Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Hawkeyes Face BIGGEST Test in Decade as Oregon Invades KINNICK | Can Ferentz Pull Off the UPSET?

Starting point is 00:00:00 It doesn't get bigger than this Hawkeye fans. The lights will be shining bright at Kinnick Stadium. The ducks come into town. This isn't just another Saturday. This is a statement game. A chance to prove the Hawkeyes belong among the nation's best to silence the doubters. Ignite playoff talk and remind everyone when it's Kinnick at night, anything can happen. You are locked on hot.

Starting point is 00:00:30 Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome in. I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. I've been covering the Hawkeyes for over 20 years on the radio. You can hear me currently on the Iowa Sports Radio Network each weekday from noon to tune with stations in Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, the Quad Cities, and this ensue city. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by Game Time. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code Lockdown College for $20 off, your first purchase. Today, a look at why Oregon is in trouble at Kinnick Stadium and why we know this Hawkeye team is going to be ready to go. We're going to talk about the beginning of the Iowa basketball season, plus Tom Kaker is going to join us with some news and notes with Iowa basketball, including some recruiting nuggets on the women's basketball side. But we begin today with the big week.

Starting point is 00:01:32 This is as big as it gets for Iowa football. And the anticipation for this game, the buildup, Iowa coming off the by week, as Oregon did, both teams off this week. We know the buildup is going to be immense. It was announced over the weekend. We find out that this will be a 230 kickoff. That's right. CBS will have the call and a great part about that.

Starting point is 00:01:53 Nestler Danielson on the call. So, of course, you'll get the national notoriety that comes along with that. But not only that, you also couple it with Big Noon is coming to town. That's right. The whole Fox crew is going to be there. And though they're not broadcasting the game, they will be in town. Their pregame show will be coming from Iowa City the first time in four seasons that we will have that. And it's going back to the 2021 mission game, Michigan game the last time that they were in town for that one.

Starting point is 00:02:21 So you get all the buildup. You'll have the big names in town. You'll have the breakdown unlike anything coupled with not having to worry about that, 11 a.m. kickoff a little bit more time for us Hawkeye fans to get well lubricated, right? To get the juices flowing to get a couple extras in you before you make your way to Kinnick. And it seems to make that voice just a little bit louder when you have that and the liquid courage that comes along with it. Everything is there. Now, we will talk about Oregon this week. And I know Kinnick is special. I understand that this team is playing at a high

Starting point is 00:02:53 level. The way the defense made those huge steps forward throughout the month. of October. A more healthy Mark Grinowski and just what a difference maker he has been as he is understand in the run game what he can do. What maybe Tim Lester is understanding what they can do with this quarterback and on and on and on. It's all building. It's all in front of them. And we know that this can be one of the most special November that Iowa football has had in a really long time. You look at this game. Is this more important bigger than what we've been when Iowa went to in the Big Ten championship game after 2021 and 23. I mean, you look at those games and we know what happened in both of those games against Michigan.

Starting point is 00:03:35 We knew it was unlikely to Hawkeyes were going to be able to win those games. And even if they did win those games, there was going to be no college football playoff for either of those squads in this new environment, in the college football world now, as we know it, in the 12 team playoff, this is as big as it gets. And it's with playoff implications, at least in November, this is the first time in a decade we're having these types of conversation. We know what happened in 2015, the undefeated regular season, the laughs, the jokes, Iowa football, buddies over at Solid Verbal Podcasts, a college football podcast.

Starting point is 00:04:11 They were having the conversation, having to talk to your kids about an undefeated Iowa. Everybody was making their jokes. We know that team was special. They didn't have maybe as much of some of the star power of some of some. of the past teams, but they were a 21 play drive away from playing in the college football playoff. And now that is on the table again. Now, it's not this game alone. Iowa cannot afford a loss the rest of the season. They have to run the table to get to the ultimate to get to the college football playoff. We know this Iowa football team needs to go four and no to get there.

