Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Full analysis of Iowa's 2020 football schedule with Locked On Big Ten Host Ben Stevens

Episode Date: May 18, 2020

We are joined by Locked On Big Ten host Ben Stevens today as we break down Iowa's football schedule for 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I thank God I was born on the good arms of the Midwest, and not on the battlefields of the U.S. It's a time of panic, and it's intercepted! It's picked off right away! Intercepted by Marty Hooker! Pick six! Eight seconds into the game! Buffen sets up deep in the pocket, goes down the field for Smith!

Oh! He's got it! Smith! Touchdown. 85 yards. High on. Touchdown, 10. Taking a shot in the end zone.

It is caught. No offense. Touchdown. That's either one or you have it. Go ahead and three. Yes. Two-point lead for the Hawkeyes podcast. Your daily podcast covering your Iowa Hawkeyes on the Locked On Sports Network.

As always, I am your host, Andrew Wade, and I hope you had a fantastic weekend. It was beautiful here in Denver, Colorado. Had a great time hanging out outside and obviously being socially distanced as much as possible from the rest of the world as we kind of deal with this whole COVID pandemic. But I'm really excited about today's episode of the show. We're taking a look forward at the Iowa football team schedule for 2020. I'm obviously hoping that it does actually happen. Sounds like, seems like it's going to be a good possibility that it does, but obviously

we'll keep you posted as we get more information on that. Nevertheless, we're going to go through each game of the 2020 schedule and I'm doing it with the host of the locked on big 10 podcast, Ben Stevens. Ben actually initiated this idea. He's been doing it across the board for all big 10 teams on his show at locked on big 10.

So make sure to check that out. If you don't get enough, I will Hawkeye content here. Check out Ben Stevens on the Locked On Big Ten podcast. Ben and I are going through each of the games on Iowa's schedule. We're picking the game that fits a few different categories. You know, which game we're most confident Iowa will win, which is the biggest game with the most hype, which is a must-win game, what is a can't-lose, otherwise known as a trap game. So, really excited to bring you that show today.

Before we jump into that though, make sure if you haven't already that you like, review, and subscribe wherever you downloaded this podcast at. Give us that five-star review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or the brand new Himalaya Podcast app. And make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This is a very exciting week on the Lockdown Hawkeyes. Obviously we have the episode with Ben today. We have an interview with Josh Ogundeli,

the 2020 big man who has committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes, who's going to be joining them this upcoming year. Have an interview with him later this week, and hopefully bringing you another TBT Tuesday interview as well. So you don't want to miss out on all that, so make sure you do subscribe wherever you get this podcast at. And as a reminder that today's episode is brought to you by the great folks at Built Bar, the best tasting protein bar on the market today.

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LOCKEDON at BuiltBar.com and get $10 off your box of Built Bars today. Check them out. They are our sponsor for the show today. So let's jump into our chat with Ben Stevens as we go through the Iowa Hawkeyes 2020 schedule. Here we are bright and early talking about the 2020 college football season. You excited? You looking forward to it? I know there's some unknowns out there in the future,

but still a good time to be talking about college football. I mean, I'm always down to talk Iowa football, even if it's a Sunday morning, man, I was looking forward to this, got me out of bed. So pumped for that. But yeah, I mean, if we have football, I am super pumped. I just so scared that we won't have football and it really like that. Like I know it sounds ridiculous, but of all things I'm worried about outside of like the health and safety of,

of everyone, it's right. Are we going to have football because of dude, that's like, that's my favorite three months of the year yeah we have a bar set up in our backyard that we like we have a projector screen we're gonna put a 42 inch tv up against our like garage it's i'm ready for football season man so we don't have it i'm i'm gonna be losing some some you know brain cells i'm i'm inviting myself over to come to the iowa bar out there and watch some games with you on a saturday okay always welcome man we got three TVs up along with that projector and it's a good time that's that's a nice little headquarters right there I absolutely love it all right so we're gonna get into the Iowa

