year. Boise State, TCU, and Pittsburgh would not have nearly as impressive numbers either.

That means the pick will come down to Iowa, Oklahoma State, and Penn State. The Fiesta Bowl projects that Iowa would bring close to 50,000 fans, considering its reputation for traveling well and its massive alumni base in Arizona. According to HawkeyeNation.com (a Scout affiliate), Fiesta Bowl sources have been hoping to have a chance at Iowa since mid-October and they would be the likely pick. Iowa brought 50,000 fans to the Orange Bowl in 2002 and brought 20,000 to a regular season game against Arizona State in 2004. Plus, they have never played in the Fiesta Bowl.

Penn State would also bring in a good number of fans and would be a nice TV draw, but it seems that the Fiesta Bowl will take Iowa over the Nittany Lions. Oklahoma State may need to win out and hope for Iowa and Penn State to lose this Saturday, but that doesn't seem very likely to happen.

Possible Teams (in order of likelihood of being chosen)
1. Iowa
2. Penn State
3. Oklahoma State
4. TCU
5. Boise State
6. Cincinnati
7. Pittsburgh

Projected Pick : Iowa

5. Orange Bowl

One of the Orange Bowl's picks will be the ACC Champion, most likely Georgia Tech, but the second choice is not as easy to predict. If the Fiesta Bowl decides to go with Oklahoma State, the Orange Bowl will almost certainly select a Big Ten team. Both teams have traveled very well to Miami and the Orange Bowl wouldn't pass that up. Iowa would be the more deserving team in this case, but Penn State may be more attractive for TV ratings' sake. But Iowa still would sell as many tickets as Penn State, so that one is a toss-up.

But with a Big Ten team most likely going to the Fiesta Bowl, the Orange Bowl would have Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, TCU, Boise State, and Oklahoma State to choose from. The Big East runner-up almost certainly won't be chosen due to ticket sales, and the same goes for the non-Big Six teams. That leaves Oklahoma State and the Big East champion. I don't see Oklahoma State getting by Oklahoma, but even if they do, the Orange Bowl will likely go for the Big East champion. There really isn't a reason, other than the fact that the Orange Bowl always seems to go for the most boring match-up possible.

Possible Teams (in order of likelihood of being chosen)
1. Georgia Tech
2. Cincinnati
3. Pittsburgh
4. Clemson
5. Oklahoma State
6. Iowa/Penn State
7. TCU/Boise State

Projected match-up : Georgia Tech vs. Cincinnati

6. Fiesta Bowl

The Fiesta Bowl gets the second to last pick in the BCS selection process and will likely end up choosing from four teams; TCU, Boise State, Oklahoma State, and the Big East runner-up. Oklahoma State would be the obvious choice in this spot, but I don't see them being eligible.

Since the Big East runner-up has almost no chance of being chosen, it comes down to TCU and Boise State. TCU seems like the obvious pick, but Boise State will sell the same amount of tickets. Ticket sales wouldn't be a deciding factor either, as Iowa will make sure the bowl sells out. I think the Fiesta takes Boise State here due to previous experiences. The Broncos played extremely well against Oklahoma and Iowa vs. Boise State is a more attractive match-up than Iowa vs. TCU.

Possible Teams (in order of likelihood of being chosen)
1. Boise State
2. TCU
3. Oklahoma State
4. Big East runner-up

Projected match-up : Iowa vs. Boise State

7. Sugar Bowl

This is one of the easiest picks yet. Since the highest ranked non-Big Six team in the BCS top 14 is guaranteed a bowl birth, TCU has to be chosen. If they are chosen by the Fiesta Bowl, it would make for an interesting debate between Boise State and the Big East runner-up.

Possible Teams (in order of likelihood of being chosen)
1. TCU
2. Boise State
3. Oklahoma State
4. Big East runner-up

Projected match-up : Alabama vs. TCU

Projected BCS match-ups
BCS National Championship: Florida vs. Texas
FedEx Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Cincinnati
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Iowa vs. Boise State
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. TCU
Rose Bowl presented by Citi: Ohio State vs. Oregon

Right now, the only thing that's clear about the BCS is that it's a mess. As the season continues to wind down, we will get a better and better picture of what the bowls will look like. Check back next week for and updated look at the BCS selection process.

BCS and January Bowl Projections: Round Two

Kevin Trahan — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:04:17 -0500

As we saw yesterday, a lot can change in a week, with many BCS bowl contenders falling, opening the door for others to possibly squeak into the BCS.

BCS National Championship: Florida vs. Texas

I firmly believe that Texas is the best team in the nation. Their week schedule might come back to haunt them in the National Championship, but there is no reason to believe they won't get there. Florida, on the other hand, is playing very good football right now and looks like it will be the SEC champion. And we've known from day one that the SEC champion is basically locked to the National Championship this season.

FedEx Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech and Cincinnati

Both teams will receive automatic bids for winning their respective conferences. Georgia Tech has locked up the ACC Atlantic, but needs to look out against a feisty Clemson team that has a shot at knocking them off in the ACC Championship Game. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is projected to be the Big East champion, but has got to be careful after almost losing to West Virginia. The Bearcats get Pitt in a couple weeks, and that game will decide the Big East Championship.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Iowa vs. Boise State

Most "experts" expected Iowa to be blown out of the Horseshoe on Saturday playing with a back-up quarterback who was making his first start. But the Hawkeyes were very impressive, falling only in overtime 27-24. Since no Big 12 team is projected available as a replacement pick, the Fiesta Bowl will select Iowa as their first at-large team because of the Hawkeyes' rabid fan base and alumni base in Arizona. Boise State was helped by USC's loss to Stanford, which knocked the Trojans out of BCS contention, and may have paved the way for a second non-Big Six team to reach the BCS.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. TCU

The SEC championship game loser is locked to the Sugar Bowl since it gets a replacement pick due to one SEC team being in the National Championship. TCU continues to impress week after week. This week, they demolished Utah 55-28, and while a National Championship still isn't likely, the Horned Frogs have played their way into the conversation if Texas is to lose. But the Sugar Bowl isn't a bad consolation prize, and TCU will try to become the second Mountain West team in as many years to knock off Alabama in New Orleans.

Rose Bowl presented by Citi: Ohio State vs. Oregon

I was about to choose Stanford for this game, but since Oregon controls its own destiny, I decided to go with the Ducks. But Arizona and Stanford are right on their heels. Arizona will probably lose to USC so they won't be an issue, but Stanford holds the tiebreaker against Oregon. Stanford needs to win out, and Oregon needs to lose a game, but the Ducks need to be extremely careful. Last year, they ruined Oregon State's Rose Bowl chances in Corvales, and the Beavers would like nothing less than to ruin Oregon's this year in Eugene. And they definitely are capable of pulling it off. But with all the drama in the Pac-10 comes an easy pick in the Big Ten. Ohio State is almost certainly locked to the Rose Bowl after beating Iowa at home this past weekend.

AT&T Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Auburn

This was an easy choice from the Big 12, as Oklahoma State is clearly the second best team in that conference. But this was a much harder pick from the muddled SEC. Outside of Florida, Alabama, and LSU, the conference is extremely average at best, even though it might kill SEC fans to hear that. This pick basically comes down to Auburn and Ole Miss, and since Ole Miss played here last year, the Tigers get the nod.

Konica Gator Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh

Notre Dame will likely receive a bid to this game if they win out, but I don't see that happening, as they still must play red hot Stanford. In that case, Pitt, the Big East runner-up, would play in the Gator Bowl against Virginia Tech. Miami looked to have a solid case for this game until Saturday's loss to North Carolina. That makes room for the Hokies to move back up in the bowl pecking order.

Capital One Bowl: Penn State vs. LSU

LSU is basically locked to the Capital One Bowl, the SEC's best bowl outside of the BCS games, if they win out. And even though the Tigers will likely be ranked in the Top 14, only two teams from each conference are allowed to play in BCS bowls. The Capital One Bowl will likely have either Penn State or Wisconsin to choose from, as Iowa will probably go to a BCS bowl. If the Hawkeyes don't go to the BCS, they will be the probable choice for this game because of their history with LSU in Orlando. But out of Penn State and Wisconsin, the Capital One Bowl will likely choose Penn State because of their great traveling fan base.

Outback Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Georgia

Wisconsin will likely be the last of the 10-2 Big Ten teams that will be left and will be a lock for this game. Georgia, on the other hand, definitely helped itself last week with a win over Auburn. The Bulldogs have had an extremely disappointing season to date, but a win over the Tigers puts them in good position to play in this game. Their only opponent for this spot is Tennessee, who definitely did not help themselves this week with a 42-17 loss to Ole Miss.

Creature vs. Creature: Previewing Iowa-Ohio State

Kevin Trahan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:01:03 -0500

Up until last Saturday, the 2009 season had been one to remember for the Iowa Hawkeyes. They were 9-0 and getting set to face the Northwestern Wildcats. And things started off great for the fourth ranked Hawkeyes, as Marvin McNutt caught a 74-yard touchdown pass on the first series. But, with a 10-0 lead, quarterback Ricky Stanzi was sacked and fumbled in the endzone, leading to a Northwestern touchdown and Stanzi injuring his ankle. Iowa went on to lose the game 17-10, but more importantly, lost their starting quarterback for the remainder of the regular season.

Now, the rest of the Iowa season falls in the hands of redshirt freshman James Vandenberg, who had a less than impressive debut against Northwestern, going 9-of-27 for 82 yards and an interception. This week, he makes his first career start against the Ohio State Buckeyes in front of 100,000 fans in Columbus.

The much anticipated game certainly has lost a bit of its luster with Stanzi out, but it still will be the most important Big Ten game of the year. It will decide the winner of the conference and the Big Ten's Rose Bowl representative. So for those of you looking for a conference championship in the Big Ten, you got one. Let's break down the matchup.

Why Ohio State will win...

There are 20, check that, 50 reasons why Ohio State will win. They are coming off a blowout of Penn State in Happy Valley, quarterback Terrelle Pryor is at his best, and the defense is one of the best in the country.

While the Buckeyes started out the season slowly, they've turned their season around ever since a loss to Purdue in the early going of the Big Ten season. And they're two wins away from winning yet another outright Big Ten title.

So how can Ohio State beat Iowa to advance to the Rose Bowl? Simple...they need to contain James Vandenberg. That doesn't seem like a very tall order, as Vandernberg was awful against Northwestern's defense. But a game of experience goes a long way, and while Ohio State shouldn't have any trouble containing him, they can't overlook him and not see him as a threat.

Why Iowa will win...

There's really no good reason why Iowa will win. And if they do, it will be a very low scoring game. The first thing the Hawkeyes must do to win this game is play the best defense they have all year. Even a defensive performance similar to the one against Penn State may not be enough. They need to force turnovers to win this game, which is actually a realistic strategy, considering Iowa leads the nation in interceptions.

Secondly, James Vandenberg needs to do just enough. The one thing that Vandernberg cannot do is turn the ball over. He needs to take what the defense gives him and not try to force any throws. If nothing is there, he needs to throw the ball away instead of trying to make anything happen. Even if he has a zero in the touchdown category, the Hawkeyes still have a shot if he has a zero in the interception category as well.

Thirdly, Iowa needs to get to Terrelle Pryor. After a miserable few weeks in the middle of the season, Terrelle Pryor has turned into arguably the Big Ten's best quarterback. But the one thing that could come back to haunt him is his cockiness. He was extremely cocky after the Penn State game, and while that could help him, it could also get him in trouble. If he makes a mistake, that overconfidence could turn into frustration, making him more vulnerable against Iowa's opportunistic defense. This is what happened against Purdue. As is normal for a young quarterback, one mistake led to another, causing him to eventually give away the game due to turnovers.

Then there are the intangibles. While the momentum definitely favors Ohio State, Iowa has played its best this year when it is the underdog on the road. They play down to their opponents, but always rise to the occasion against tough teams. Expect Saturday to be no different.

What will happen...

Ohio State will start out hot and march down the field on their two opening drives. While the Buckeyes will have no problem moving the ball most of the way, the drives will stall in the red zone and Ohio State will be held to field goals, making the score 6-0 heading into the second quarter. That's when Pryor will make his first mistake. Iowa will intercept him in Ohio State territory, but will be unable to move the ball any further, settling for a field goal and a 6-3 deficit going into halftime.

The third quarter will be uneventful, minus another Ohio State field goal, making it 9-3 heading into the fourth quarter. But Pryor, frustrated after not doing much outside of the first quarter, will try to force a throw, leading to another Iowa interception with ten minutes left in the game. This time, Vandenberg will slowly, but methodically lead his team down the field for a touchdown, bringing the score to 10-9. An anxious Pryor will again try to force a throw and be intercepted once again, sealing the deal for the Hawkeyes. For the second straight year, on the second Saturday in November, Iowa will come away with one of its biggest wins in recent history, shocking the college football world and punching a ticket to the Rose Bowl.

To quote Al Michaels, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

Prediction: Iowa 10, Ohio State 9

For an Ohio State fan's perspective, check out Kristofer Green's article.

2009-2010 BCS and January Bowl Projections: Round One

Kevin Trahan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:15:53 -0500

Each week, I will update my BCS and January bowl projections. Here goes round one.

BCS National Championship: Florida vs. Texas

As has been predicted all season, Florida and Texas will likely meet for the BCS National Championship. Texas's cupcake schedule leaves relatively no challenges ahead, and Florida's only remaining hurdle looks to be Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Both teams have looked much better in recent weeks and this could make for a very interesting National Championship.