Starting point is 00:04:44 The Hawkeyes have to win the four remaining games and start Saturday against Oregon. We're going to break down the ducks. We're going to break down the matchup. We're going to break down what it's going to take to pull off this win throughout the course of the week. However, there is a chance. And this is fun. And this is what the 12-team playoff era was supposed to do. Now, how many times that we've talked about the path to get to a Big Ten championship game and the old East-West divide in the Big Ten and all the different maturations of that. But ultimately, we're going to get to the playoff. It was going to take an incredibly special season like they had a decade ago. And that is back on the table. We are here. The chance is now to make this

Starting point is 00:05:26 happen, but it's going to be tough. Another part, another reason I believe this game Saturday is so important for Iowa football is because of the narrative, because of the jokes, because of the laughing nature that nationally Iowa footballs looked at. Though Iowa over the last decade has the 11th most wins in college football, you look at them compared to their Big Ten brethren. they're punching above their weight and they've done it year after year after year. This is what Iowa football is, but it's still out there. Mark Bernowski runs for 130 yards, yeah, but he didn't throw up for a bunch against Penn State. The rushing offense looks good once again.

Starting point is 00:06:06 Oh, yeah, but that passing offense still isn't very good. The defense is good, but is it more of a product of their system? On and on and on, we know all the narratives that are out. And we know how things cratered under the previous offensive coordinator. And how ugly that it got for Iowa football. And where he went into so many games, just hoping, wishing, can you find a way to get a win? And it wasn't entertaining, and it was frustrating.

Starting point is 00:06:29 I don't know for a portion of the fan base, you checked out. Because the wins were nice. And you never want to wish away victories. Because who knows what the future entails, what it looks like. But to be in this spot, to have this opportunity, this is huge. Look, I'm not going to bring up M&M. I mean, nobody wants to hear me rap, right?

Starting point is 00:06:49 one shot, one opportunity, and it's Saturday. This is as big as it gets for Iowa football. This is rarefied air. This is a chance to do something special. And to give Kirk Farrants that lasting no. Oregon can run the ball. Oregon's got power. And for people thinking that weather's going to be a factor,

Starting point is 00:07:09 remember, not like the Pacific Northwest, we're not talking about USC coming to town, right? This is different. this team is built on physicality. Oregon is going to be a physical team as well. This is not going to be a chance where Iowa can just play bully ball and win the game. Again, we'll break it down more as the week goes on, but the opportunity in front of this Iowa team, it's absolutely huge.

Starting point is 00:07:34 I mean, the opportunity that you have, silence the haters that are out there, the playoff talk that comes in, and you throw it with Kinnick. It's going to end under the lights again with the 230. kickoff with daylight savings upon us now. And with those of you that have kids, yes, we know. It's not fun. But that aside, here we go. This is going to be a fun week.

Starting point is 00:08:00 Let's enjoy this week. Not only that, we got the beginning of basketball season. Women go on Monday night, the men on Tuesday. We'll get our first glimpse outside of exhibitions, secret scrimmages. Our first real look at this team and really excited about that. We'll talk about that a little bit later on. Let's go to one of the beat reporters on Iowa football. He is Tom Kekert from Hawkeye Report.com.

Starting point is 00:08:21 Had an opportunity to talk with him on Friday. We'll get some thoughts on Tom. What's going on women's basketball? A note on Jenick Lewis, the Johnston, a potential recruit. Also a little bit talk about Bjorn with the top five players in the country who has Iowa amongst her finalists. We'll get into that. We'll talk some Hawkeye football and a whole lot more. Tom Kaker joins us on the other side, a breakdown of everything going on.

Starting point is 00:08:44 and the world of Hawkeye Athletics. This is Locked on Hawkeyes. College football is back, and I couldn't be more excited. The tailgates, the rivalries, energy, and the stands, there's nothing like it. But let's be real. Actually, getting tickets can feel more like a battle than the game itself. Endless cues, hidden fees, prices jumping at checkout.

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Starting point is 00:09:43 Plus, I love this. What you see is what you're going to pay. No more of those surprise fees at checkout. We've all dealt with those before. Not the case with game time. It's faster, cheaper, and way less stressful than any other app that I bought tickets. Take the guesswork out of buying college football tickets with game time. Download the game time app.