schedule right here I'm gonna quickly run through all 12 games run through it as fast as I can like an auctioneer at an auction that's where an auctioneer would be so here we go it starts with two in-state battles the season opener coming Saturday, September 5th against Northern Iowa at home. Then the next week, the Cyhawk game, Saturday, September 12th at home against Iowa State. Then a big game Friday, September 18th on the road at Minnesota. Next week, Saturday, September 26th, Northern Illinois. Another home game the next week, October 3rd against Michigan State. Then two big ones in the crossover portion of their schedule, Saturday, October 10th on the road at Ohio State. The following week, Saturday, October 17th on the road at Penn State. Then back home Saturday, October 24th against Northwestern, a bye week. And then out of the bye, they visit

Illinois on November 7th, November 14th, back home for a big game against Nebraska. Saturday, November 21st, on the road at Purdue. And then their final game of the regular season, Saturday, November 28th, at home versus the Badgers of Wisconsin. Andrew, before we get into our four categories, just your overall thoughts about Iowa's 2020 schedule. It's hard, man. It is a tough schedule. I think Iowa has a very talented team. The big question mark is obviously the quarterback position with Spencer Petras. I think there's a lot of hype surrounding him, and I think Iowa does a pretty good job of developing quarterbacks. It'll be his third year in the program, so that's huge, but nevertheless, Iowa does have some

question marks. You're losing a first-round tackle. They're replacing with Coy Cronk out of Indiana. That's good. You're losing A.J. Paneza um should have been a first rounder but a dominant defensive end you're losing both your defensive tackles i think there's there's some question marks with this team but it's very talented team this schedule man did not do iowa any favors especially with the home and away allotment um which i guess could potentially not matter depending on what happens with the covid and i think that actually could play in Iowa's favor to an extent. But yeah, I mean, I think honestly, before we get into it, if Iowa goes nine and three,

I consider that a very successful season this year. Very successful season. For my money, I think Iowa, along with Nebraska, have the two toughest schedules out of all 14 teams in the Big Ten, but definitely in the Big Ten West. A couple gauntlet games on the road at Minnesota, on the road at Ohio State and Penn State for their crossover games with the Big Ten West. A couple gauntlet games on the road at Minnesota, on the road at Ohio State and Penn State for their crossover games with the Big Ten East. I mean, Iowa's schedule for 2020 is going to be tough. So we're going to get into our four categories now. A

reminder for everybody listening at home, our four categories are bet the house, 100% confident Iowa will win that game. Then the primetime game, the game that all fans are circling on their calendar because they're excited, the hype is built up for it, then it is the must-win game. It's a crucial game that Iowa needs to win to get to where they want to get to at the end of the season, whether that be a good bowl game, whether that be a run for the Big Ten title, whatever that may be. And then finally, the can't-lose game, which is a trap game for the Hawkeyes to avoid a loss in in 2020. So, Andrew Wade, get us going with your bet-the-house game of the 12 games for in in 2020. So Andrew Wade, get us going with your bet the house game of the 12 games for Iowa in 2020.

Yeah, I'm taking Iowa-Michigan State. That's mine as well. Yeah, I think, I mean, you could easily take some of the non-conference games, but Iowa-Michigan State, Michigan State I think is in a down year. Their program just hasn't been the same the last couple of years. Going on the road to Iowa, if Iowa has fans in the stadium, that's easy. Easy call is a win, just having the Kinnick advantage. But Iowa from a talent perspective will be better than Michigan state next

year. I think that's probably the easiest lockdown win for Iowa this year. Yeah. I agree with Michigan state as well. I think Iowa will be a really good team. You mentioned what Iowa has returning for 2020. They're pretty loaded on offense. Obviously Spencer Petras has to come in and you have to figure it out how he's going going to be but all signs are that he's got all the tools to run that pro-style offense for the Hawkeyes he's got a huge arm he will step in and fill in well for Nate Stanley it's really on the defensive side of the ball that Iowa has some gaps they have to fill but either

way they're better than the Spartans team I think Michigan State got a pretty raw deal with COVID breaking out I mean everybody got a raw deal I'll say that. But with the coronavirus outbreak, Mel Tucker coming in at the beginning of February, he hasn't been able to be on campus with his team through spring workouts, spring practice, now into fall camp. This is going to be a tough year for Michigan State regardless. So for me, that's the bet the house game coming on October 3rd at home against Michigan State. I guess honorary mention in there, you could probably throw in the game right before the bye week, Saturday, October 24th at home against Northwestern. That to me would be a pretty likely win for Iowa.

