Iowa (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) enters Week 9 looking to bounce back from a frustrating 32-20 loss at Michigan State.
The Hawkeyes’ offense didn’t do much of anything in the first half versus the Spartans as Iowa was shut out heading into halftime.
Graduate quarterback Cade McNamara did find freshman receiver Reece Vander Zee for an 18-yard touchdown strike on the first drive of the second half.
Iowa added a 2-yard touchdown run from junior quarterback Brendan Sullivan and a 75-yard touchdown sprint from junior running back Kaleb Johnson.
But, Iowa’s poor start combined with a lousy defensive performance was its undoing. The Hawkeyes surrendered 468 yards of offense and 212 rushing yards to Michigan State.
As a result of its loss, Iowa wasn’t in the receiving votes category of the newest US LBM Coaches Poll.
Iowa is paying the perception price elsewhere, too. In USA TODAY Sports’ 1-134 college football re-rank, Iowa dropped eight spots to No. 43 nationally.
Meanwhile, Iowa’s opponent this week, the Northwestern Wildcats, checks in as the nation’s No. 81 team. The Wildcats fell three spots in Paul Myerberg’s re-rank for USA TODAY Sports.
Northwestern (3-4, 1-3 Big Ten) was limited to just 209 yards of offense in a 23-3 loss versus Wisconsin last week. Jack Lausch completed just 9-of-24 passes for 82 yards.
Like USA TODAY Sports’ re-rank, CBS Sports updated its 1-134 rankings. Iowa is ranked as the country’s No. 40 team, a six-spot slide from the previous week.
Northwestern fell eight ranks to No. 83 in CBS Sports’ latest college football rankings.
Kickoff on Saturday between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Northwestern Wildcats is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network from Kinnick Stadium.
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