Starting point is 00:10:04 That's right. It's an app, not a website. Just download the app, create an account, and use code locked on college for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, that's promo code locked on college. L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N-C-O-L-L-E-G-E for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go, download game time today. Let's talk to Tom Kakert, Hockye Report.com.

Starting point is 00:10:31 Hawks off this week. Tom Trent and Ken, thank you for coming on. Before we get into football and other topics, et cetera, somebody called me during a break, asked me to ask you. So I will get this out of the ray, wait now. right now because I don't want to forget. Lewis and Bourne, when it comes to women's basketball recruiting, where

Starting point is 00:10:49 is Jan Jensen and company on Lewis and Bourne? Are they any of them close to? You feel better about one than the other? Where are you? Probably feel better about Jenica Lewis than I do. Bjorn, but Bjorn's still taken.

Starting point is 00:11:03 Bjorn, okay, thank you. Yep. Yeah, yeah, she's still taken visits. Jenica was in last weekend. And I've always felt like she's going to end up in Iowa City. I think it's Iowa and Notre Dame right now for her. Those seem to be the top two.

Starting point is 00:11:23 But, and Bjorn, just, you know, it's hard to read her because she's still taking visit. So, but I, that's just my gut feel. Could they end up with both? Yes. I don't think they'll miss on both, though, if that makes sense. Gotcha. Yeah. Does make sense.

Starting point is 00:11:41 No doubt. You know, Ken post something earlier. I want to get your perspective. By you're playing such good football. Probably doesn't come at the most opportune time. But some guys banged up. We saw both Stevens leave the game. I know Dunker's kind of been dealing with some things throughout the course of the year.

Starting point is 00:11:55 Injury-wise, is there anybody else health-wise getting the back? And maybe this bi-week does come at a good time for some guys that are injured. Any names pop into your head? You know, the one thing that's interesting to me is when Jaden Harold gets fully healthy and I don't think he's that far away from being fully healthy and he may be fully healthy by next week. Does he get

Starting point is 00:12:20 his job back? That's a great question. I don't think so. I don't think so either. Or is Wally Pip in play? You know? That's for us old people. We're making Wally Pipp references. Montgomery is not Lou Gehrig. No.

Starting point is 00:12:35 But it feels like he has been an upgrade from what we've seen from here. Yeah. Yeah. What about Cam Buffet? Well, and the defense is playing better. Tom, I think the team is improving. I really do, and it's a fair team, so here we are. I would have, you know, middle of September, somebody was, like, the Hawks just

Starting point is 00:12:54 have everything still in front of them when we turn to calendar November. I said, you're nuts. There's no way in hell. This team, this group, you mean to tell me, no way. Well, I was wrong or would have been wrong, Tom, because they're still, like, the USC game is going to be difficult, right? I'm not saying it's going to happen, but it's still there in front. of them and the team as you mentioned the defense getting better i think the entire team is getting

Starting point is 00:13:16 better tom i do too i think they're just there it's a classic parents team this team reminds me so much of minus you know having if they would have a Caleb johnson to fill in the shon green roll reminds me so much of that 08 team where you had just a lot of new guys that were in different roles and you know they kind of stumbled out of the gate and had a couple losses and and then they by by the middle of the year and on the way to the end they were playing as well as anybody in the country that you know they were just really playing at a high level and it almost feels like this team is a mirror image of that in some ways they've just they figured things out they've come together they've coalesced and now they're really

Starting point is 00:14:07 playing their best ball right now. Playing at a high level. Oregon will come to town. We'll talk more about that game next week. But I mentioned it yesterday. One of the most befuddling controversies I've ever seen from, apparently a very thin-skinned fan base out there in the Pacific Northwest. Upset it.

Starting point is 00:14:24 Phil Parker's comment saying that they're well-funded. To equate this to what Mike Gundy was talking about before the game against Oklahoma State is just absolutely crazy. You deal with everybody in your guys' network at On 3. Are Oregon people just that dumb? Are they that weird? What's going on there with the ducks? I think some other places have made that comment or other coaches or somebody's made some other comments to them.