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I never want to bet on a game against Northwestern, man. Iowa, this last year was an anomaly. The fact that Iowa easily won that game against Northwestern, but there's something about this Northwestern team where they out Iowa, Iowa almost every year. Like Pat Fitzgerald has built that program. So it's been such an impressive buildup of that program. And outside of last year, Northwestern, whether or not they're a good team, can always play up to Iowa, and they always seem to be the spoiler for Iowa. So on paper, yeah, absolutely. Historically speaking, hell no. I am never betting on a game against Northwestern.

I agree. I mean, Northwestern, obviously a really down year last year, three and nine were terrible on offense. Hunter Johnson needs to take a huge step as they look to 2020. But as I've been going through these big 10 schedule breakdowns, even with every guest I've brought on, Northwestern really hasn't found itself in the bet the house category for these teams because Northwestern for whatever reason is always pesky. Like, yeah, they might lose the game,

but they're going to keep it tight until late in the fourth quarter. So Northwestern is tough. Another team I want your opinion on that I think a lot of fans, if they're not from Iowa, would look and say, oh, bet the house category. It's an FCS opponent, and that's the opener against Northern Iowa. How do you see that game playing out? Yeah, I mean, Iowa's significantly more talented than Iowa. Without a doubt, Northern Iowa gets a lot of the guys who iowa chooses to not recruit or to you know not offer a natural

scholarship to that being said anytime you're playing in the state of iowa there is this weird sense of rivalry between northern iowa fans against iowa yeah especially on the basketball side which makes a little bit more sense but even even football-wise, you get that tried-and-true group of Northern Iowa fans, and they just will die for the Panthers. And I think the kids who play at Northern Iowa, oftentimes have played against a lot of the kids who went to Iowa. They're familiar with those guys. A lot of those guys have a chip on their shoulder, the fact they might not have been recruited by Iowa. So it is a big statement game for the Panthers. We saw it happen a couple couple years ago iowa had to get two blocked field goals to beat northern iowa i think it was 2009 they went on to obviously go to the

orange bowl and had a great season but that's a talented iowa team that got taken down to the wire by northern iowa so again not a game that i would actually i mean all right 98 of the scenarios i would probably bet the house in that and bet iowa winning but it's just you still never count out a team like northern iowa right and bet the house is 100 so bet Iowa winning, but it's just, you still never count out a team like Northern Iowa. Right. And bet the house is a hundred percent. So even 98%, we're not exactly completely supremely confident. Northern Iowa made the FCS quarterfinals last year. So they're a very talented ball club coming back in 2020 as well. So let's move on to our next category. It is the game with all the hype surrounding it, the primetime game. Who do you see for the Hawkeyes primetime game in 2020?

Yeah, I'm looking at the schedule, and I do think it's probably Iowa versus Iowa State, in my opinion, as a primetime game. That is going to be a huge matchup. Iowa will be ranked, I'm assuming. Iowa State should be ranked. Brock Purdy is looking like a first-round prospect, potentially. Some Iowa fans might hate me saying that, but the dude dude is talented I think if he takes a big step forward he could be a huge asset to the Iowa State team and Iowa State always plays well against Iowa and I think that rivalry

is starting to get a lot more hype than it has in previous years the fact that it had game day that was that was a huge monumental step for Iowa State as a program and for the rivalry in the series as a whole so having that early on in the year I think that's going to be a huge monumental step for Iowa State as a program and for the rivalry in the series as a whole. So having that early on in the year, I think that's going to be a huge game as far as hype goes. Yeah, I mean, the primetime game truly, by its definition, when I was constructing this, was the game that game day could come in and be on campus for.