Fedex Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Cincinnati

The Orange Bowl looks like another yawner for the second year in a row and may be the least intriguing match-up of all the January Bowls. Both teams are solid, but neither are spectacular, and while Georgia Tech is highly overrated, it shouldn't have much of a problem knocking off an overrated Big East Champion.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Iowa vs. USC

Iowa will likely end the season 10-2, with a probable loss to Ohio State next week in the Horseshoe, considering they are forced to start a redshirt freshman quarterback. USC will also likely finish the season at 10-2 and both teams will probably have losses to an underwhelming opponent and a Rose Bowl team. Both will likely finish in the top 14, and with their reputations for great traveling fans and top money makers for bowl, they will be taken by the Fiesta Bowl.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. TCU

Alabama doesn't look nearly as impressive as they did at the beginning of the season, but they still are a solid team that will likely end the season with one loss, that coming to Florida in the SEC Championship game. TCU has had an impressive season so far, with wins over BYU and a few ACC teams. Although the schedule can't be considered tough, it is more impressive than Boise State's and the Horned Frogs will got the non-BCS bid into a BCS bowl.

Rose Bowl presented by Citi: Ohio State vs. Oregon

After a big win over Penn State, the Buckeyes catch a huge break, as Iowa will be without starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi next week at the Horseshoe. This means that the Buckeyes should be able to finish the season undefeated and make a trip to Pasadena. Oregon, on the other hand, suffered a tough loss to Stanford after a big win over USC. But it will take at least two more losses to knock the Ducks out of the Rose Bowl.

AT&T Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Auburn

After the elite teams of the SEC and the Big 12, the level of competition takes a significant drop. Oklahoma State is likely the second best team in the Big 12, but won't be ranked in the top 14 of the final BCS rankings, and thus won't receive a spot in the BCS. The Cotton Bowl will take the Cowboys to face the fourth best SEC team, which will likely wind up being the Auburn Tigers.

Gator Bowl: Miami vs. Notre Dame

Clemson and Miami will both be fighting for a spot in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but, because of Clemson's superior fanbase, they will be chosen to go to Atlanta. That leaves Miami to face Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl, in what could be one of the most entertaining games of the bowl season. Both teams have high-powered offenses and play shaky defense. Expect an exciting, high scoring game if these two teams meet in Jacksonville.

Capital One Bowl: Penn State vs. LSU

The Capital One Bowl could also shape up to be one of the better games of the bowl season. Both Penn State and LSU have two losses, but those losses came against very good teams (Iowa and Ohio State for Penn State and Florida and Alabama for LSU). This game will also mean bragging rights for the winner's conference, as it is the marquee bowl match-up between the rival conferences.

Outback Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Georgia

The Outback Bowl will take either Penn State, Iowa, or Wisconsin this year, with Wisconsin likely going to Tampa considering they will be the only one left of those three. But with any of those teams, the Big Ten will likely win the Outback Bowl for the second year in a row. The SEC will have to choose from Georgia and Tennessee, but either way, Wisconsin shouldn't have any problem coming away with the win.

Some Helpful Excuses For Those Who Need Them In College Football

Kevin Trahan — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:18:58 -0500

Excuses are aplenty throughout college football this season and controversey seems to be at its highest in years. Due to the intense criticism, here are some excuses for those at the center of the controversies to use:

Brandon Spikes:

"I was helping him get a bug out of his eye." - On his apparent eye gauge of Georgia's Washaun Ealy.

Boise State:

"The BCS is unfair." - Basically works for any of their problems.

Oklahoma:

"You try losing less than three games without Sam Bradford." - On the loss of quarterback Sam Bradford.

Big Ten Replay Official:

"I thought it would be funny to watch Indiana coach Bill Lynch throw his gum again." - On his questionable calls in the Iowa-Indiana game.

SEC:

"We're obviously better than the Big Ten, so we deserve an automatic Rose Bowl bid." - On why they should take over the Big Ten's automatic BCS bid.

Indiana:

"Since when are games four quarters long?" - On blowing big leads to Iowa and Northwestern in the fourth quarter.

Iowa:

"I know it sounds crazy, but trust us, Northern Iowa is a good team." - On needing to block two field goals in the final seconds to beat Northern Iowa.

West Virginia:

"Rich Rodriguez paid the refs so we would lose." - On mediocre seasons over the past two years.

Oregon:

"If we could just play Boise State again, I swear we would win." - On losing to Boise State in the first game of the season.

Lane Kiffin:

"Wait, why is that a violation?" - On his numerous NCAA recruiting violations.

Tim Tebow:

"Because, as you know, I'm the nicest, most incredible athlete to ever live." - On why he should get the Heisman Trophy.

Ron Zook:

"Remember the 2007 Rose Bowl?" - On why he should keep his job.

Syracuse:

"Does having Greg Paulus as our quarterback count as an additional win?" - On their recent football struggles.

Charlie Weis:

"6-2 really isn't that bad." - On why he should keep his job.

LaGarrette Blount:

"He dared me to do it." - On punching a Boise State player in the jaw after a loss to the Broncos.

Florida State:

"Defense is overrated." - On their awful defense.

USC:

"We're still obviously the best team in the Pac-10. The state of Oregon just hates us." - On their recent struggles in Oregon.

Big 12 North:

"70 percent of America still believes we're better than the MAC." - On being awful this season.

Inconsistent? Definitely. But Iowa's Ricky Stanzi Defines Clutch

Kevin Trahan — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:37:46 -0400

It was exactly the way Iowa drew it up. Well, maybe not exactly.

"I hope I don't ever [do that] again... We'll take the win, but there has to be an easier way," Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi said.

I'm sure Kirk Ferentz would agree with his quarterback and settled for an earlier blowout of the Indiana Hoosiers. But, once again, the Hawkeyes didn't care how they got it done. Simply put, they just won.

And while most of Iowa's victories have come due to improbable comebacks, this one was the most magical.

Despite throwing five interceptions, four of them in the third quarter, digging his team into a 24-14 hole, Stanzi perhaps deserved to be named the player of the game.

His poise is outstanding. 99 percent of quarterbacks would give up after throwing four interceptions, in one quarter nevertheless, but not Ricky Stanzi.

In dramatic fashion, he rallied his Hawkeyes back with consecutive touchdown passes of 92 and 66 yards to take a 28-24 lead. He never looked back, leading his team to a 42-24 win, accumulating 28 unanswered points.

While Stanzi certainly isn't a Heisman caliber quarterback, he has rallied his team back in eight of nine games this season, something that possibly even Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy wouldn't be able to do.

Excluding today, Stanzi has orchestrated seven comebacks this season, including a fourth quarter comeback against number five Penn State, a second-half domination of Wisconsin, and a touchdown pass as time expired to beat Michigan State. More impressively, those three wins came on the road.

After those games, I thought about writing this article, but needed proof one more time. And after the first three quarters in Iowa City, I doubted that this article would ever be written. Boy, did he prove me wrong.

In the three road games, Stanzi didn't struggle nearly as much as he did today, hence the five picks. And though I rarely doubt coach Kirk Ferentz, I began to wonder if Stanzi should be benched.

But benching his starting quarterback "never entered his mind."

"I'm not alone in this one," Ferentz said. "We all believe in Rick Stanzi. The guy has done a hell of a job."

And Ferentz's brilliant decision proved me, and most of the country, wrong.

Stanzi has been inconsistent this year, to say the least. He started out the season with slow starts in each game, but rallied his team back in every one.

He seemed to finally have turned the corner against Wisconsin, but turned in an awful game the next week against Michigan State. That is, until the final drive.

I know SEC fans will go crazy on me for this, claiming Stanzi is lucky and isn't close to Tebow caliber.

I know Stanzi isn't close to Tim Tebow caliber. And luck may be a big part of his success. But nobody orchestrates that many game-winning drives based on luck alone.

Stanzi may not be pretty, and he may catch a few breaks now and then, but his 17-3 record speaks for itself. As does the fact that, come tomorrow, the Iowa Hawkeyes will have gone an entire year without a loss.

While Stanzi isn't the only reason Iowa stands at 9-0, in fact more credit may be due to the Hawkeyes' opportunistic defense, he certainly has paid his dues.

It may not always be pretty, but Ricky Stanzi knows how to win games. The junior quarterback from Mentor, Ohio continues to define clutch with each Iowa win.

"No matter what happens, he keeps on playing," Ferentz said. "If there's one thing I can say about Rick, it's resiliency. He's done a great job of leading our football team."

Iowa-Michigan State: The Advantage Goes To...

Kevin Trahan — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:01:31 -0400

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 7-0 and checked into the first BCS Standings at the number six spot in the country. Iowa is on a roll defensively and the offense has finally started to come around.

This week the Hawkeyes will go to East Lansing to take on an upstart Michigan State team that has won three games in a row.

The Spartans are looking to spoil Iowa's undefeated season and get back into the Big Ten title race themselves, while the Hawkeyes are looking to once again prove their legitimacy to the nation.

Who will come out of East Lansing with a victory? Let's see who has the advantage across the board.

When Iowa Runs the Ball

After a strong start to the season, Iowa's freshman running backs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher have lost a bit of production.

The offensive line is finally completely healthy which will definitely help the Hawkeyes run game, but the freshmen will have their hands full this week against a good Michigan State run defense.

This matchup could really go either way, as the Iowa offensive line has the potential to open up some big holes. But if the Spartans consistently put eight men in the box, Iowa won't have much of a run game, especially with Greg Jones lining up on the other side of the ball.

I see Michigan State crowding the box and causing Iowa's run game to have a mediocre day.

Advantage: Michigan State

When Iowa Throws the Ball

While crowding the line of scrimmage definitely helps a team stop the run, it leaves the pass defense virtually defenseless. Iowa will get off to a slow start on offense, trying to run the football too much, but then will open things up in the passing game.

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi will build on last week's solid performance at Wisconsin and have a big day. He will find tight end Tony Moeaki down the field more than once and help Iowa move the ball fairly well.

Advantage: Iowa

When Michigan State Runs the Ball

After losing Javon Ringer, the Michigan State running game hasn't been the same. Combine that with a very good Iowa run defense and the Spartans won't be getting very much on the ground come Saturday.

The Hawkeyes have held the Big Ten's two best running backs, Penn State's Evan Royster and Wisconsin's John Clay, to 69 and 75 yards respectively.

Michigan State's freshman rushers Larry Caper and Edwin Baker have potential, but won't get much against Iowa's outstanding run defense.

Advantage: Iowa

When Michigan State Throws the Ball

Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins has come along nicely, but he has never seen a pass defense like Iowa's before. The Hawkeyes lead the nation in interceptions and always seem to be around the ball.

Michigan State ranks 95th in the country in turnover margin, and that could spell disaster for the Spartans, who can't afford to make mistakes against Iowa's opportunistic defense.

Protection is also an issue for the Spartans, and Iowa has done a great job of putting pressure on the quarterback this season. If they can get to Cousins and force him into some bad throws, it will be a long day for Michigan State's offense, as Iowa would surely capitalize on those mistakes.

Advantage: Iowa

Special Teams

Both teams have had good special teams this year. Iowa has been outstanding by blocking kicks, while Michigan State kicker Brett Swenson is looking to break school records for field goals and points scored this week.

Expect both teams to be solid on special teams and not make any costly mistakes. But I see the Spartans getting more field goals, so I'll take them by a slim margin.

Advantage: Michigan State

Coaching

I don't think there is any doubting that Kirk Ferentz has been the coach of the year so far in the Big Ten. He has taken a group full of blue collar talent and turned it into a winning machine.

He has motivated the Hawkeyes through thick and thin and has his team in prime position for a Big Ten Championship.

Dantonio has done a good job at Sparty as well, but Ferentz wins out in this one.

Advantage: Iowa

Intangibles

A night game on the road doesn't seem like the best environment for a team, but that seems to be Iowa's favorite this year. Big night games clearly don't phase them, as they beat Penn State in Happy Valley this year, and played arguably their second best game of the year in their second hardest road game against Wisconsin.

Iowa also has a 10-game winning streak on their side which obviously carries a lot of momentum with it.

As funny as it sounds, expect the intangibles to actually go in the Hawkeyes' favor.

Advantage: Iowa

Outcome

Both teams will get off to slow starts offensively, and we will likely see a defensive Big Ten style slugfest during the first half.

The teams will go into the half tied at three.

Then expect Iowa to unleash on offense, as Stanzi finds both Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Tony Moeaki for touchdowns.

Kirk Cousins will struggle against Iowa's opportunistic defense and throw two interceptions. But on the plus side for Michigan State, Brett Swenson will break the school records for points scored and field goals made.

But nevertheless, the Hawkeyes will emerge from East Lansing as the victors and move to 8-0.

Score: Iowa 17, Michigan State 9

Midseason All-Big Ten Team

Kevin Trahan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:21:19 -0400

Halfway through the Big Ten season, we aren't anywhere near where we thought we would be at the beginning of the season. Iowa is undefeated and leads the conference, while Ohio State is 5-2 and Wisconsin, also at 5-2, is suddenly an outside conference contender. Illinois has dropped to the bottom of the conference and it keeps looking as though the Illini's 2007 Rose Bowl season was a fluke. But how are the players doing at midseason? Some, such as Illinois quarterback Juice Williams, have underachieved, while others, such as Wisconsin defensive end O'Brien Schofield, have overachieved. Let's take a look at the Big Ten All Confernce team halfway through the season.

Begin Slideshow

Iowa Football Midseason Grades: Hawkeye Defense Brings Its "A" Game

Kevin Trahan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:58:17 -0400

We're halfway through the college football season and, to the surprise of many, the Iowa Hawkeyes are sitting on top of the Big Ten with a 7-0 record. The Hawkeyes came in at No. 6 in the debut of the BCS Standings (just .0001 points behind Cincinnati), and their high computer scores combined with a good strength of schedule give Iowa a good chance to move up.

All that's left to do is convince the "human" voters, and they seem to be convincing more and more people with each win. Let's break down what we saw from the Hawkeyes during the first half of the season.

