The Big Ten is good every year for epic showdowns between conference rivals. Consistently pitting top 25 teams who play each other every year and know each other extremely well. There are multiple games with massive implications that every fan must have marked down on their calendars.
Recently, 247Sports’ Nick Kosko ranked the top 10 must-watch games in the Big Ten, and Iowa at Ohio State on Oct. 22 came in at No. 6 on the list.
That’s right, don’t forget about the Hawkeyes. The team just made the Big Ten Championship Game last year and could very well steal the division again despite Wisconsin reloading. This is easily their toughest game of the year, since the Buckeyes play host. But if Iowa’s defense can be as good as advertised and projected, it might be able to give Ohio State some fits. Now that’s asking a lot, considering C.J. Stroud, TreyVeyon Henderson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and more are back on the field. But this is a pretty fascinating matchup at the halfway point of the season. It’ll be a good measuring-stick game for all involved. – Kosko, 247Sports.
While, yes, this will have a good amount of intrigue and Iowa will be a hurdle for an Ohio State team with national title aspirations, it is surprising that this is the pick for the list and the only appearance for the Hawkeyes.
The game most Iowa fans have circled is the Big Ten championship game rematch against Michigan. In that championship game, Michigan embarrassed Iowa and made a statement that they deserved to be in the College Football Playoff.
Iowa will certainly have revenge on its mind within what will no doubt be a raucous Kinnick Stadium, and it is a feasibly winnable game if the Hawkeyes perform up to their potential. Michigan did lose some key players as well, including the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft in Aidan Hutchinson. This game 100% deserves a spot on the list and is probably the most intriguing game on Iowa’s schedule.
For the Ohio State game, it’s going to be extremely tough for Iowa. Iowa has hopes to win its division and compete for the Big Ten crown. Ohio State has one goal: to be national champions. They are an incredibly stacked team who will blow out most of the competition in the Big Ten.
Their offense will be in contention for the best in the nation. While Iowa should have a strong defense again in 2022, it’s hard to see their offense keeping up with C.J. Stroud and the Buckeyes.
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