So that is a great definition of a primetime game. Mine comes a couple of weeks later in October at Ohio State. I think there will be a lot of hype surrounding this game. It's the first time these two teams have met since 2017 when Iowa whooped on the Buckeyes. 55-24 back then when Ohio State was off to a great start for their year, looking like they were going to be destined to be part of the Final Four for the college football playoff. Iowa said not so fast and absolutely stuffed them. I don't know if I necessarily see the same outcome this year. I think this is a very, very talented Ohio State team.

I just think there's going to be a lot of hype built up for that because the Buckeyes are coming off a bye. And as I look at the schedule right now for Iowa, I see them being, by my estimation, most likely four and one heading into that game against Ohio State. So I think if they do what I'm expecting them to do through those first games, that could be a top 20, top 15 State. So I think if they do what I'm expecting them to do through those first games, that could be a top 20, top 15 battle. So there'll be a lot of hype for that one. In my opinion, that is the primetime game for 2020.

Another game I wanna ask you about that could potentially have a little primetime build to it, or at least maybe a big noon kickoff for Fox is the game the following week at Penn State. You see that as a primetime game. How could that shake out for Iowa? That one, I think that one could be a primetime game, but it's very iffy. I think Penn State's going to be a bit down this year. I don't think they're going to be that, you know,

contender with Ohio State knocking on the door. I think they're going to be an eight and four team or nine and three team, but not a team that really is expected to be great this year. Iowa. I honestly, it depends on the Ohio State game, and it depends on the Minnesota game. If Iowa goes 5-0 going into Ohio State and manages to make it a game, and I do think, especially if there's no fans there, and if Iowa's 5-0, I think they'd make that a game.

I don't think they win that game, but I think they'd make it a game. Iowa's 5-1 going into Penn State, I think that could be a big hype game. I'm going to look up Penn state schedule real quick, just to see, make sure kind of what their schedule looked like, but that could be a primetime game. I think there's a lot of variabilities though. They kind of are variables that kind of go into play there though. Yeah. I mean,

Ohio state really is the cream of the crop for the big 10, especially the big 10 East. You look at the normal two challengers in Penn state and Michigan, especially Michigan, in my opinion, this year. I think the Wolverines are set for a little bit of a step back in 2020. They have a lot of questions on offense with their quarterback. How will things shake out for Michigan this year? Obviously, a lot of pressure on Jim Harbaugh. In Penn State, I mean, they lose a lot of great pieces from last year on their defense. Yitra Gross-Matos, who was huge on

their defensive line. John Reed in their secondary. What are they going to do with some of the guys like K.J. Hamler, some of that speed that left their offense? So it could be an interesting year for Penn State. But Penn State's a team that's won 11 games in the past three years. So James Franklin obviously knows what he's doing. Yeah, and I'm looking at the schedule now. I mean, Penn State could be 5-0 heading into the Iowa game.

They get Kent State, Virginia Tech, San Jose State, Northwestern, and Michigan. Granted, they're at Michigan. That is never easy to play in the big house. Right. But, again, we're looking at this. There's a possibility of no fans being in stadiums, too. So, all these home field advantages just go out the window at that point. And I think – I mean, there's a possibility that Penn State is 5-0

going into the Iowa game with an extra week of rest as well. So if Iowa's 5-1, Penn State's 5-0, heck yeah, that's a huge freaking game. If Penn State falters and, you know, loses to Michigan, that's going to dim some of the hype. If Iowa loses any one of their first five games and loses to Ohio State by a big margin, I think it doesn't really matter at that point. Right, yeah. It's more of a, that's a great mid-afternoon game, but maybe not the primetime game.

All right, so let's move on to our next category the must win category who do you see that opponent being for iowa in the 2020 college football season um so i think you're gonna take it from a standpoint of you need to win the big 10 west if you don't win the big 10 west you're not making it to the big 10 championship game i think traditionally the road to the big 10 west goes through Wisconsin. So it's tempting to say Wisconsin. However, Wisconsin being the last game of the season makes me actually want to pick Minnesota. I think Wisconsin is going to be slightly down this year.