Offense: The offense started out struggling this season, with questions in the running game, injuries and suspensions on the offensive line, and an inconsistent quarterback. They have since corrected all of those problems and have turned in a strong offense over the past few weeks.

The running game looked like the biggest problem heading into the season, with Doak Walker Award winner Shonn Greene bolting to the NFL, and his successor, Jewel Hampton, missing the season with a knee injury. But the freshman duo of Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher has stepped up nicely. They started off the season hot, and while the production has dropped off a little bit, the running backs are still doing much better than predicted.

Perhaps Iowa's biggest offensive problem, however, has been the quarterback play of Ricky Stanzi. At the start of the season, he would play horribly in the first half but back it up with a strong second half performance. Pick-sixes were also a problem, but over the past few weeks he has become much more consistent. He had a nice day last week against Wisconsin, going 17-23 passing with 218 yards and a touchdown. He eliminated the poor decisions he had been making earlier in the season and will look to grow on a solid performance.

Stanzi's recent success has been due, in large part, to tight end Tony Moeaki. Moeaki returned from injury and provided a huge spark for the Hawkeyes, with 102 receiving yards and two touchdowns against Michigan, and 55 more yards and a spectacular touchdown catch against Wisconsin. He has proven to be Stanzi's favorite target and could make the case for All-American honors at the end of the season.

Other receivers, such as Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Trey Stross, have come around nicely and have made their share of long game-changing catches.

After a slow start, the Iowa offense has turned into a very solid unit, improving every week. Expect that improvement to continue in the weeks ahead.

Grade: B+

Defense: As expected, the Iowa defense has been lights-out this season. The opportunistic pass defense leads the nation in interceptions and has been able to come up with big plays time and time again.

The defensive line hasn't missed a beat with the losses of Mitch King and Matt Kroul. Adrian Clayborn has stepped up as one of the top defensive ends in the Big Ten, and Broderick Binns and Karl Klug have become very solid players as well. They have been one of the main reasons behind Iowa's lights-out run defense this year.

The linebacking corps has also been a strong point, led by MLB Pat Angerer. Angerer picked up right where he left off last season and is contributing well against the pass and the run. He, too, could be an All-American by season's end.

But the real story of Iowa's defense has been its pass defense. Safety Tyler Sash has dominated opposing offenses with five interceptions, and cornerback Amari Spievey has also stepped up, recording two last week against Wisconsin. Safety Brett Greenwood is also much improved.

Needless to say, the Iowa defese has been spectacular thus far in 2009 and shows no sign of slowing. If the big-time players keep on showing up, the defense may be able to guide the Hawkeyes to an undefeated season.

Grade: A

Special Teams: The Iowa special teams has been better than expected this season and has been an all-around solid unit. Who can forget the two blocked field goals against Northern Iowa or Adrian Clayborn's blocked punt return for a touchdown?

But the Hawkeyes do more than just block kicks. They can also kick pretty well themselves. Daniel Murray has been much more impressive this year than last, and booted a new career-long field goal of 48 yards last week against Wisconsin. Punter Ryan Donahue has been one of the best punters in the Big Ten, and the return game has been solid as well. Overall, it's been a solid season for Iowa's special teams.

Grade: A-

Coaching: It's hard to believe Kirk Ferentz was on the hot seat a few years ago. But after a few seasons of mediocrity, Ferentz has Iowa football back on track. Once again, he has turned many recruits who nobody else wanted into stars: Pat Angerer, Tyler Sash, Adrian Clayborn, and Amari Spievey,. just to name a few. But while Ferentz is one of the main reason for Iowa's success, he has some outstanding assistants that help make his job a lot easier.

One of those assistants, defensive coordinator Norm Parker, may be the best defensive coordinator in college football. Unlike many coaches, he doesn't go for multiple defensive looks but stays simple, winning with speed and strength. He rarely blitzes, instead asking his defensive linemen to step up and make plays on the quarterback. And so far, the defense has answered.

The one coach who has been questioned this year is offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe. While most fans are okay with Iowa's conservative offensive strategy, O'Keefe has been too conservative at times, calling run plays in obvious passing situations. But over the past few weeks, as Ricky Stanzi has progressed and Tony Moeaki has come back, he has started mixing in some more pass plays. It's worked out nicely for him, as the offense has been much more productive during that time period.

Grade: A

Overall: At 7-0, Iowa has been the best team in the Big Ten and possibly the country this season. They aren't flashy, but they win—and in the eyes of Kirk Ferentz, that's all that counts. The defense has been outstanding and the offense is finally starting to come around.

And with half of a brutal conference road schedule done and a team that is improving by the week, Iowa has realistic aspirations to reach Pasadena. The question is, will they be playing on January 1st or January 8th? It's all up to the pollsters, and granted Iowa would need some help—specifically a Texas loss—but if they stay undefeated, a national championship is not out of the picture.

But as Kirk Ferentz would say, that isn't something the Hawkeyes can control. So in the meantime, Iowa will keep on winning. If they do, then everything may just work itself out.

Grade: A

Dear College Football, What Is Iowa Doing Wrong?

Kevin Trahan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:26:37 -0400

I would like to ask the rest of college football an honest question. What are the Iowa Hawkeyes doing wrong this season?

They're 6-0, with big wins against Michigan at home and against Penn State on the road. They own the nation's second longest winning streak. They have one of the best defenses in the nation. And yet they still get no respect. They still stand outside the top 10 in the national polls and are routinely picked to lose each of their games.

But why is this happening? The first reason is simple. It isn't right, but it's simple. The Hawkeyes play in the Big Ten.

This crime is the kiss of death when it comes to college football. Ever since Ohio State started getting blown out in all of their BCS bowls, the Big Ten's reputation has gone down the drain.

All of a sudden, undefeated isn't good enough. Heck, a major win isn't good enough. It seems nothing is good enough for the Hawkeyes to gain national respect. But I expected that. I knew that 6-0 wouldn't be good enough for anyone outside of the Big Ten. But what I didn't expect was everyone in the Big Ten picking against Iowa.

It seems that the Hawkeyes are never good enough to be favored in their next game. Even after a 6-0 record and huge wins against Penn State (in Happy Valley) and Michigan, the rest of the Big Ten still forces them to "prove themselves," as if those wins weren't enough.

This week at Wisconsin is no different. Sure the Badgers are 5-1, but who have they proven themselves against? Wofford? Northern Illinois? Fresno State? Apparently those wins prove something.

The one big game the Badgers played in, against Ohio State, they lost. The Wisconsin offense looked good against Little Sisters of the Poor, but against a good defense, one similar to Iowa's, they choked. I don't understand how this merits so much praise.

It seems as though the rest of the conference doesn't want to see Iowa as a good team. The proof is there, but everyone is turning a blind eye to it. Sure, you can bring up the UNI and Arkansas State games, but what about Wisconsin's close games against Northern Illinois and Fresno State (2OT)?

But through all the criticism, Kirk Ferentz has molded together a team that he knows can win. The Hawkeyes don't care about the predictions, just the box scores. Ferentz doesn't care about style; he cares about wins.

And while most of the country may doubt the Hawkeyes, the state of Iowa knows they have a pretty darn good football team.

So, college football, what will be the excuse next week if the Hawkeyes "escape" from Madison with a win. What will be your excuse to pick against them in East Lansing? Did they not win by enough? Did the coach put in the wrong quarterback? Did they just get lucky?

So go on college football, pick your excuse. Let's just hope that if Iowa runs the table, with wins at Penn State, vs. Michigan, at Wisconsin, at Michigan State, and at Ohio State, the excuses will be gone.

In the meantime, the Hawkeyes will keep on winning, and hopefully lose a few more doubters with every step they take.

Iowa Hawkeyes-Wisconsin Badgers: A Hawkeye's Take On The Game

Kevin Trahan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:09:10 -0400

Outside of Iowa City and Madison, few could have seen this game as a Big Game at the beginning of the season. But here we are, six weeks into the college football season, and the Iowa Hawkeyes stand at the top of the Big Ten at 6-0 with the Wisconsin Badgers right on their heels at 5-1. This Saturday, Iowa and Wisconsin will meet in Madison in what could be a determining factor in the Big Ten title race.

To many, Iowa's season has been seen as quite a mystery—but to Hawkeye fans—it seems normal. The Hawkeyes have looked like a national championship caliber team in some games and have some big wins over Penn State in Happy Valley and at home against Michigan. But the Hawkeyes have had two close calls at home against less than impressive opponents such as Arkansas State and Northern Iowa. But 6-0 is 6-0, and regardless of how they are getting it done, the Hawkeyes are putting together a very impressive season.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, has put together a pretty impressive season themselves. While the marquee win isn't there, as it is for the Hawkeyes, the Badgers have been much better than expected.

Scott Tolzien has emerged as a very successful quarterback and John Clay has done a great job running the ball. Wisconsin faltered last week in Columbus and raised a few questions about their team. Before that game, the Badgers were largely untested, and it showed as Clay wasn't himself and Tolzien threw three interceptions. And things won't get any easier against Iowa's defense. So were Wisconsin's early wins due to playing cupcakes, or is their 5-1 record legitimate? We'll find out on Saturday.

Iowa will win if...Most of Iowa's wins this season have come largely in part to their defense. This game should be no different, and while quarterback Ricky Stanzi needs to perform well, the defense will be the deciding factor in this game.

The Hawkeyes need to make Wisconsin one dimensional on offense. Shutting down the run game seems to be the best way to do so—as it forces Scott Tolzien to throw—and he hasn't done that well under pressure this season.

But how will they do that after a mediocre day against Michigan's Brandon Minor? The main reason for Minor's success was the Hawkeyes chose the greater of two evils and focused on Forcier. It worked, as Forcier finished 8-of-19 with 94 yards, a fumble, and an interception. Moreover, Iowa won the game. With so much focus placed on Forcier, Minor was basically left alone.

But against Wisconsin, the Hawkeyes will be sure to put their focus on Clay. When Iowa's run game is on, it is brilliant, as we saw against Penn State, and that will force Wisconsin to throw.

When Ohio State took away the run game, Tolzien was force to throw and made some poor decisions. Iowa's opportunistic defense (second in the country in turnovers gained) will capitalize on these mistakes and cause Wisconsin to be in for a long day defensively.

Wisconsin will win if...Unlike most of the Big Ten, Wisconsin's offense, not its defense, has been its storyline this season. John Clay has emerged as one of the best running backs in the Big Ten and quarterback Scott Tolzien has been a pleasant surprise.

While the passing game has been important, the running game has carried this team. Last week, Clay was shut down, and so was the Wisconsin offense. He is in for another big challenge against Iowa and must carry the Badgers' offense on his shoulders if Wisconsin wants any chance to win.

The Iowa run defense is one of the best teams in the Big Ten, and the defensive line is always ready for big games. One individual match-up to look for is Clay vs. Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn. A battle between one of the Big Ten's best running backs and one of the conference's best defensive linemen, it should be a great match-up.

The bottom line is that Clay needs to produce if Wisconsin wants to have a shot at winning this game. If he does, he will put his team in a great position to win. If not, the Badgers could be in for a long day come Saturday.

What will happen: Iowa always seems to play to the level of their opponents. And while the sometimes play poorly against lesser teams, they're always ready for big games.

As it did in Happy Valley, the Iowa defense will come ready to play. They will hold John Clay under 80 yards and intercept Scott Tolzien at least twice. The Badgers will have their chances to come back in this game, but they will have to settle for field goals against Iowa's impressive red zone defense.

On the Iowa side, Ricky Stanzi will finally play his first complete game of the season. After doing so minus the first pass against Michigan, this will be the game he proves to the conference he's for real. While he won't turn in a Tim Tebow type performance, he will go a whole game without throwing an interception and will help to lead Iowa to victory.

It will be a very exciting game, but at the end of the day, Iowa will come out of Madison with a win and a 7-0 record.

Score: Iowa 30, Wisconsin 19

Check out Carl Stine's Iowa-Wisconsin Creature vs. Creature article.

Big Ten College Football Midseason Report

Kevin Trahan — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:03:21 -0400

What a season it's been in the Big Ten thus far, with surprises and traditional powers in a battle to be named the Big Ten's elite. Here's a look at the conference superlatives thus far and what we can expect from the second half of the season.

Biggest Surprise: Iowa Hawkeyes

To much of the Big Ten's surprise, the Hawkeyes have started the season 6-0, making them the only undefeated team in the conference. After a close game against Northern Iowa—in which the Hawks had to block two field goals to preserve a win—Iowa has been very good.

They marched into Happy Valley and beat No. 5 Penn State 21-10, and defeated Michigan 30-28 at home in week six. They have a tough schedule ahead (at Wisconsin, at Michigan State, and at Ohio State), but have the capability to possibly end the season undefeated.

Biggest Disappointment: Illinois Fighting Illini

At the beginning of the season, people kept on saying how good Illinois was going to be. I wasn't buying it, as the offense is inconsistent and the defense is awful. It turns out I was right, and while this wasn't much of a surprise for me, it was for most of the conference.

I guess they can count as the biggest disappointment and save Michigan State from landing this title, as the Spartans have looked better as of late. The Illini started off the year with a blowout loss to Missouri. Besides a (very impressive) win over Illinois State, things haven't gotten much better and former star quarterback Juice Williams was benched in week six. Look for the Illini to reach three wins at most and finish at the bottom of the conference.

Best Offense: Michigan Wolverines

While it may be young and inexperienced, the Michigan offense is extremely talented and has amazing potential. The inexperience has shown, as the offense has made a few costly mistakes, but overall, they're the reason this team is 4-2. Tate Forcier has been very good—with the exception of a poor game against Iowa—and it looks like the running backs are finally coming around. This offense is and will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Best Defense: Iowa Hawkeyes

The Iowa defense is the main reason the Hawkeyes are 6-0. The unit has been outstanding at stopping some very dynamic offenses and forcing turnovers like no other. The defensive line hasn't skipped a beat with the losses of Mitch King and Matt Kroul, as Adrian Clayborn has stepped up to become one of the best defensive linemen in the conference.

