Fresh off finding themselves at No. 25 in the first Associated Press Top 25 Poll, the Iowa Hawkeyes are now inside three weeks away from the season’s opening kickoff.
The Hawkeyes’ September slate doesn’t feature any FCS teams. They face Utah State, Iowa State, Western Michigan, and Penn State during the first third of the season.
Sure, Iowa could find themselves favored in three of these games before a conference-opening road trip to Happy Valley for arguably their toughest test of the entire season. Still, the first month of the season will be very telling for Iowa. ESPN looked at what we can learn from the Hawkeyes during September.
Whether the offense is fixed. Iowa couldn’t get much worse than last season, when it finished 122nd nationally in points per game and 129th in both yards per game and offense expected points added. Embattled coordinator Brian Ferentz faces tremendous pressure, including a per-game points provision in his contract, to put out a more respectable product.
Cade McNamara, the quarterback transfer from Michigan, should provide an immediate upgrade, along with other transfers such as tight end Erick All and wide receiver Kaleb Brown. The September schedule is tricky with trips to both Iowa State and Penn State. Iowa has reached 20 points or more just once in its past four games against Iowa State, and scored just seven in last year’s loss at Kinnick Stadium. – Rittenberg, ESPN.
It is the glaring question that has hung over Iowa ever since last season ended. After Cade McNamara joined the program, a sense of cautious optimism has surrounded the Hawkeyes. Talent has followed him in the passing game as Iowa touts one of their best tight end and receiving corps in recent years.
The first three games are really the telling games of how this offense is going to be. Sure, they want to perform well at Penn State, but there is also reason to temper expectations. It is a night game at Penn State for the annual “White Out” game. Not many offenses in America are going to light it up against that defense in that environment.
If Iowa can show life during their first three games, we may get our answer as to just what this offense can be.
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