Iowa @ Minnesota preview
TCF Bank Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2009 ) Minnesota 0, Iowa 12
Minnesota is coming off its biggest win of the season, but the Golden Gophers will still be heavy underdogs against visiting Iowa in the annual battle for Floyd of Rosedale.
Minnesota (2-9, 1-6 Big Ten) went through a stretch of nine straight losses, which cost coach Tim Brewster his job. Interim coach Jeff Horton, after losing to Penn State, No. 10 Ohio State and No. 15 Michigan State, finally broke through with a 38-34 win over Illinois on Nov. 13. That’s an encouraging sign going into this week’s battle with No. 24 Iowa.
Iowa (7-4, 4-3) nearly took down Ohio State last week, losing a heartbreaking 20-17 decision. The Hawkeyes, like Minnesota, have lost three games to nationally ranked teams. Those setbacks have dropped Coach Kirk Ferentz’s team, which went to the Orange Bowl last season, into the second tier of the Big Ten this season.
Minnesota leads the series 59-42-2, but has lost eight of the last nine meetings in the battle for bronze pig. Iowa won 12-0 last year in Iowa City and Minnesota’s last win came in 2006.
The Golden Gophers will need another effort like it had in their previous game against Illinois, when Horton delivered an emotional “Enough is enough” speech that inspired his team to the 38-34 win. The team got superb offensive performances from DeLeon Eskridge, who rushed for three touchdowns, and quarterback Adam Weber, who threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
Minnesota also played better on defense and forced Illinois to go three-and-out on two late possessions, which gave Weber a chance to engineer the winning drive.
But Iowa is definitely a notch or two better than Illinois. The Hawkeyes announced earlier this week that punter Ryan Donahue and quarterback Ricky Stanzi are finalists for national awards.
Donahue, a senior and four-year starter, is a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s best punter. He’s averaging 44.3 yards and has had 19 kicks downed inside the 20.
Stanzi, a three-year starter, is among five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award given to the nation’s top senior quarterback. Stanzi leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth nationally in passing efficiency (163.17) and has thrown for 2,677 yards, 23 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
Defensive end Adrian Clayborn of Iowa has already been announced as one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award and a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award. He’s made 49 tackles, seven for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
A win is important for Iowa’s bowl hopes. The Hawkeyes can’t displace Wisconsin, Ohio State or Michigan, but could nail down a New Year’s Day bowl with a win.
Many observers are projecting Iowa for the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., against a team from the Southeastern Conference, possibly South Carolina (if the Gamecocks lose the SEC Championship game) or Arkansas.