Starting point is 00:14:47 And so they've gotten extraordinarily thin-skinned about it. You know, it's interesting. I was like, that's what you're going to get upset about. You know, after he said all kinds of glowing things about the ducks and about the program. and, you know, kind of shouted out Dan Lannning and the whole bit. I mean, he's going to, and they are well-funded. Yes, the Phil Knight. And guess what?

Starting point is 00:15:17 If, if Iowa was in that situation where they had, we're well-funded like that, Iowa fans would be saying, you're damn right, we are. Oh, yeah. We're proud of it. We're happy about it. We love our Phil Knight or whoever it would have been that did that. You know, why not? That's part of the game.

Starting point is 00:15:36 And they look like it's an insult, like, oh, we're not good. We're just well-funded. No, you can afford to get good players. And that's part of the game. Who's the best team in the Big Ten, Tom? Are you convinced it's Ohio State? I'm not really. I'm not either.

Starting point is 00:15:54 I'm done, Doughton Signetti. Yeah, me too. He's the bully. Yep. You know, he's just, he is, yeah. he just he goes out and just demolishes everything in front of him yeah and i was giving him the best game iowa should have beat yes yes let's be honest they should have beaten them and grunowski doesn't get hurt they probably win that game right screen and screen pass who's now your number

Starting point is 00:16:25 three quarterback right exactly yeah yeah because you know and tim lester said it after the by week that's a touchdown if he completes it because logan jones and he and And one of his running mates, one of his other offensive linemen were clearing the path. They were looking for somebody to block, and there wasn't anybody. Yeah, it was, and I'm sure he looked at the all 22, where he could see what was in front of that play. And there was nothing there, apparently. And, yeah, just think about that for a second, where Iowa would be. Unbeaten in the Big Ten.

Starting point is 00:17:01 Yes. And we'd be having a lot different conversation. Tom, out of that group. Iowa, we know, has to run the table to be a playoff team. Michigan has to run the table. That means beating Ohio State at the end of the year. USC has to run the table. That starts this week against Nebraska, beating Iowa, and, of course, UCLA at the end. Washington still has a path here. Of that group of teams, Washington, USC, Michigan, Iowa, who do give the best chance of running the table and becoming potentially that fourth college football playoff team? Great question. I have to look at the schedules. I know USC has to play oral.

Starting point is 00:17:35 Oregon yet, too, I think. So that's a, that's a stumbling block for them, perhaps. You know, it might be Michigan. Yeah. Just do it again against the bug guys. Because they live rent-free in the heads of the folks

Starting point is 00:17:51 in Columbus right now. And there's, I don't care what, Ryan Day can prance around all he wants. It's rent-free right now there. So, yeah, I would guess Michigan probably I got the best shot of running the table and doing Iowa just because of the history of lack of success on the on the West Coast.

Starting point is 00:18:13 Yeah. You know, it's hard to, hard to envision that, but it wouldn't surprise me because, you know what? The Achilles heel of that, of that USC team is, is physical football. And that's been kind of their bugaboo. That's what Notre Dame did to them. They got physical wisdom. And so we'll, we'll see. We'll see.

Starting point is 00:18:35 Got to play the games. But yeah, that's what I would probably get Michigan. Hey, Tom, over to basketball. It'll start officially next week. Got our first look last night at the women's team in their exhibition win. On the men's side, pretty soft schedule to open things up. Take us back to a week ago. They take on Texas Tech in that scrimmage.

Starting point is 00:18:56 Sounds like Iowa lost by about 10. Not showing the ball very well in the two exhibition games. They're not. you know, four of 27 in the first one against Slew, and then I know they were one of 14 in the first half against Texas Tech. Now, Texas Tech's really good. We should qualify by saying that, but they are a really good top 10-ish team in college basketball this year. So it's not like they lost to a bad team. And I heard it was really competitive, but Iowa started.