They are losing some great pieces as well. They are a good team, though. They are a team that's always consistently winning 9 to 10 games. But Minnesota is a team that came out of nowhere last year. You could kind of see it coming if you were a Minnesota fan, I guess, but a lot of other folks were kind of taken aback. They proved that they belonged there down the stretch. I mean, they lost Iowa, but it was a close game at Kinnick. I think Minnesota is a team that could be a perennial contender in the big 10

West going forward. And if Iowa can get off to a hot start, beat Minnesota, that gives them a huge edge. I see this being a three-team race between Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa for the Big Ten West championship. If they beat Minnesota, that obviously gives them an advantage there. To me, that's the must-win game. Yeah, I mean, Minnesota is definitely trending in the right direction under P.J. Fleck.

A great year last year. Look to maybe even take that next step this year in 2020. And then their recruiting class for the 2021 season is top 10 in the country right now, which you probably never thought you would say about the Golden Gophers of Minnesota, yet there they are. My must win comes what was your primetime game, the second week of the season at home against Iowa State, the Cy Hawk Trophy, as everybody loves to call it. Iowa has won five in a row in this series, but the last three years have been really close, especially last year. Iowa squeaking out with a muff punt, recovering that.

That was ridiculous. 18 to 17. That was an incredible game. The reason I think it's a must win for Iowa, even coming that early on in the season, if they don't, I think it could derail their early portion of the season very, very quickly because then you go, as you mentioned, for your must-win game the following week, a little bit of a shorter week because they play

at Minnesota on a Friday. They could be one and two right there. And then by the time we get through Ohio State and Penn State, they could be three and four if they lose both of those crossover games. And then it's a whole whirlwind of what will Iowa do to rattle out the home stretch of their season to finish things off. So I think the rivalry game will be intense. Iowa State, Iowa, always a great one. And that's why I think it's a must-win game. Can Iowa hone in? And you'll know pretty quickly on for the Hawkeyes in 2020 what exactly they have, what you'll get out of Spencer Petras, how will the offense look, how will the defense look in containing some of these strong offenses they'll face early on. So for me, it's the must-win game for the Hawkeyes in 2020.

Have you ever been, Andrew, to a CyHawk game or taken in that environment? I've tailgated at them. I haven't been to the games, though. That's all that counts. Tailgating is always a freaking blast in Iowa. We used to have season tickets, but that year that we had season tickets that we were able to make every game, Iowa State was not at Kinnick but yeah man the environment is incredible um it's it's interesting man the week leading up to the Iowa State game is probably one of my least favorite weeks on

the social media yeah you just get some of the dumbest takes coming out I mean like both sides to be fair I think Iowa has a little bit of advantage there um because they you know actually win most of the games and right the shade there but when you actually get on that Saturday and you're in that environment everyone's just friends I mean the whole state of Iowa at the end of the day we I like to say this like the state of Iowa doesn't have a lot going for it in the terms of like you're not a Colorado you're not a California right like people make fun of your state so as a whole you can all kind of band together but But that weekend is all about like intense, friendly rivalry. Yeah.

But the week before just sucks, man. It is the worst week on social media. Just so many stupid takes. I mean, that Saturday, it's like, all right, I want you guys to lose, but I hope it's a great game. You know, I hope everybody is enjoying themselves. The Cyclones, as you mentioned, Brock Purdy coming back for what feels like his seventh year in Ames,

but they're going to be returning a lot of studs on offense. Their offensive line, who had some issues last year, I think returns like two deep. So they should be pretty good cohesively along that line. I've read some projections. They think they're a 10-2 team in the Big 12, a 9-3 team. So it will be a very good game. And we'll see, obviously, leading up to that week, exactly how hyped people will be. If you want to see some ridiculous projections, just check out Wide Right Natty Light.

That website, if there's ever an Iowa State homer group, it is that website, man. They just seem like, they think Iowa State can go 12-0 every year. But I haven't looked at Iowa State's schedule, to be fair. I think Iowa State is a 8-4 team. Yeah. I mean, they're a solid team. The Big 12 is not a conference to, you know, be super concerned about outside of, you know, the top two or top three.