Broderick Binns has also been a force for the defensive line. The secondary, led by Tyler Sash, has been outstanding at producing turnovers, and the linebacker play—particularly that of Pat Angerer—has similarly been outstanding.

Midseason Offensive POY: Eric Decker, Minnesota

While Minnesota hasn't exactly been a force in the Big Ten, Gophers wide receiver Eric Decker has been outstanding. He has caught 46 passes for 689 yards and five touchdowns. This includes a 183-yard day against Syracuse, a 140-yard day against Wisconsin, and a 119-yard day against California. While he likely won't be able to get Minnesota to the top of the Big Ten, he is a vital part of their offense and must keep delivering for Minnesota to end the season on a high note.

Midseason Defensive POY: Pat Angerer, Iowa

While half of the Iowa defense—including Adrian Clayborn, Tyler Sash, and Broderick Binns—could make strong cases for this honor, Angerer has been the most impressive. While many in the conference expected other linebackers, such as Navarro Bowman and Sean Lee of Penn State and Greg Jones of Michigan State, to be among the top in the league, Angerer has been arguably the best thus far.

He has delivered 59 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception and has recorded over 10 tackles in four of Iowa's six games. Perhaps his most impressive game came against Penn State, as he racked up 14 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception. If he keeps producing at this rate, he could be well on his way to an All-American year.

Midseason Freshman POY- Tate Forcier, Michigan

While he lost a little bit of hype in week six against Iowa, Tate Forcier has been as clutch for Michigan as any quarterback can be. And the crazy thing is, he's only a freshman. Forcier has led his team on many fourth-quarter comebacks and made many throws that even seniors have a tough time completing. He needs to cut down on his interceptions, but those mistakes are typical of a freshman. If he can do that, he can turn Michigan into one of the top teams in the Big Ten.

Hottest Team- Ohio State Buckeyes

Ever since a close home loss to USC, the Buckeyes have played as well as any team in the conference. Their defense has been very good, and while the offense has been shaky at times, it seems that Terrelle Pryor is finally emerging as a big-time quarterback. Granted, the Buckeyes lost the only real test they've had, but expect this team to get better and better down the stretch.

Best Game: Iowa at Penn State

This is really a no-brainer. The Hawkeyes knocked off a top-five ranked Penn State team for the second straight year, this time in Happy Valley. After the Nittany Lions jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, the Hawkeyes bounced back and stuffed them in their tracks. Penn State brought a 10-5 lead into the fourth quarter, but Adrian Clayborn's blocked punt return for a touchdown and very good defense led to the Hawkeyes coming away with a 21-10 win.

Best Game to Come: Iowa at Ohio State

While we have anointed many games thus far as "The Game to Decide the Conference," it seems we have finally found the real one. Iowa and Ohio State remain the frontrunners to win the Big Ten and this battle in Columbus. If both teams don't lose until then—a definite possibility—this game could not only crown the Big Ten champion, but could also decide which team goes to the Rose Bowl and which team goes to a different BCS bowl. It should be a very exciting game between two of the best defenses, not only in the Big Ten, but in the country.

Projected Order of Finish:

1. Ohio State 11-1 (8-0)
2. Iowa 11-1 (7-1)
3. Penn State 10-2 (6-2)
4. Wisconsin 9-3 (5-3)
5. Michigan 8-4 (4-4)
6. Minnesota 7-5 (4-4)
7. Michigan State 6-6 (4-4)
8. Northwestern 6-6 (3-5)
9. Purdue 4-8 (2-6)
10. Indiana 4-8 (1-7)
11. Illinois 1-11 (0-8)

Projected Bowl Placement:

Rose: Ohio State
Orange: Iowa
Capital One: Penn State
Outback: Wisconsin
Champs Sports: Michigan
Alamo: Michigan State
Insight: Minnesota
Little Ceasars Pizza: Northwestern

Picking the Big Ten: Week Six

Kevin Trahan — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:45:18 -0400

After a somewhat boring Week Five, here are my predictions for what should be a very exciting Week Six.

Michigan Wolverines at Iowa Hawkeyes

Things don't get any easier for the Wolverines, who are coming off their first loss of the season, as they must travel to Iowa City for a night game against the Hawkeyes. Iowa has been one of the nation's surprise teams and holds a 5-0 record, including a 21-10 win over No. 5 Penn State in Happy Valley.

Look for the Iowa defense to pressure Tate Forcier early and often and capitalize on his risky throws with interceptions. The Iowa run defense will also be solid and Ricky Stanzi will finally get going for the Hawkeyes against Michigan's less than impressive defense.

Iowa 27, Michigan 13

Wisconsin Badgers at Ohio State Buckeyes

The Badgers are off to a hot 5-0 start, but all good things must come to an end at some point. Wisconsin hasn't had any impressive wins thus far and has had a problem closing games. Ohio State, meanwhile, is playing as well as any team in the country right now, and their defense should shut down Scott Tolzien, John Clay, and the rest of the Badgers' offense.

Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 17

Miami (Ohio) Red Hawks at Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern definitely has some major hurdles to climb over if they even want to compete for a bowl game above the Little Ceasar's Pizza Bowl, but this won't be one of them. Quarterback Mike Kafka will light up the 0-5 Red Hawks and try to get his team rolling this season.

Northwestern 45, Miami (Ohio) 23

Michigan State Spartans at Illinois Fighting Illini

At the beginning of the season, I kept wondering why people were ranking Illinois so high. Sure, they have talent on offense, but the team chemistry isn't there and the defense is downright awful. Don't look for things to get any better against Michigan State, as the Spartans will climb back up to .500.

Michigan State 34, Illinois 20

Purdue Boilermakers at Minnesota Golden Gophers

After promising starts for both teams, they've dropped back into the irrelevant category of the conference. Purdue could be a good team, but they need to learn how to finish games. Minnesota, on the other hand, has some good players on offense, but they're still a few years away from being relevant in the Big Ten. Expect an entertaining shoot-out, though.

Minnesota 38, Purdue 31

Eastern Illinois Panthers at Penn State Nittany Lions

Besides the fact that former Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen is making his return to Happy Valley, this isn't a very intriguing matchup. Expect Penn State to beat up on another cupcake, although this game probably causes them to lose more respect than they gain.

Penn State 52, Eastern Illinois 10

Indiana Hoosiers at Virginia Cavaliers

Neither team is very good, but Indiana is better than expected and Virginia is worse than expected. The Hoosiers could have another win, as they had a shot at beating Michigan if it weren't for a blown call.

Many would contend that Virginia has the momentum after beating North Carolina, but the Tar Heels are extremely overrated. I expect Indiana to get a much needed non-conference win for the Big Ten.

Indiana 24, Virginia 21

Why Iowa Will Compete For a National Championship

Kevin Trahan — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:17:33 -0400

Last year, on November 8th, the entire country cheered as one for a teams few new anything about. Gators, Sooners, and Trojans fans alike united together to cheer for the 5-4 Iowa Hawkeyes, who were a field goal away from upsetting the third-ranked team in the country, the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Granted, the cheering was more against Penn State than it was for Iowa, as the game-winning field goal sailed through the uprights, Happy Valley cried, and the rest of the country rejoyced.

Why? It was just an upset. But to college football fans across America it was much more. It wasn't just an upset, it meant that a Big Ten team would not play for the National Championship.

As any college football fan knows, fans outside of the Midwest aren't too fond of the Big Ten, seeing it as an inferior conference, although, in reality, it is far superior to the ACC and Big East. An argument could even be made that the Big Ten is even to the Pac-10, minus USC.

And to the dread of the rest of the college football world, it looks as though the Big Ten may have another National Championship contender in 2009. But this year, it's the team they all cheered for last season, the Iowa Hawkeyes.

After hitting a lull from 2005-2007, Kirk Ferentz has the Hawkeyes back on the right track. At nine games, they currently hold the country's longest winning streak (behind Florida), and carry a lot of momentum with that streak. The streak also includes wins over No. 3 and No. 5 Penn State and a huge win over South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

The driving force behind those wins, an elite and hard-hitting defense. The offense hasn't been spectacular, but it has done enough to win, helping Iowa end last season 4-0 and start this season with a 5-0 mark.

The formula is pretty simple: Play physical defense, don't let the ball cross the goal line, and wait for something to open up on offense. It isn't flashy, and while the Hawkeyes don't blow away their opponents, they win, and that's all that counts.

But how does that translate into a National Championship? After all, most National Championship teams have flashy, high-powered, complicated offenses. Well, let's examine the Penn State game.

After giving up a touchdown on Penn State's first drive, the Iowa defense stuffed the Lions in their tracks. They trailed 10-5 heading into the fourth quarter and waited for Penn State to make their mistake, that mistake being a blocked punt that Adrian Clayborn returned for a touchdown. As most fans know, Iowa went on to win 21-10.

The Hawkeye defense was phenomenal. Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark was pressured all day and threw three interceptions in one of the worst games of his career. Star running back Evan Royster was shut down by Iowa's physical defensive line and also lost a fumble that ultimately ended the Nittany Lions' chance for a comeback.

And while the Iowa offense didn't mess up horribly, minus two very unlucky interceptions by quarterback Ricky Stanzi, it wasn't spectacular by any means. And it proved that if the offense does just enough, the defense can win every game on on the Hawkeyes' schedule this year.

It would be nice if the offense offered some help every once in a while, and if they start rolling watch out. Ricky Stanzi has shown signs of life recently and it looks as though the offense may be getting back on track. But even if they don't Iowa can go undefeated relying only on their defense.

And while an undefeated season doesn't necessarily guarantee a National Championship appearance, the Hawkeyes certainly will have earned it. Unlike Penn State last year, the schedule is brutal. Home games against Arizona and Michigan aren't gimmes, and road trips to Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State make for a very tough schedule. But with two of those games down and two wins, Iowa looks like a serious contender.

But even with a 5-0 record and win over Penn State in Happy Valley under its belt, Iowa isn't taking anything for granted. They realize the obstacles that they still face in order to reach a National Championship.

But if the last five games have been any indication, the Hawkeyes will keep on winning, one block, hit, sack, and interception at a time.

Iowa Surges After Win in Happy Valley: My B/R Top 25 Ballot

Kevin Trahan — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:24:48 -0400

1. Florida Gators

Florida stays here for now, but if Tebow stays out, the Gators could have a big issue in the coming weeks.

2. Texas Longhorns

Texas still hasn't shown a very strong win, but the Longhorns should get a chance to prove themselves pretty quickly in a tough Big 12 South.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

That win against Virginia Tech is looking very good right now and don't be surprised if the Tide surf all the way to the National Championship this year. All it'll take is wins over LSU and Florida. No biggie, right?

4. LSU Tigers

The Tigers have bounced back from an unimpressive game against Washington in Week One (even though it doesn't look that bad anymore) to vault back into the top five. But they need to be careful, as they barely beat Mississippi.

5. Virginia Tech Hokies

After a very impressive win over Miami, the Hokies seem to be back on the right track. That win, plus a win over Nebraska, and a close game against No. 3 Alabama are all very legit games.

6. Oklahoma Sooners

What do you know? After taking a tumble because of a Week One loss to BYU, the Sooners are back. While most of it has to do with everyone ahead of them losing, the Sooners still have a shot to make a run at the BCS National Championship game.

7. Iowa Hawkeyes

While this may seem a bit biased, I have seen other polls list the Hawkeyes at No. 6, No. 7, and No. 9, and none of those writers is a Hawkeye fan. Iowa has a very impressive win against Penn State, 21-10, in Happy Valley and an impressive win against Arizona at home.

The defense could be the best in the country and the offense, especially the running game, seems to be coming along. Plus, all of Iowa's past opponents are 3-1, with their only losses coming to the Hawkeyes.

8. USC Trojans

USC bounced back to beat Washington State after a loss against Washington last week. But the Trojans still didn't look that impressive and I'm hesitant to rank them back in the top five until they have a convincing win against Oregon or Cal.

9. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State fans are probably whining about their team being ranked below Iowa, but the Hawkeyes are 4-0 and have a road win against a top five team, while the Buckeyes are 3-1 and have a home loss to a top five team. Still, their defense looked extremely impressive.

They have a shot at running the table in the Big Ten, but need more reliability on offense. Iowa comes to Columbus on November 14 and that should be a big factor in deciding the Big Ten Championship.

10. Boise State Broncos

I'm still not sold on Boise State. The way Oregon's playing right now, they could easily beat the Broncos in a rematch. Plus, Boise's been in a lot a games that were a lot closer than they should have been.

11. TCU Horned Frogs

TCU got an impressive win over Clemson this weekend and proved that it is still the team to beat in the Mountain West and is by far the most underrated possible BCS buster.

12. Oregon Ducks

Week One was a disaster for Oregon, but the Ducks have since recovered and had some very impressive wins, including a victory over Utah and a 42-3 drubbing of No. 6 Cal. They have a very good shot at winning the Pac-10 if they play like they did in Week Four all year.

13. Houston Cougars

Houston is one of the many surprise teams this year, starting their run to glory with a shocking win over Oklahoma State. They continue to play well and overcome adversity, as they were able to top Texas Tech in Week Four.

14. Cincinnati Bearcats

The Bearcats are 4-0 and not much is stopping them from going undefeated. After all, they do play in the Big East.

15. Penn State Nittany Lions

This just isn't the same Penn State team as it was a year ago. Iowa's defensive line made Penn State's offensive line look like a middle school team and this year, the Hawkeyes ruined Penn State's national championship dreams before they could even begin.

16. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Defense wins championships. If Oklahoma State showed any of it outside of a win against Georgia, they would be the best team in the country. The offense is amazing, but they need to be able to stop other teams in order to be a serious contender in the Big 12 South.

17. Ole Miss Rebels

As we learned Thursday night, Ole Miss was extremely overrated this year. The offense isn't clicking like it was at the end of 2008. As it stands now, the Rebels aren't a serious national championship or even SEC championship contender in 2009.

18. Miami Hurricanes

I actually believed in Miami. I thought that they could run the table in the ACC and possibly go undefeated. And boy was I wrong. After a big loss to Virginia Tech, the Hurricanes have even more problems to deal with, as they meet Oklahoma next week.

19. BYU Cougars

I don't see the Cougars as a legitimate BCS buster this season. There is no way they would have beaten Oklahoma if Sam Bradford had played during the second half and a loss to inconsistent Florida State doesn't look very good either.

20. California Bears

The Bears looked really promising three weeks into the season, but, like every year, they couldn't live up to the hype. Jahvid Best is still a very good running back, but not a Heisman frontrunner anymore. I can understand a loss to Oregon, but a 42-3 drubbing by the Ducks is unacceptable.

21. Missouri Tigers

Missouri has quietly worked its way to 4-0 this year and seems like one of the favorites to win the Big 12 North crown. There isn't much hope for a Big 12 Championship, but this is a young team that has great potential for the future.

22. Auburn Tigers

I never thought I'd say this, but it looks like Auburn is headed in the right direction this season. Gene Chizik isn't the best coach, but he's a much better fit for the Tigers than he was for Iowa State.

23. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia has bounced back from a Week One loss to Oklahoma State, but the Bulldogs weren't very impressive in Week Four, as they barely got by Arizona State.

24. Nebraska Cornhuskers

I'm not quite sure what to make of the Cornhuskers at this point. They've beaten up on cupcakes and lost a very close game to Virginia Tech. They could still easily win the Big 12 North, but I'm not ready to jump on the Nebraska bandwagon just yet.

25. Michigan Wolverines

Michigan's offense may be the best in the Big Ten, but its defense needs to improve if it wants a realistic shot at the Big Ten title. Needing a blown call to get by Indiana isn't helping the Wolverines' cause.

Creature vs. Creature: A Hawkeye's Take on Iowa-Penn State

Kevin Trahan — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:19:13 -0400

In what has been dubbed by many as one of the deciding factors in the Big Ten race, Iowa will take on Penn State this Saturday in Happy Valley on the spotlight of college football. This game is seen as a revenge game for the fifth ranked Nittany Lions, who had their National Championship run ruined last season after being upset by the Hawekeyes by a score of 24-23 in Iowa City.

For Iowa, this game means national respect. The Hawkeyes are 3-0 and carry arguably the nation's best defense into State College. But despite the outstanding defensive play, the Hawkeyes still find themselves outside of the Top 25.

With both teams opening the Big Ten season searching for a big win, the stakes couldn't be higher. Will the Hawkeye defense get the best of the Nittany Lions, or will Penn State's offense be too much for Iowa? Let's examine the matchup to find out.

Iowa will win if: Iowa's defense has been lights out over the past two games. The pass defense shined in week two against Iowa State, as the Hawkeyes forced five interceptions and a fumble, drubbing the Cyclones 35-5. And the defense didn't miss a beat in week three. The Hawkeyes pressured Arizona quarterback Matt Scott all day, holding him to only 50 yards passing and an interception. They also stopped Nic Grigsby, the nation's second leading rusher, in his tracks, holding him to only 75 yards, with most of that coming on one 58 yard scamper.

The big question mark heading into 2009 was—who would replace All-Big Ten defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul? But the line has been terrific in its' first three games, as Adrian Clayborn, Karl Klug, and Christian Ballard have formed one of the best trios in the country.

The pass defense has been arguably the best unit in the country, with six interceptions already. The pass coverage has been extremely good and safety Tyler Sash would likely be on his way to an All-American year if it wasn't for the hype surrounding Eric Berry and Taylor Mays, as he already has four interceptions.

So, as we've established, the defense is good. They will keep the Hawkeyes in the game all night, so any Penn State fan expecting a blow-out, you're sure to be disappointed.

But while the defense will keep Iowa in the game, it will be up to the offense to win it. Freshman running backs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher have been a pleasant surprise. They complement each other well, and together, have basically been able to make up for the loss of Shonn Greene.

The problem comes with the passing game. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi has been night and day all season. During the first half of every game he has struggled, but during the second half, he looks like one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten. He looked like he could get off to a fast start against Arizona, after leading the offense down the field for a touchdown on Iowa's first drive. But, he threw an interception on the second drive and wasn't the same until the second half.

If Stanzi plays at his second half level throughout the whole game, the Hawkeyes will win the game and stun Happy Valley again. But if he doesn't, it could be a long day for the Iowa offense.

Penn State will win if: It's hard to judge Penn State this season, manily because they haven't played anybody worth noting. Playing Akron, Syracuse, and Temple is a fine way to bad your stats, but it doesn't prepare you for big games, especially one so early in the season.

Plus, those wins weren't that impressive, as the Lions only beat Akron 31-7, Syracuse 28-7, and Temple 31-6. The offense was good in the first half of each of those games, but was dormant in the second half.

After a miserable first few games, Evan Royster finally got on track against Temple. But keep in mind, a 100 yard day against Temple isn't exactly good preparation for Iowa's defense. Royster will have to be at his absolute best against the Hawkeyes come Saturday.

Darryl Clark has also been impressive thus far in 2009, but he is working with a young group of receivers who have been decent—not spectacular—this season. We'll have to see how they do against the elite Iowa pass defense.

Penn State's defense has been solid in 2009. And cupcake schedule or not, they should be a tough test for the Hawkeye offense. The secondary has been shaky at times, but the run defense has been good. The main problem will be Penn State's elite linebacking corps. Star linebacker Navarro Bowman will play in Satruday's game, but he won't be 100%, and linebacker Sean Lee, who is battling a knee injury, is listed as day-to-day. If Lee can't go, that will be a huge loss for the Nittany Lions.

But Lee or no Lee, the way Penn State can win this game is to put pressure on Ricky Stanzi and force him to make a mistake. If they can force a mistake before halftime, they will basically be able to shut down the Iowa offense, as Stanzi gets flustered very easily. Without his leadership, the Hawkeyes will have trouble scoring points all day.

What will happen: This game is bound to be a low-scoring affair as both defenses are very good. In fact, I'll be shocked if either team scores above 25 points. The Iowa defense will give Darrly Clark pressure all day and he won't have many options in the air due to a young, inexperienced receiving corps. He will keep his composure for most of the game, but will end up throwing two costly interceptions in the second half. The run defense will also keep Penn State running back Evan Royster in check, holding him to his lowest rushing total of the season.

On the offensive side of the ball, Ricky Stanzi will play his first full game of the season. He will take advantage of Penn State's young secondary and get the play-action pass working with tight end Alan Reisner, who will finish with his best game so far this season. The running game will likely have more trouble than it did against Arizona, but both Robinson and Wegher will combine for over 120 yards.

As I said earlier, Iowa will win if Stanzi plays a whole game, and I see him finally going a full 60 minutes this Saturday. The Hawkeyes will stun a white-out in Happy Valley and will improve to a 7-1 record against Penn State this decade.

Score: Iowa 17, Penn State 13

Check out Isaac Luber's Iowa-Penn State Creature Vs. Creature article.

Iowa's Ricky Stanzi Must Give Defense Help Against Penn State

Kevin Trahan — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:28:02 -0400

In case you haven't heard, the Iowa defense is good.

After a five interception day against Iowa State, the Hawkeye defense held a red-hot Arizona offense to less than half of their normal yardage.

Iowa held Arizona quarterback Matt Scott to 50 yards passing and an interception. The Hawkeyes also held running back Nic Grigsby, the nation's second leading rusher heading into the game, to a whopping 75 yards and no touchdowns.

Iowa has built on its 2008 defensive performance, which was considered arguably the best in the Big Ten, and have turned their unit into one of the best, if not the best, in the country.

From the pass rush and the turnovers, to the run defense, this group has no weakness. And while it may be one of the best in the country, it will need some help from the other side of the ball to have a clear shot at an upset of No. 5 Penn State in Happy Valley.

Overall the offense has been solid, and the running game, which looked like 2009's biggest question mark for the Hawkeyes, has actually been the offense's most consistent unit. The receivers have come around from the past two years and the offensive line is solid as expected.

What about quarterback Ricky Stanzi you may ask? Well it's a lot more complicated than giving him a single grade.

The second half Ricky Stanzi has been phenomenal thus far and has lived up to the "Tom Brady" hype that he has received from some media members. He is poised, makes responsible throws, and looks like one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten.

The first half Ricky Stanzi is a different story. During the season's first two games, he was very shaky during the first half and tried to force way too many passes. He looked good to start the Arizona game, but then threw an interception on the second drive and wasn't the same until the second half.

Iowa's fate against Penn State will be determined by which Ricky Stanzi shows up during the first half.

It's obvious that the Hawkeye defense can hold Penn State's offense to very few points and they will be the toughest test that the Lions' offense sees all year. The secondary should come up with some more big plays and running back Evan Royster will likely be held to one of his worst games of the year.

The defense will keep Iowa in the game all night, but it will be up to Stanzi to decide the fate of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

If the second half Ricky Stanzi decides to go the extra mile and play during the first half too, there could very well be a stunned white-out in Happy Valley. The Penn State secondary hasn't played very well at all and Iowa's systematic play-action pass should be able to exploit the secondary if it can get going.

And although they need to pass, the Hawkeyes shouldn't be too aggressive with their play-calling. The downfield bombs have been ineffective thus far and should be eliminated from the playbook.

Iowa also needs to find a way to keep Stanzi from forcing throws. During the first half of many of the games this season, he has tried to make plays out of nothing and thrown way too many interceptions or had close calls. Stanzi needs to realize that throwing the ball away isn't a loss and the defense should be able to hold until the next series, when a big play could open up.

Hardly anyone has had success driving on the Hawkeyes over the past two years, but many of the points given up come from drives that start in Hawkeye territory due to Stanzi mistakes. If he can limit those, or better yet, make them non-existent, he will do his defense a huge favor on Saturday.

So in short, we know the defense can play, and they will almost certainly make Iowa-Penn State more of a game than Lions fans predict, but the final score lies more in the hands of Ricky Stanzi than anyone else on that field.

He has gone from sloppy to sensational over the course of a halftime, and while that may have been good enough to beat UNI, ISU, and Arizona, the second half Ricky Stanzi is going to have to play the entire 60 minutes to come out with a win in Happy Valley.

Iowa-Arizona: The Advantage Goes To...

Kevin Trahan — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:12:04 -0400

When Iowa runs the ball: It seems as though Iowa finally has an answer at running back. Adam Robinson was good against Iowa State, but the real story was true freshman Brandon Wegher. He rushed for 101 yards on 15 carriers and a touchdown. The duo should fill the hold left by Shonn Greene and will do even better once redshirt freshman Jeff Brinson is healthy again. Arizona has a good run defense, but expect Wegher to eclipse the 100 yard mark again, since the whole offensive line is finally back.

Advantage: Iowa

When Iowa throws the ball: Although quarterback Ricky Stanzi threw for a career high four touchdowns, his day wasn't nearly as good as it could have been. He missed a lot of open receivers down the field and overthrew some receivers who could have run for sure touchdowns. He was good in play-action, which the Hawkeyes went back to at the end of the game, but needs to show that "Tom Brady" skill experts have described in him. The wide receivers looked good, as did tight ends Alan Reisner and Tony Moeaki. While Stanzi can easily prove me wrong, as Iowa's secondary did last week, I have to go with the Arizona defense on this one.

Advantage: Arizona

When Arizona runs the ball: Iowa's run defense was spectacular once again against Iowa State and they should keep up that high level of play. The defensive line hasn't lost a step with the departure of Mitch King and Matt Kroul. Arizona has been very good running the ball thus far this season, but they haven't seen anything like Iowa's defense. Expect the Iowa run defense to keep the Wildcats under 100 yards rushing.

Advantage: Iowa

When Arizona throws the ball: Last week I decided not to pick Iowa when Iowa State throws the ball, calling that area "even", and boy did the Hawkeye secondary show me up. They intercepted the Cyclones five times and forced a fumble. Not surprisingly, Tyler Sash, who finished the day with three interceptions and a forced fumble, was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. They should keep up that production against Arizona and I don't see them having any problem limiting Arizona's pass offense.

Advantage: Iowa

Special Teams: This is a toss up. Arizona hasn't proven themself and Iowa hasn't performed exceptionally well. I expect the Hawkeyes to make and miss a field goal, as the seem to do every week, while Arizona will make two. Therefore, Arizona gets the edge.

Advantage: Arizona

Coaching: Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz did a much better job of motivating his team against Iowa State than he did against UNI. That motivation should carry over into this week. Ferentz is also one of the mentors of Arizona coach Mike Stoops, who played linebacker at Iowa in the 80's. I expect the mentor to out coach his protege in this game.

Advantage: Iowa

Intangibles: Arizona will likely be taken by surprise by the hostile environment at Kinnick Stadium. Outside of USC and Oregon, this is the toughest place many of these players will play at during their career. Expect another sellout crowd to rattle the Wildcats around throughout the game.

Advantage: Iowa

Outcome: Iowa will come into this game with a lot of momentum after beating in-state rival Iowa State 35-3. The game will start out as a defensive struggle, but the Hawkeyes will pull ahead in the second quarter. Expect another 100 yard day and a touchdown from running back Brandon Wegher and a good day from Adam Robinson, who will also rush for a touchdown. Ricky Stanzi will have another decent day, with 200 yards and a touchdown and the Hawkeyes will also tack on a field goal. Arizona won't be ready for a tough Iowa defense and expect them to struggle until late in the game. The Hawkeyes should come out of this game with a quality win and even more momentum heading into a date with Penn State in Happy Valley.

