The Gophers are gearing up for the biggest game of the season this Saturday, facing off against the #24 Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Minnesota is coming off a bye week, which allowed P.J. Fleck’s team to lick their wounds after losing to the #2 Michigan Wolverines, 52-10. Iowa beat Wisconsin 15-6 at Camp Randall last week and is in first place in the Big Ten West.
Despite their 6-1 record, the Hawkeyes average just 20.9 points per game, which ranks #103 in the FBS. The offense has dealt with significant injury issues, with quarterback Cade McNamara and tight ends Erick All and Luke Lachey out for the season. All and Lachey are the team’s leading pass catchers and account for 42.5% of Iowa’s receptions and 53% of their receiving yards.
The border battle for Floyd of Rosedale is the 117th meeting between the two teams, and the Gophers lead the all-time series, 62-52-2. The Hawkeyes have won eight consecutive games and 18 of the last 22. Minnesota’s last win over Iowa was in 2014, but they haven’t won in Iowa City since 1999.
Iowa’s offense is struggling, but their defense continues to stifle opponents. They rank #8 in scoring defense and average 14.9 points allowed per game. Led by junior cornerback Cooper DeJean, the Hawkeyes have not allowed an opponent to score more than 16 points in a game. Iowa’s special teams unit is elite, too, and punter Tory Taylor ranks fourth nationally in yards-per-punt. Taylor is tied for the FBS lead with 45 punts, of which 17 have been down inside the 20, and only one has gone for a touchback. DeJean and Taylor were named to ESPN’s 2023 College Football Midseason All-America team.
Game Information
- Date: Saturday, October 21
- Time: 2:30 PM CST
- Location: Kinnick Stadium
- TV: NBC
- Radio: KFAN
- Record: Minnesota (3-3 Overall, 1-2 Big Ten), Iowa (6-1 Overall, 3-1 Big Ten)
Betting Line
- Spread: Iowa -3.5
- Over/Under: 32.5
- Money Line: Minnesota +146, Iowa -176
Ferentz on the Hot Seat
At the heart of their offensive woes is offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, son of head coach Kirk Ferentz. The younger Ferentz signed a one-year performance-based contract for 2023, which stipulates Iowa must average 25 points per game and win seven or more games. Failure to reach either of these standards will result in the termination of his contract with the Hawkeyes. With six regular-season games left, Iowa must score just under 30 points per game for the junior Ferentz to keep his job.
Gophers Offense vs. Iowa Defense
The Gophers have struggled to find their offensive identity through the first six games. The team has been inconsistent with playcalling and execution in the first half of the season. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis was 22-44 in the season opener against Nebraska but has not had more than 14 completions in the last five games. Minnesota has had three running backs – Sean Tyler, Darius Taylor, and Bryce Williams – each start two games. The Gophers hope to regroup following the bye week and the Michigan debacle and get back on track for the second half of the season.
The biggest cause for optimism is the likely return of Taylor, who missed the past two games due to a leg injury. The Big Ten named Taylor the Freshman of the Week for three consecutive weeks and was the first Gopher ever to receive that honor three times in a row. Fellow freshman Zach Evans, named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week following the win over Louisiana, will continue to earn carries. Taylor’s return should help restore some consistency to Minnesota’s offense.
Minnesota’s offense will face an Iowa defense ranked #22 in total yards allowed, #37 in rushing yards allowed, and #26 in passing yards allowed. They are tough, physical, and execute with great technique at all three levels. Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s defense is consistently good and ranked in the top 20 since 2015. From 2017 through last season, the Hawkeyes led the FBS with 104 interceptions.
Gophers Defense vs. Michigan Offense
Joe Rossi’s defense is allowing 26.7 points per game, ranked #60 in FBS. This is uncharacteristic of recent Gopher teams, which were ranked #3 and #5 in the past two seasons. Minnesota’s defense is ranked #55 in total yards allowed, #58 in rushing yards allowed, and #58 in passing yards allowed. The Gophers are ranked #59 in first-half points allowed but #69 in second-half points allowed. This highlights the Gophers’ tendency to allow opponents to score more often in the second half.
The Gophers defense has faced Michigan and North Carolina offenses ranked #8 and #10 in the FBS. Those opponents could not be more different than the Hawkeyes, which is ranked #132 in yards per game. Iowa is led by quarterback Deacon Hill, who replaced the injured McNamara. Hill is 27 for 70 on the season and passed for 311 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Iowa’s top pass-catchers, All and Lachey, are out of the season, so the Hawkeyes will lean heavily on the run game. Iowa running back Leshon Williams is coming off a career-high game against Wisconsin when he rushed for 174 and a touchdown.
The Gophers will focus on stopping the run game and pressure the inexperienced Hill into making mistakes. The expected return linebacker Cody Lindenberg will bolster Minnesota’s defense.
Did You Know?
- Leading into Saturday’s game against Minnesota, Floyd of Rosedale has resided in Iowa City for 2,898 consecutive days
- Saturday’s game against Iowa marks the third contest against a ranked opponent for Minnesota this season
- The Gophers are 3-3 under Fleck when coming off a regular season bye, not including the 2020 shortened COVID season
- Six of the last eight losses to Iowa were close games, in which Minnesota lost by seven points or less.
- Tyler Nubin needs one interception to tie the school record shared by Sean Lumpkin and Jeff Wright
- Brevyn Spann-Ford needs one reception for sole possession of second place all-time among Minnesota tight ends
- The original Floyd of Rosedale was a real Iowa prize hog named after Minnesota’s Governor Floyd Olson
Prediction
The Gophers are coming off their bye week, which has given them more time to prepare for the border battle against Iowa. The return of Taylor and the debut of Lindenberg will provide a boost for the Gophers, who are hungry to beat the Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Iowa’s already suspect offense is reeling from injuries and will struggle to move the ball. The game will come down to Minnesota’s offense against Iowa’s defense and Iowa’s elite special teams unit. If Minnesota protects the ball and prevents long special teams returns, they will take home Floyd of Rosedale for the first time in nine years.
Projection: Gophers win 20-13