But, yeah, I think Iowa State's an 8-4 team next year. Yeah. And, I mean, the Cyclones, the top team in the Big 12, always play Oklahoma very, very tight. So the best thing they've done recently is locking down Matt Campbell to stay in Ames because he's a fantastic young head football coach. All right. Our fourth and final category. If we just had the the must win we now need the can't lose so andrew who is your can't lose

game for iowa in the 2020 college football season this is the one that i actually couldn't really couldn't really figure out this is also the trap game correct yes yeah purdue i'll go it's purdue yep um god i don't know what it is. Purdue's kind of like Northwestern, man. And Iowa's defense is stout almost every single year. Phil Parker puts together just one of the best defenses. Given the talent he has in that team, I mean, that team plays team defense. There's not a lot of guys that are going to be studs in the NFL, per se,

every single year. But that team just plays fantastic team defense. studs in the NFL per se every single year, but that team just plays fantastic team defense. However, against Purdue, their offensive attack just somehow rips apart Iowa every single year. Last year, they had a backup quarterback, and they destroyed us with David Bell, who ironically enough was a very high recruit for Iowa.

They wanted him bad. Ended up going to Purdue. They destroy us with Jack Plummer. Like, I don't know. I always worry about Purdue. They always have a good game plan against Iowa. They always put up the most points against Iowa almost every single year. And then going to West Lafayette,

especially coming off a game against Nebraska and looking forward to Wisconsin, you're coming off an intense rivalry game. People don't want to call it a rivalry, but when everyone hates each other so much, you have call that a rivalry it's a rivalry as a guy that lived in omaha for two years and was fresh to this new rivalry that people said wasn't a rivalry it's a freaking rivalry iowa nebraska hate each other it's a rivalry really do it's like they hate each other they want to pretend like they don't hate each other but they they always do it in a way of i hate you so much right it's such a bizarre – so bizarre. But then you have Wisconsin the next week after that,

and Wisconsin just beat up Iowa every single year. I mean, it's been four years or five years since Iowa beat Wisconsin. I think that's a game that you're looking ahead to, and Purdue is probably going to be at this point, like, let's say, six and four, five and three, something along those lines, right? Like, they're not going to be a team that's contending for the Big Ten West title. So I think Purdue is the trap game that Iowa could potentially lose at. I completely, completely agree with you because of what you mentioned.

Where it falls in the stretch of the schedule comes after the Nebraska game and then right ahead of the Wisconsin game. And if Iowa has any shot at the Big Ten West title, it will come down to that Wisconsin game. They will need to upset the Badgers at home at Kinnick to end the season. And when you look what all might be lying ahead of you, it might be a little bit easy to overlook Purdue a little bit. But on the road in West Lafayette against a Boilermaker team that I completely agree with your reasoning that you finished with there. Purdue probably at this point, who also has a very, very tough schedule of their own, very tough early on in the non-conference, and then the Big Ten is

always going to beat up on each other. Purdue could be a four and six team at this time. They could be five and five heading into this game. They might be playing hopefully just to sniff six wins to get a bowl bid. They're not going to be playing for the grandeur that Iowa might be at this stage of the season, but they're going to be looking for an upset. They always do. Purdue is always a pesky team, especially taking on Jeff Brom's personality a little bit as well. So if Iowa has any hope at the Big Ten West title, they're going to need to beat Purdue, and they're going to need then to follow that up the next week in beating Wisconsin. So for me, it's the trap game. It's the can't lose game, because if they do falter against Purdue that next week against Wisconsin Wisconsin they'll probably just

be looking to play spoiler and maybe allowing Minnesota to become the Big Ten West champs so we have gone through our four categories we have broken down most of Iowa's schedule but there's a couple games in there that we have not touched on so we're going to go quickly through those right now the fourth game of the season at home their final non-conference game against northern illinois northern illinois a pretty good team coming out of the mac the huskies any distraction for iowa any chance they probably falter in that game i don't really see it but what's your take andrew yeah i mean northern illinois the thing that sucks about scheduling a northern illinois is that it's a lose-lose situation you beat them and it doesn't matter right but they're also a good team that actually could put up a fight and beat you and they have beaten Iowa before that being said Iowa doesn't