Score: Iowa 24, Arizona 13

College Football Top 25: Week 1

Kevin Trahan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:54:09 -0400

Unlike the coaches, I decided to release my ballot for the Bleacher Report Top 25 poll. Here's week one.

1. Florida Gators

A 63-2 win over Charleston Southern doesn't exactly impress, but hey, it's enough to keep the Gators at the top if my rankings for the second consecutive week.

2. Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns are another team that won big over a cupcake last weekend after lighting up Louisiana Monroe. Although that normally wouldn't warrant a jump in the rankings, the Longhorns benefit from Oklahoma's loss and move up to No. 2.

3. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State impressed me more than any team in the country last Saturday. Not only was the offense clicking, the defense was much improved and the Cowboys proved that they can hang with any team in the country.

4. USC Trojans

After being down 3-0 at the end of the first quarter to San Jose State, the Trojans put up 56 unanswered points on the Spartans. True freshman quarterback Matt Barkeley looked good, but he will face a much bigger test this Saturday in Columbus.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

I was one of the many Alabama doubters this season who thought that the Crimson Tide wouldn't have the offense to make much noise this year in the SEC. I was wrong. The Alabama offense finally got going and was able to plow through Virginia Tech's elite defense fairly easily.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

If it wasn't for an interception return for a touchdown on a 2-point conversion, Ohio State could have been tied with Navy at 29 with two minutes left in the game at the Horseshoe. Needless to say, they'll have to play better this week with USC coming to town.

7. Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss got off to a slow start Sunday night against Memphis and Jevan Snead didn't look like a Heisman sleeper one bit to start the game. But the Rebels got rolling and eventually were able to blow out Memphis 45-14.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

We learned two things last Saturday when Oklahoma faced BYU in Dallas. 1. Oklahoma is a top five team with Sam Bradford. 2. Oklahoma is hardly a top 20 team without Sam Bradford. The next few weeks will be very crucial for the Sooners and they need to find a way to get some wins without their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback.

9. California Bears

Jahvid Best is the best running back in college football. Period. He helped the Bears light up Maryland's defense last Saturday in Berekley and it looks like Cal is finally for real.

10. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech really didn't look that bad Saturday against Alabama and they kept the game close or were leading it for the first three quarters. Then Alabama's offense came to life and made the Hokies' elite defense look average. That's not good news for Virginia Tech, but an ACC Championship is still very much within reach.

11. Penn State Nittany Lions

The Lions looked great during the first half against Akron, but really struggled in the second half, as they put up no points. They still won 31-7, but Penn State will need to learn how to play two halves before a September 26 home date with Iowa.

12. LSU Tigers

LSU really should move down more spots than this, but I'll give them another chance to prove themselves. They let Washington, a team who would lose to most FCS teams, hang around with them throughout the game and they would have been toast if they were playing anyone who is even halfway decent.

13. TCU Horned Frogs

TCU was off for week one, but it will get its first test this week against Virginia. The Horned Frogs can keep their title as the highest ranked non-BCS team for now, but BYU is creeping up fast.

14. BYU Cougars

I admit I underestimated BYU. While there is no way they would have won if Sam Bradford played the whole game, a win against Oklahoma is still very impressive. Max Hall was outstanding and the BYU defense was equally impressive. If they continue that success throughout the season, they may have a shot at a BCS Bowl.

15. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

A 37-17 win over Jacksonville State is less than impressive, but the Yellow Jackets will receive their first test this Saturday against Clemson. That game will prove which one of these ACC teams is actually for real.

16. Georgia Bulldogs

While a loss to Oklahoma State isn't embarassing by any means, a win would have been huge for Georgia last weekend. The season is far from lost, but any sleeper national title dreams that the Bulldogs had are likely over before they could even begin.

17. Iowa Hawkeyes

The Hawkeyes made history last Saturday, blocking two field goals on consecutive attempts to hold of Northern Iowa 17-16. While UNI is a very good FCS school, the game never should have gotten that close to begin with. The first half was awful for Iowa, but the Hawks started clicking in the second half and should regroup for a win against other in-state rival Iowa State this Saturday.

18. Utah Utes

Although the ended up winning, Utah was in a dogfight all day against in-state rival Utah State. No Top 25 team should be in a dogfight with Utah State. The Utes are safe for now, but they need to play much better in the future if they want any shot at a BCS repeat.

19. Boise State Broncos

I wasn't that impressed with the Broncos' win against Oregon on Thursday. Oregon lost that game more than Boise State won it and the Broncos should have put up much more than 19 points against Oregon's bad pass defense. While quarterback Kellen Moore moved the ball very well, Boise State needs to learn how to turn more of their missed opportunities into points.

20. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

While I still have my doubts about Notre Dame, the Irish looked impressive last weekend, beating Nevada 35-0. While the Wolfpack are hardly a challenge, Notre Dame will have their hands full this week against a much improved Michigan team.

21. Oregon State Beavers

Another team, another cupcake win, this time over Portland State. Again, a 34-7 win over that caliber team isn't saying much, but it's enough to keep the Beavers in the Top 25.

22. Texas Tech Red Raiders

After a 38-13 win in Lubbock, the Red Raiders will get ready to face Rice this weekend. While the Texas Tech offense picked up right where it left off in 2008, the defense needs to improve if they want to make some noise in the Big 12 South.

23. Nebraska Cornhuskers

After a 49-3 victory over Florida Atlantic (are you sensing a trend at all), the Cornhuskers look like a decent team, but they need to prove themselves against a formidable opponent to move up the rankings.

24. Kansas Jayhawks

Like their Big 12 North counterpart, Kansas also beat up on an inferior team 49-3, but they decided to pick on Northern Colorado instead of Florida Atlantic. Either way, a win doesn't really mean much for their ranking.

25. Pittsburgh Panthers

The Panthers hold onto the last spot in the rankings again after beating up on Youngstown State 38-3. Pittsburgh travels to Buffalo to take on the defending MAC champions this week, but will need a better win than that to keep moving up the rankings.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide

While Alabama does lose a lot on offense, the defense will still be stacked. Terrence Cody will lead one of the nation's best offensive lines and Rolando McClain will lead a very talented linebacking corps. The offense should take a step back, but if Alabama can find a quarterback, wide receiver Julio Jones can help to turn that unit into a strength again.

Iowa-Iowa State: The Advantage Goes to...

Kevin Trahan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:13:20 -0400

After a shaky start, the Hawkeyes look to open their season 2-0 against the Iowa State Cyclones. It won't be easy, as they always face a tough test from the Cyclones, and this year the game is in Ames. It should be another great game in the in-state rivalry.

When Iowa runs the ball

The Hawkeyes' running game was awful during the first half of Saturday's game vs. UNI. Paki O'Meara couldn't ever get going, and the offensive line wasn't great by any means. But in the second half, redshirt freshman Adam Robinson impressed, rushing for 68 yards and a touchdown.

The offensive line will be much improved as well, as tackle and All-Big Ten candidate Kyle Calloway returns to the lineup after a one game suspension.

On top of that, Iowa State's run defense looked bad against North Dakota State, as they allowed over 200 yards. This week, they're facing a much better opponent.

Advantage: Iowa

When Iowa throws the ball

Like the running game, quarterback Ricky Stanzi couldn't get anything going in the first half. But he improved greatly in the second half, throwing for 242 yards and a touchdown.

The receivers looked better than they have in a while for Iowa. Marvin McNutt looked very impressive during his first game as a wide receiver, and tight end Tony Moeaki finally showed Iowa fans the potential they knew he had, with 83 receiving yards and a touchdown—one of the best games of his career.

Iowa needs to use play action to their advantage. That is how they won many of their games last year, and Stanzi does very well rolling out of the pocket in those situations. They used play action for most of the second half, and if that success rolls over into next week, as it likely will, there is no reason the Iowa passing game can't have its way against ISU's mediocre (at best) pass defense.

Advantage: Iowa

When Iowa State runs the ball

Although it was supposed to be the big defensive question mark heading into 2009, the defensive line was actually Iowa's most impressive unit in week one. Karl Klug proved that he is certainly capable of filling the hole left by Mitch King and Matt Kroul. Christian Ballard and Adrian Clayborn also had great games, and quarterback Pat Grace was sacked or hurried all day long.

The Cyclones' rushing attack isn't great, but expect them to mix in a lot more of quarterback Austin Arnaud in their new spread offense. But the Hawkeyes proved they could stop the spread against UNI, who actually has an even better offense than ISU.

Advantage: Iowa

When Iowa State throws the ball

This is a tricky area to examine. Clearly, Iowa has the better talent, but the Hawkeye secondary certainly didn't play as well as we know they can in week one. They allowed the Panthers to march down the field basically at will on two different occasions and allowed them to set up for the game-winning field goal attempts.

Other times, though, they were rock solid and showed why many people see them as the best in the Big Ten. There seemed to be a sense of urgency coming from star cornerback Amari Spievey, and the secondary will likely play much better in week two.

But they will definitely be tested in Ames. Quarterback Austin Arnaud performed very well against North Dakota State, but then again, it's North Dakota State. It's tough to tell right now, and while both are good, we'll see which side is really elite on Saturday.

Advantage: Even

Special Teams

This is another battle that is difficult to predict. Iowa's special teams were off and on last Saturday, and while Iowa State's appeared decent, you can't learn too much from playing North Dakota State. Daniel Murray needs to be more consistent for the Hawkeyes, and they need to find a solid replacement for Andy Brodell, but it's hard to pick against a team that blocks two field goals on consecutive plays.

Advantage: Iowa

Coaching

So Kirk Ferentz didn't know about the rule that says a team can recover a blocked field goal if it stays behind the line of scrimmage. That's okay; nobody else did either. There's a reason Ferentz just received a contract extension that lasts through 2015, and he'll prove that on Saturday by out-coaching Paul Rhoads, who is in his second game as Iowa State's head coach.

Advantage: Iowa

Intangibles

For anyone who didn't know, Iowa is a Hawkeye State. Almost every town in Iowa has more Hawkeye fans than Cyclone fans with the exception of Ames. Jack Trice Stadium will be filled with black and gold on Saturday, and it should feel more like a home game for Iowa than Iowa State.

That being said, Iowa has had some trouble in Ames in the past. While the Hawkeyes have won four of the last six games, the Cyclones have won four of the last five in Ames. I don't see history having much to do with the outcome of this game, though. It should just give Ferentz's squad some extra motivation come Saturday.

Advantage: Iowa

Outcome

Iowa 31, Iowa State 9

As has been true of the last two years, Iowa State won't score a touchdown in this game. The Hawkeye pass defense will step up and give ISU quarterback Austin Arnaud trouble all day. The run defense will also be rock solid, as usual.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi will redeem himself, throwing for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. Adam Robinson will shine against the Cyclones' poor run defense, rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns, and the Hawkeyes will prove they still have what it takes to be a sleeper for the Big Ten title.

After this game they should vault back into the Top 25 and head into a week three date at home against Arizona with some much-needed momentum.

Iowa Blocks UNI's Upset Attempt

Kevin Trahan — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:19:46 -0400

It seemed as though karma had caught up with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Ten months after Iowa kicked a field goal in the final seconds to upset No. 3 Penn State, Northern Iowa was lined up for a 39-yard field goal, to try to upset the No. 22 Hawkeyes in Iowa City.

Iowa, still trying to work through injuries and first game kinks, didn't play well all game long, but, like any good team, stepped up in the clutch and blocked the field goal.

Linebacker Jeremiah Hunter went to pick up the ball, but his teammates yelled at him to stay away and tackled the UNI player who eventually picked it up. The Hawkeyes celebrated, thinking they just needed to kneel the ball to win. But the celebration was premature.

The officials ruled that by some obscure rule, since it was first down and the ball never crossed the line of scrimmage, the Panthers would be able to re-kick, even though the replay showed that the ball bounced in front of the line.

Hunter was furious. It seemed the ref's call had finally sparked the Hawkeyes' anger, a spark that they needed all game long. But fair or not, Northern Iowa again lined up for a 39-yarder. And this time, Hunter redeemed himself, blocking the kick again.

"I was praying the whole time, like 'This is why I'm out here," Hunter said. "I was just focused on getting that block the second time."

In all truth, the game never should have come down to two field goal blocks. While Northern Iowa is a great team that could probably beat at least 50 FBS teams on a consistent basis, Iowa wasn't at their best. It was largely due to a sluggish start and horrible offensive play in the first half.

Starting running back Paki O'Meara was never able to prove himself and Ricky Stanzi couldn't get into a rhythm. This allowed the Panthers to go into the locker room up 10-3.

But the Iowa offense came to life in the second half. After a fumble early in the half, Ricky Stanzi came back to throw for 242 yards and a touchdown and finally showcased the potential he showed last season, when he led the Hawkeyes to six wins in their final seven games.

The Hawkeyes went back to the simple play action passes that won them six out of seven games to end 2008. Stanzi also has many more targets to work with this season.

Converted quarterback Marvin McNutt looked like the stud the Hawkeye coaches had raved about and tight end Tony Moeaki had one of the best games of his career, catching 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.

The offensive line was off and on as well, but, for the most part, provided pretty big holes for the running game. Isn't this odd, you may ask, for a unit that is supposed to rank at the top of the nation?

The reason for the average play is that All-Big Ten candidates Kyle Calloway and Julian Vandervelde were out. They will be back next week against Iowa State and should help add stability in the trenches.

The running game also made have found an answer after Jewel Hampton's season ending injury. But starter Paki O'Meara wasn't it. Adam Robinson, a redshirt freshman from Des Moines, had an impressive game.