usually play the best in their very first game of the season as a lot of teams don't but Iowa seems to really start off slow that like first half of every season the fact of getting Northern Illinois in the fourth weekend I think they're gonna be fine-tuning it we saw it happening it's Middle Tennessee State again not in the same realm as Northern Illinois but Iowa just went off on Middle Tennessee State I think Northern Illinois is an be fine tuning it. We saw it happening. It's middle Tennessee state again, not in the same realm as Northern Illinois, but Iowa just went off on middle Tennessee state. I think Northern Illinois is an easy win. Chalk it up. Yeah, that could be also,

they want to come back and make a statement. If they do lose on the road at Minnesota the week before on that Friday, another game, we didn't talk about coming out of the bi-week on the road at Illinois, starting off November, November 7th for the Hawkeyes, Illinois, pretty good team had a great year last year,

getting to a bowl game. I think they might take a little bit of a step back in terms of their production this year. How do you see that playing out for Iowa? Yeah, the fact that it's off a bye week, I do think Illinois is a better team than what we've seen. We saw them play really well against Iowa last year. They had a lot of transfers from big-time programs,

five-star recruits that came to Illinois last year, which I think a lot of people didn't realize. Yeah. They had done a pretty good job. I mean, Lovey did a good job of scouring that transfer market to get some talent in there. The fact that Iowa's coming off a bye, though, gives me all the confidence in the world. They're going to come out and just beat Illinois down. Iowa off a bye week is a team you don't want to mess with.

Right. That's a pretty good time for a bye as well. It comes with what is normally Halloween weekend for everybody else in the schedule. And then they get to tune in for their final four games of the year. And they're going to tune in, especially to come out and make a statement

against Illinois, I would say, before they head into the game we touched on briefly about the rivalry aspect against the Huskers of Nebraska. But when we look about the actual on-field result, how do you see it ending for Iowa and Nebraska? Oh, God. There's no part of me that wants to ever say Nebraska wins.

I mean, Iowa's more talented than Nebraska. Iowa players are sick of Nebraska disrespecting them. I think when we talk about this rivalry, there's so many things you can get into the aspect of this rivalry, and I say that with air quotes, but Nebraska started the disrespect towards Iowa and despite the fact that Iowa continues to win these games they still feel slighted and Iowa's not a team you want to feel slighted because they are a hard-nosed team that's always going to come

out and play aggressively I do think Iowa wins this game though I think they're more talented if we have fans in the stadium oh man I would not want to be a Nebraska fan in that stadium. I would not want to be a Nebraska player in that stadium. Iowa fans are going to be ready to freaking roll. Yeah, that's always been a very funny dynamic to me about this rivalry because coming from an outside perspective,

me being originally from Los Angeles, then moving to Omaha where you're working in Nebraska football is king. And I always kind of pictured, okay, Nebraska and Iowa right next to each other. Both teams have been pretty good throughout the majority of my lifetime. Neither have been a national championship contender, but both have been really solid teams now,

especially for the past couple of years when I got there for Nebraska in the Big Ten. It always seemed like the makings of a pretty good rivalry for me. But then talking to Cornhusker fans who go back to the legacy and the history of Nebraska football, it's like they don't even dignify Iowa. rivalry for me. But then talking to Cornhusker fans about who go back to the legacy in the history of Nebraska football, it's like they don't even dignify Iowa. The whole point and their disrespect and their rivalry is like, tell me when you've actually won something. Tell me when you actually do anything. And it's like, Nebraska, you haven't done anything since 1997. And recently, Iowa has been whooping you, not just beating you and winning these games,

whooping you, whooping you, like absolutely killing you. Who was the kicker last year for Iowa that blew the kisses to Nebraska Sutton? Yeah, my God. I mean, that's a legendary man right there. That's how you make a statement, and you're remembered in Iowa Hawkeye lore. I don't know how appropriate it is, and you can edit this out potentially, but they call him Big Dick Duncan, man. Like some of the guys, I mean.

That's staying in. That's good by me me we're keeping that in he's a beast uh and then the year before that was miguel racino it's like iowa kickers also just have no chill i mean they are they're ruthless guys and they're good crunch time kickers and we have keith duncan coming back again which is absolutely phenomenal should have won the luke rose award i hate rodrigo blankenship for that not his fault yeah, that's the thing that's funny, dude. Like, when I'm looking at the schedule, Iowa's won the last five games against Nebraska. The one year they lost was 2014.

They lost by three points. They won the year before that. And, yeah, Nebraska beat Iowa the first three years in the Big Ten. Sorry, the first two years in the Big Ten. Outside of that, though, like, it's been all Iowa, man. Yeah. Oh, and by a lot. By many, many margins. I mean, I remember my first two years, those games were on Black Friday, and they were up until this year. the big 10 outside of that though like it's been all Iowa man yeah oh and by a lot by many many

margins I mean I remember my first two years that games were on Black Friday and they were up until this year and there's still optimism for Nebraska at any time especially in my first year there with Mike Riley when they had started out 7-0 and they were a top 10 team it's like okay we can finish at least strong here with a punctuation mark against Iowa and they got ran in Kinnick like ran so hey I mean here's to November 14th and we get to live it up all over again again we've also touched on briefly the finale of the regular season for Iowa against Wisconsin at home we mentioned what might be at stake they could be playing for a Big Ten West title and a berth in the Big Ten championship game if we get to that point let's you know let's be nice to Iowa here if we get to that point and for a Big Ten West title and a berth in the Big Ten championship game.

If we get to that point, let's be nice to Iowa here. If we get to that point and they are playing for a Big Ten West crown, how do you see that game playing out against Wisconsin? I wouldn't be a Hawkeye fan if I didn't pick Iowa, man. You got to go Iowa in that. I think if you're at Kinnick, you have Big Ten West title on the line and Wisconsin's coming in and that's the team you play. I think Iowa steps up for that game. That is what Iowa has been wanting to play for, for five years.

They made it in 2015. If I was in the point and the position to make the big 10 West, you know, or when the big 10 West and make the big 10 championship game, they win that game against Wisconsin. I love it. I love it. You got to bring the hype. You got to bring the optimism. You want to be in your job as a Locked On Hawkeyes host, a part of this Locked On podcast family,

if you were just bagging on Iowa all the time. I don't mind when people have a little bit of excitement built around their team. That's how it should be. We are fans at the end of the day just enjoying these sports along with you guys. Okay, so we've talked about all 12 regular season games for Iowa in 2020. Andrew, give me your overall record prediction for the Hawkeyes. I'm going nine and three. I think, and if you don't mind, like Ohio State's a loss in my opinion. I think Iowa drops, the Minnesota game on a Friday is just so tough. I know it's a must-win game,

but Minnesota on a Friday is so tough. So I think that could be a loss. I think Penn State, Iowa's not going to be favored in. Northwestern could be a loss. Nebraska, they do play Iowa tough. I think that is a tough nine and three is my record prediction and I'll be pretty freaking happy with a nine and three record, the opportunity to go and get double digit wins on the season. If you make a bowl game or win the big 10, big 10 championship game. So I think nine and three is my prediction. All right. And we are done for the day. Really enjoyed that conversation with Ben.

Obviously he's the one who initiated it. And again, he's doing this for every single team. So if you're curious about how some of the other hosts feel about their teams, make sure to go check out the Locked On Big Ten podcast. Ben does a fantastic job of covering all the news around the Big Ten and has some really great ideas for content coming up. So make sure to check that out as well. And if you did like the episode today, make sure to give us that five-star review

and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Again, thank you all for tuning in to today's episode of the Locked on Hawkeyes podcast. I hope you have a fantastic Monday, and stay safe out there, and go Hawks! We'll see you next time.