He showed tremendous speed and broke through plenty of defenders. He rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, which is good considering he barely played in the first half.

Paul Chaney Jr. also had a good day, showcasing his athleticism and speed. He had a huge gain on a reverse play. He also had a 44-yard touchdown catch that was called back because of a holding penalty.

The defense looked solid, but the pass defense definitely needs to go back to last year's form, as they allowed UNI to march 91 yards for a touchdown and get in position for the blocked field goal. Other than those two drives, though, they were very tough. But that toughness needs to be there all game if Iowa wants a shot at the Big Ten title.

The main defensive question heading into Saturday's game was how Iowa would respond to the loss of Mitch King and Matt Kroul. But the defensive line proved that they haven't lost a step.

The line was outstanding and Karl Klug proved why he is good enough to replace King and Kroul, as he pressured UNI quarterback Pat Grace all day. Christian Ballard was also very impressive on the inside and he sacked Grace or forced him to throw the ball away at least five times throughout the game.

The ends were solid, as predicted, and Adrian Clayborn was not only a factor in the run game, but he also dropped back in coverage and tipped away a possible touchdown pass.

Minus the sluggish start, which was likely only due to first game jitters, the one thing that Iowa needs to work on is finishing drives. The stats were all good in the second half, and Iowa seems to have found their answer at running back and on the defensive line, but the Hawkeyes need to learn how to turn field goals and missed field goals into touchdowns.

If the offense can get that figured out, they should have no problem walking into Happy Valley 3-0.

"Hey, we won the game," said quarterback Ricky Stanzi. "That's all it's going to say on the stat sheet. But there's no doubt we have some things we need to work on."

And that they do. But if coach Kirk Ferentz can get the early season kinks worked out, it looks like Iowa will have a very solid team in 2009.

Punch Was Out Of Line, But LaGarrette Blount Spoke For College Football

Kevin Trahan — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:40:33 -0400

The University of Oregon announced today that it will suspend running back LaGarrette Blount for the remainder of the season, after he threw a punch at Boise State linebacker Byron Hout at the end of the game. While I agree with Oregon that Blount was completely out of line, he spoke for all of college football.

In a game where emotions ran high, Blount was ineffective, rushing for -5 yards on eight carries. And the same player who told the press Oregon owed Boise State an "ass-whooping," unfortunately kept to his word after, instead of during, the game.

But while Blount's course of action was wrong, his anger was definitely warranted.

I know it may sound bad, but Boise State deserved this punch. While a punch out of the BCS picture would have been more deserving, this suits them just as well.

While the Broncos are a good football team, their level of cockiness and unsportsmanlike conduct caused them to deserve what they had coming to them.

It wasn't just the cheap shots in Eugene last season or the taunting at the end of Thursday's game, it was a combination of those incidents that finally caused LaGarrette Blount to blow.

And while Blount paid for that punch with a season suspension, the rest of the country can exhale because someone else did it first.

Personally, I'm tired of Boise State. As we saw Thursday night, the Broncos really aren't an elite football team. They won because it is apparent that Oregon isn't either. With the exception of Kellen Moore, the Boise State offense wasn't great, and I think we all know that it wasn't because the Oregon defense was so spectacular either.

The Ducks lost this game more than Boise State won it and it is obvious that Oregon is extremely overrated.

But according to the Broncos, beating Oregon warrants a trip to the BCS. And that is what irritates college football fans everywhere the most. The Broncos can win out through the rest of their cupcake schedule and go to a BCS Bowl that they don't even deserve.

Sure, they had a decent win, but if we gave everyone who has one decent win, or even one good win, a shot at the BCS, we would have to start playing the games in November.

Boise State, along with the rest of the WAC and the MWC, keep whining about how the BCS is so unfair, when in fact, it is actually biased toward them. All the Broncos need to do is have one good win all season, beat 11 cupcakes, and they're in. Teams from major conferences, however, need to beat many more good teams to even be considered for a BCS Bowl.

While Boise State may not get a shot at the national championship, the Broncos really don't deserve it. If they start adding Florida, Ohio State, USC, and other elite teams to their schedule and still go undefeated, yeah, they deserve a shot. But until then, a national title shouldn't even be a consideration.

I know that all of Idaho will probably comment on this article saying "Remember the Fiesta Bowl." And I agree they were an elite team that year, but one good season doesn't warrant a BCS bowl game every year.

So the Broncos can keep on whining about the BCS, but in truth, it is actually doing them a big favor. And while Bronco Nation thinks the country loves them, the "underdogs" are starting to get on college football's nerves. But unless the Broncos are upset by a a lowly conference foe, things aren't likely to chance.

So I have a message for Utah State, Louisiana Tech, Idaho, Hawaii, and all the other cupcakes Boise State plays this season. LaGarrette Blount spoke...now it's your turn to act. The rest of the country is counting on you.

Iowa-Northern Iowa: The Advantage Goes to...

Kevin Trahan — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:44:46 -0400

College football season is almost here which means it's time for my first preview of the Iowa Hawkeye's season: Iowa vs. Northern Iowa.

Who has the advantage when:

Iowa throws the ball: After a heated quarterback competition last season, Ricky Stanzi finally won the starting job over Jake Christensen. He improved steadily throughout the season and proved his maturity by leading Iowa on a last second drive to beat Penn State. Stanzi will grow on that improvement this season and also has a good group of receivers around him. Quarterback transfer Marvin McNutt is very athletic, and he, along with Trey Stross and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, will lead a very talented group of receivers.

Advantage: Iowa

Iowa runs the ball: The Hawkeyes running game took a major hit this week when Kirk Ferentz announced that projected starter Jewel Hampton would miss the season with an injury. His projected back-up, Jeff Brinson, will also miss some time at the start of the season due to an injury that kept him out much of camp. That leaves the starting job to former walk-on Paki O'Meara. He's no Shonn Greene, but he should fair well behind a huge offensive line, which many rank among the top five nationally.

Advantage: Iowa

Northern Iowa throws the ball: Iowa has the best secondary in the Big Ten. Northern Iowa is an FCS program. This is a pretty obvious choice. Amari Spievey, ranked the Big Ten's best corner by ESPN, will lead a very solid group which returns three out of four starters, including the Big Ten interception leader, sophomore safety Tyler Sash. The linebackers are also very solid and rank only behind Penn State as the Big Ten's best. Although Northern Iowa is a good program, I don't see them being able to do much against that pass defense.

Advantage: Iowa

Northern Iowa runs the ball: Even though Iowa lost defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul, they will still be very solid on the defensive line. Adrian Clayborn will be a leader on the end and the linebackers, including All-Big Ten candidate Pat Angerer, will step up and make a huge contribution. Once again, although UNI is a good team, I don't see them being able to overcome this run defense.

Advantage: Iowa

Special Teams: The Iowa special teams looks like they are finally back on the right foot. After a year of uncertainty at kicker, that position looks fairly solid, with Daniel Murray and Trent Mossbrucker sharing kicks. The return game takes a hit with the loss of Andy Brodell, but Paki O'Meara looks like a suitable replacement.

Advantage: Iowa

Coaching: Kirk Ferentz just has a way of turning nobodies into stars, and that's why I'm not going to be too quick to judge Paki O'Meara. Ferentz is one of the best coaches in the business and has a great supporting staff around him, including defensive coordinator Norm Parker and offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe.

Advantage: Iowa

Intangibles: Kinnick Stadium will be rowdy as ever and fans will be pumped up for the first game of the season. Northern Iowa isn't used to playing in front of 70,000 fans, and that may shake them up a little bit. The one thing that may help Northern Iowa is the fact that they are playing on an artificial surface, like they do on their home field. But the transition to field turf shouldn't be a problem for the Hawkeyes, as they have been practicing on it for a while, and home-field advantage will be the main intangible in the game.

Advantage: Iowa

Prediction: Iowa 41, Northern Iowa 6

Ricky Stanzi will have a huge game, throwing for over 350 yards and four touchdowns. Paki O'Meara will also fair well and surprise a lot of people, rushing for 125 yards and a touchdown. The defense will be outstanding and prove why they are the best in the Big Ten. Pat Angerer will record a forced fumble and an interception, while Amari Spievey will also intercept one. Adrian Clayborn will have the best game of his career and record two sacks, helping the Hawkeyes roll into week two against in-state rival Iowa State.

College Football Top 25: Preseason

Kevin Trahan — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:40:41 -0400

I will be updating my Top 25 rankings every week throughout the season. Here goes the preseason rankings, less than a week before college football kicks off.

1. Florida Gators

It's hard not to put Florida in this spot, as was evident by their record number of first place votes in the AP poll. The Gators return all1 starters from an outstanding defense, and Heisman candidate, quarterback Tim Tebow.

With an easy schedule to go along with elite talent, it will be a shock if Florida doesn't reach the BCS National Championship.

2. Oklahoma Sooners

While many experts have Texas in this spot, I see the Sooners as the best team in the Big 12. They return Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and tons of weapons for him to throw to. The defense will also be improved, even though that isn't saying much, and should help to keep the opposing scores within reason this year.

3. Texas Longhorns

Texas will once again be one of the nation's top offensive teams in 2009. Quarterback Colt McCoy should have a breakout year in his senior season, and many are predicting a Heisman Trophy for the Longhorns' signal caller.

The bottom line, though, is that the Big 12 South will come down to the Red River Rivalry, and I see Oklahoma coming out on top of Texas this year.

4. USC Trojans

There are probably more questions surrounding the USC program this season than there have been under Pete Carroll. The Trojans recently announced that true freshman Matt Barkeley will start the first game, making him the only true freshman to ever start the season for a top 10 team.

The Trojans will have a very good offense, but besides star safety Taylor Mays, not much returns on defense. Will the Trojans be able to rebuild? Knowing USC, I don't think it will be much of an issue.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

I know, I know. The Buckeyes can't be this high because the Big Ten sucks. While the average SEC fan may see this as absurd, Ohio State should actually have a very good team in 2009. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor could easily be the best in the league, and he has plenty of weapons to throw to at receiver.

The Buckeyes lost a little of their firepower on defense, with linebacker James Laurinaitis and corner Malcolm Jenkins going to the NFL, but they still have the third best defense in the league behind Iowa and Penn State. If the Buckeyes can find a way to beat USC in Columbus, they could have a shot at the National Championship.

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys

Oklahoma State is one of the most underrated teams in the country. The Cowboys have the best wide receiver in the country in Dez Bryant and a great quarterback in Zac Robinson. The defense will be the main problem for Oklahoma State in 2009, but will still be improved. Plus, it's not like defense is much of a necessity in the Big 12.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide

8. Ole Miss Rebels

After years of uncertainty, it seems like Houston Nutt has finally turned this team around. The Rebels grabbed national attention after handing Florida its only loss of 2008. Quarterback Jevan Snead will lead a very strong offense, and Ole Miss has a shot to reach the SEC Championship for the first time.

9. Virginia Tech Hokies

Defense. That's the only reason the Hokies are ranked this high. Their stellar defense could be one of the best in the country, but the offense may be a cause for concern. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor will be good, but losing running back Darren Evans to injury hurts and the offense can never seem to put it all together.

If they can, they will have an easy ride to the ACC Championship. We should know the answer soon, as the Hokies open up the season against Alabama.

10. LSU Tigers

Quarterback Jordan Jefferson will lead a great offense, which includes preseason All-American wide receiver Brandon LaFell. The defense will be great, once again, and LSU will likely challenge Ole Miss for the SEC West Championship this season.

11. Penn State Nittany Lions

The offense will be better than last year, with quarterback Darryl Clark and running back Evan Royster returning. The offensive line will also be very good. The problem for Penn State is defense. The linebackers will be amazing, but the secondary is almost all new. The defensive line should contain the run fairly well, but if the secondary falters, opposing offenses could have a field day against the Nittany Lions' pass defense.

12. Georgia Bulldogs

The loss of two first round draft picks obviously hurts, as the Bulldogs lose most of their offensive production. Without quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno, Georgia will struggle a little bit offensively. The defense will be solid, though, and the Bulldogs will still be a top 25 team throughout 2009.

13. Oregon Ducks

Oregon is the one team that has a shot at knocking USC off the top of the Pac-10. The Ducks return only half of their starters, but still figure to have a good team this season. Their first test will com this Thursday. They face Boise State on the blue turf after losing last year in Eugene. A win there can shoot Oregon up the national rankings, but a loss will have them destined for another good, but not great, season.

14. Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa will have arguably the best defense in the Big Ten, and return eight starters on that side of the ball. The offensive line is ranked as one of the top five in the country and quarterback Ricky Stanzi is greatly improved from the beginning of 2008.

Jewel Hampton looks like he will fill Shonn Greene's shoes very well, and despite a very tough schedule in which the Hawkeyes visit Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State, the Hawkeyes could challenge for the Big Ten Title.

15. California Bears

I have a lot of trouble putting Cal this high because they always seem to underachieve, but with running back Jahvid Best, anything can happen for the Bears in 2009. The quarterback situation is pretty shaky, but the defense will be one of the best in the Pac-10. For that reason, I think this might finally be the year that the Bears succeed.

16. TCU Horned Frogs

The TCU offense will once again be one of the best kept secrets in the country. Quarterback Andy Dalton will lead a very good group, and the offensive line will be the best line you haven't heard of. The defense loses a lot, but still will be decent. Bottom line, TCU, not Boise State, BYU, or Utah, is the best non-BCS team in the country.

17. Florida State Seminoles

The Seminoles might finally be back. After years of mediocrity, Florida State is riding some momentum after a bowl game drubbing of Wisconsin last season. The defense will be very good and the offense isn't too much behind. They should challenge Virginia Tech for the ACC Championship.

18. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

After riding momentum through the end of the 2008 regular season, Georgia Tech was blown away by LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl 38-3. While many people see the Yellow Jackets winning the ACC, I'm not buying it.

They are extremely streaky, and one bad loss could turn into a blown season in a hurry. Don't get me wrong, 2009 could turn out to be a great season for Georgia Tech, but I don't see them making too much of a run this season.

19. Utah Utes

The Utes lose a lot of players from their surprising 2008 team that finished No. 2 in the nation with a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. The defense will be just as good as last season, but the offense will struggle, as they lose much of their team. Still they will contend for a conference title and have a shot at a decent bowl game.

20. Oregon State Beavers

After surprising the nation with an upset win over USC last season, the Beavers got themselves onto the national radar. Running back Jacquizz Rodgers will lead a good offense, but the defense will struggle, returning only three starters. The Beavers could surprise, but with all the questions on defense, I don't see them finishing better than fourth in the Pac-10 this season.

21. Texas Tech Red Raiders

While the Red Raiders do lose star quarterback Graham Harrell and wide receiver Michael Crabtree, they always seem to have a good offense. The defense will be better than last year, although that isn't too hard to do, but the offense will be equally good. Texas Tech may surprise a lot of people in the Big 12 this year.

22. Nebraska Cornuskers

Is Nebraska football back? Possibly. The Cornhuskers showed signs of improvement last season, but still aren't on the same level as the Big 12 South. With Missouri losing a lot of players, including Chase Daniel, Nebraska will likely win the Big 12 North. While that isn't saying much, it's certainly a first step back to greatness for the Cornhuskers.

23. Kansas Jayhawks

While Nebraska is likely the favorite to win the Big 12 North, Kansas has a shot to challenge the Cornhuskers for the crown. The Jayhawks will try to ride behind the success of senior quarterback Todd Reesing. Reesing will have a lot o talent to throw to, including preseason All-American candidate, wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe.

24. Pittsburgh Panthers

Pittsburgh seems like they have gotten back on the right track after struggling for the past few years. Running back LeSean McCoy is gone, but the Panthers return eight players on offense, including most of a very good offensive line. The defense will also be good, and Pitt should be very competitive in the weak Big East.

25. West Virginia Mountaineers

After taking a step back last season, West Virginia will look to slowly make their way back up the ladder in 2009. Replacing quarterback Pat White will be a challenge, but running back Noel Devine will help to make the transition easier. The defense is also decent, with seven starters returning. The Mountaineers will also challenge for the conference championship in the less-than-impressive Big East.

Defense Will Keep Iowa in Close Games, But Ricky Stanzi Will Have to Win Them

Kevin Trahan — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:51:58 -0400

12 points.

That's how far the Iowa Hawkeyes were from being undefeated in 2008. Instead, a possible trip to the BCS turned into a 9-4 season and a trip to the Outback Bowl.

And while that's certainly nothing to be ashamed of, the Hawkeyes can't help but think what could have been.

The main reason for the shaky play in close games was the quarterback competition between Jake Christensen and Ricky Stanzi. Iowa couldn't settle on a quarterback early in the season, largely because neither player could establish himself as the starter.

This inconsistency and lack of leadership early in the season caused three straight early season losses that were decided by a total of nine points.

Finally, Stanzi established himself as the starter, winning six out of the last seven games, including an upset win over No. 3 Penn State, a 55-0 thumping of Minnesota, and a 31-10 drubbing of South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. But by then, it was too late.

While the Hawkeye passing game was less than impressive during those first six games, it was the defense that kept Iowa in all of those games. And this year should be no different.

The Hawkeyes return eight starters from the nation's 12th-ranked defense, including All-Big Ten linebacker candidate Pat Angerer, and Amari Spievey, who is arguably the best corner in the conference.

Once again, the Iowa defense will keep the Hawkeyes in every game, but the difference is, this year they have a quarterback who can help them win the close ones.

Unlike 2008, the Hawkeyes are settled on their quarterback for 2009. After winning the starting job, Stanzi quickly became a leader on the Iowa team.

He improved steadily every game and proved that he has what it takes to win the the clutch, after leading the Hawks on their winning drive against Penn State.

Stanzi recognizes the difference between this season and last.

"Things are different this year. I'm not trying to win a job. I'm trying to build on what I accomplished last season," Stanzi told the Quad City Times.

"I'm still competing with the guys behind me on the depth chart, but I feel like I have a pretty solid foundation to build on."

This foundation will be the difference for Iowa in 2009. They finally have a veteran that they can count on and this experience will help the Hawkeyes to prevail in those close games.

Stanzi's tested experience in the clutch will certainly come in handy this season. With road trips to Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State, the Hawkeyes will certainly need their quarterback to step up.

Like I stated earlier, the defense will keep them in every game, but Stanzi must be the one to win those games.

Last season, Iowa didn't have a proven quarterback to call on. But this year, Ricky Stanzi's veteran leadership will be vital to this team's success. If he can step up like he did at the end of 2008, the Hawkeyes will finally be able to win the close ones.

Ranking Iowa's Top Ten Players

Kevin Trahan — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:54:14 -0400

After a 2008 that featured loads of breakout stars, 2009 will be the year for those stars to prove themselves. The defense and the offensive line are stacked and will field some of the best players in the Big Ten, and in the country for that matter, but some offensive skill position players also find their way onto this list of the ten best players Iowa has to offer.

10. Jewel Hampton, RB

Hampton has the talent to shoot up this list, but comes in at tenth right now because he is a first year starter. The sophomore from Indianapolis showed flashes of brilliance last season as Shonn Greene's back-up, rushing for 461 yards on 91 carries. Hampton isn't as big as Greene, but has better athleticism and speed. While he is only a sophomore and has yet to start his first game, he will be a big part of Iowa's offense in 2009.

9. Tony Moeaki, TE

Moeaki is another player that has the talent to shoot up this list, but hasn't had enough playing time to prove himself. But from the time he has spent on the field, it is clear that he has the potential to be one of the top tight ends in the Big Ten, or even in the country. Ever since he came to Iowa City as one of the top tight end recruits in the country in 2005, Moeaki has been plagued by injuries. He has been great when on the field, but has had very limited playing time. He is healthy heading into 2009 and could make a huge contribution to the Hawkeye passing game as a fifth year senior if he can stay that way.

8. Julian Vandervelde, OG

Unlike Hampton and Moeaki, we have already seen a lot of what Vandervelde can do, and he should be one of the leaders on one of the country's top offensive lines. The junior had a breakout season in 2008 and will look to improve even more in 2009. While he will likely be overshadowed by fellow offensive linemen Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Calloway for most of the season, he will be a vital part of the Hawkeyes' premier offensive line.

7. Ricky Stanzi, QB

For Stanzi, 2008 was all about winning the starting job as Iowa's quarterback. 2009 will be about building on last season's success. Stanzi showed great improvement in every game last year, and showed his agbility to win big games down the stretch, leading the Hawkeyes on a game winning drive against No. 3 Penn State. He also showed tremendous poise, especially in the second half of the year, with big games against Minnesota and South Carolina. He has a strong arm, good mechanics, and tremendous accuracy. If he keeps improving throughout the season, he could become one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten.

6. Tyler Sash, S

Sash broke onto the scene last season as a freshman, recording 53 tackles and a league leading five interceptions. He should improve on an outstanding freshman year and be a major player in Iowa's defensive backfield. Sash also made a number a big plays last season. He intercepted Penn State's Darryl Clark to set up the Hawkeye's winning drive and intercepted South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia twice in the Outback Bowl, which helped to blow that game wide open. If he continues at the same level of player or better, he will be a nightmare for opposing offenses next season.

5. Adrian Clayborn, DE

Contrary to popular belief, the defensive line, not running back, was the most weakened position for the Hawkeyes over the offseason. After the departure of defensive tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul, Adrian Clayborn will be the leader of the Hawkeyes' defensive front in 2009. The line will still be strong, as it is ranked third in the conference by ESPN, but this year, the strength will come from the outside instead of the inside. That should mean a lot more sacks for Clayborn this year. He will have to step up to fill the void left by King and Kroul, but definitely has the talent to do so. As the new leader, we should see a major spike in his stats for 2009.

4. Kyle Calloway, OT

Calloway is the second best player on Iowa's elite offensive line, and he proved it in 2008. He was a major part of Shonn Greene's success last season and should do the same for Hampton this season. As suggested by many pro scouts, Calloway will likely be wearing an NFL jersey sometime in the future. He has the size and strength the make a great professional lineman, and a good college player, for that matter.

3. Amari Spievey, CB

While Greene stole most of the spotlight as the comeback story in 2008, Spievey was another junior college transfer that burst onto the scene last season. He quickly became one of the top corners in the Big Ten and is probably the cest in the conference heading into 2009. Spievey is an outstanding cover corner and his speed, along with his size make him one of the best in the business. While he will likely be overshadowed by the likes of Tennessee's Eric Berry and USC's Talyor Mays, he will definitely be a force to be reckoned with on the national scene.

2. Pat Angerer, LB

Angerer is another one of the many players who burst onto the scene in 2008 that nobody outside of the Hawkeye State had ever heard of. He quickly became one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten and is a first team All-Big Ten candidate in 2009. Angerer recorded 107 tackles last season and was a pass converage machine, tying teammate Tyler Sash for the league lead in interceptions with five. He isn't huge for a linebacker, but he has tremendous spead and toughness that make him a hard hitter. His speed also allows him to be all over the field and is in on nearly every tackle in his visinity. While he is amazing against the pass, he may be even better against the run, which should be a major help to the defensive line, which is trying to fill the holes left by departed star tackles Mitch King and Matt Kroul.

1. Bryan Bulaga, OT

Bulaga is the leader of an offensive line that is seen by many as one of the top five in the nation. Both ESPN and Phil Steele rank the unit in the top five and Fox Sports ranks them third. Bulaga is everything a team could want in an offensive tackle. He is big, but also has tremendous speed and athleticism. That combination is the reason some scouts think he could be a top five NFL Draft pick either next year, or the year after that. He is only a junior and has the tools to improve his already outstanding game. He should be a shoe-in for first team All-Big Ten and is on many preseason All-American teams.

How Ohio State's Sept. 12 Performance Can Save Big Ten Football

Kevin Trahan — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:41:01 -0400

"The Big Ten is Down."

That phrase has been uttered millions of times by sports commentators and fans alike for the past three years and will likely be said millions more times. While the SEC can't get enough of it, that phrase has been the nemesis of the Big Ten for the past few seasons.

The conference hit arguably its lowest point in history in 2008, posting a miserable 1-6 showing in bowl games.

The insults keep on coming, with every other word out of the SEC documenting the Big Ten's struggles, rather than highlighting their own conference.

And it's all Ohio State's fault.

You can't help but feel bad for the Buckeyes. They are the main reason behind the Big Ten's poor image after losing the national championship to SEC teams two years in a row.

Only in the Big Ten can two straight national championship game appearances be considered a failure.

But those losses meant much more to the college football world. It was the beginning of a glorious era for the SEC and an era of disappointment for the Big Ten.

Now, is the Big Ten's "down" streak really all Ohio State's fault? Of course not.

The Buckeyes have had tremendous football teams during the "down years," with three top 10 finishes.

But that doesn't matter. It's the image that's holding the conference down.

While it may be in a slump, the Big Ten really isn't all that bad.

It's probably the fourth best conference in college football, behind the SEC, Big 12, and Pac-10, although it could move ahead of the latter with some key wins this year (i.e. Arizona, California, Oregon, and USC).

The conference's poor bowl record can be explained by the fact that the conference consistently receives two BCS bowl slots. This means the Big Ten's fifth best team has to face another conference's third best team in many situations. Some teams, such as Iowa, have had success, going 3-1 against the SEC this decade.

It wasn't that long ago that the Big Ten was a premier conference, and even the best in the country.

Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio State were consistent top 10 finishers in the first half of this decade, and Ohio State won a National Championship.

But those facts mean nothing to Big Ten haters throughout college football. The only way the Big Ten can shed its negative image is for the team that caused it to end it.

Sept. 12, 2009.

It's a date that every Big Ten fan should have circled on their calendar. It's the date that can finally end the Big Ten's role as college football's laughingstock.

It's the date that USC visits Columbus.

Needless to say, USC is a powerhouse in college football, and anyone who beats them will be given major props by the college football world. This game may be the one chance that Ohio State has at redeeming its image, along with the image of the rest of the conference.

USC has owned the Big Ten, most recently demolishing Penn State in the Rose Bowl.

While an Ohio State win over the Trojans would certainly buy the Buckeyes and the Big Ten major respect, many see a scarlet and gray victory as outside the realm of possibility.

While most people aren't giving Ohio State a chance in this game, I certainly think they have a shot. They won't be favored and need to perform flawlessly, but there is no better time for a win to come than right now.

This is USC's rebuilding year, and while they certainly won't be weak, they will be at their weakest point in the last few years. The defense will be good, but outside of Taylor Mays, they don't have a star-filled unit like last year, as only three starters return.

Quarterback Aaron Corp looks like a budding star but has little experience. In such a big, early season game, Corp could lose his composure if he makes a mistake, allowing a solid Buckeye defense to take advantage and make some big plays. USC's veteran offensive line will certainly cause some problems for Ohio State, but OSU's defensive line is no pushover either.

Both of these teams are very good football teams.

While USC still may have the upper hand, this is the best chance that Ohio State may have for a while at redeeming themselves. It will be a hard-fought battle and will be one of the best games of the year, no matter which way the final score ends up.

As a Hawkeye fan, I never thought I would be cheering for Ohio State, but I will be cheering my heart out with Buckeye Nation on Sept. 12. From State College to Iowa City to Champaign to Ann Arbor, colors will turn from blue and white and black and gold to scarlet and gray.

On one night in September, a conference will band together to watch one team try to save it.