Starting point is 00:19:32 out shooting poorly and started slow and just could never catch up, so to speak. So, yeah, I think it's got to be a concern going into the season, how this team shoots the basketball because you've got in the game today, I don't care who you are. You got to shoot. You got to make shots from the outside. That's just part of the game. And so they've got to figure this out and watch they'll come out against Bobby Moe on Tuesday night and probably go 10 of the first 12th and roll, you know, just that's just how the

Starting point is 00:20:08 game works. But I'm anxious just to see them. I just really am. I just want to see what this looks like and get a feel for this team. Because right now, we're kind of flying blind. Yeah. You know, we think we know, but we don't. We don't. And it's, you know, and McCollum, he even said, I didn't know how it was going to work bringing four guys over from North to miss miss missouri state last year and and the drake and worked out well and he's like hey i'm just going to double down in some ways on it and bring six this time because i feel like it'll work okay we're going to find out you know and if it works boy it's going to be fun if it doesn't you got to reset you really got a reset tom kakard hawkeyeye report dot com

Starting point is 00:20:52 we will speak with you next friday thanks for everything tom as always okay thanks guys Yeah, Hawkeye Report.com for Tom Kaker, part of On Three Media. Thanks as always to Tom Kaker for joining us here. We continue lockdown Hawkeyes. We talk some basketball there. I'll look at tonight and lock you at Tuesday and what we have on store and tap for you throughout this basketball season. Why Iowa is going to be an NCAA tournament team? Oh, I think they are of both the men's and women's side.

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Starting point is 00:22:26 Trent, kind of back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. So we mentioned it is basketball season among us. I was going to be a big favorite on the men's side tomorrow night against Robert Morris. The women are in action as they will face off later this evening against Southern. That'll be on BTN. I saw this Southern team a couple years back back in 2022. They won 87 to 34.

Starting point is 00:22:58 I think that gives you a little bit of a reference point of what we kind of are anticipating in this one in the way that it very well could look when you look at some of the analytical numbers for this one in Iowa is projected to be a huge favorite in the game. Iowa favorite to win by 26.7, that is from Bart Horvick, and still waiting to see a line on Fanduel. Make sure you check out that Fandual app and see that one.

Starting point is 00:23:22 But after the exhibition game last week for the women's side, I just trying to see how these pieces fit together. We talked a lot about Titchat Wright, what a difference maker. She can be just the speed that she plays at, the quickness that she has, and what she's going to look like, really pushing things forward.

Starting point is 00:23:40 We know the veterans, Stalky, McCabe, Fear, but kind of what they are and what they're going to be with this team. It's really about these youngsters and seeing, you know, can Ava Hayden now become one of those dominant posts, game in and game out in her sophomore campaign and certainly has the ups.

Starting point is 00:23:55 side to do that. The sophomores, Malaney, Stremlow, how they fit in into this new mix. And of course, add a deal, got up to a little bit of a slow start, had a couple of a turnovers that left you scratch in your head, what she's going to do, what she's going to fit in. A really exciting season, though, obviously overall for this team. And Tom Kaker just mentioned that a moment ago. Tom said with the Iowa men's team, you just don't know, we're flying blind. I think that's a great way to put it because we think we know how this is going to translate and now it's going to look, but how it's going to be the X factor, Alvaro Fulgaris,

Starting point is 00:24:28 what he's going to be, Manwa now playing a bigger, and they're not going to have to see anything until a week from Friday when Xavier comes to town on the 14th. These first two games should be easy victories against Robert Morris and against Western Illinois. Bartorvik has Iowa favored by 20 and a half against Robert Morris and 30 against the leathernecks when they come to town on Friday night. So that's what's in front of us, but just getting that look at teams. and we will have you covered rapid reaction podcast after most of these men's games and a few of the women's games as well as we get a little bit deeper into the season.

Starting point is 00:25:02 I will have you covered here. Make sure you're hitting subscribe if you're watching us on YouTube. Hit subscribe if you're on the podcast side of things. All those will let you know exactly what we have new episodes for you each and every game in those rapid reaction podcasts after the basketball games throughout the course of this season. Well, it is game week with Oregon coming to town. It is a huge week and couldn't be more excited about it. And we have you covered here, Locked on Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:25:26 Thanks for being with us and making Locked on Hawkeyes your first listen today. For your second listen, make sure you check out Lockdown Big Ten. Greg Sheeman breaks down the most exciting conference in college sports from the rivalries, the championship, and every game in between find Lockdown Big Ten on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. We are your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. We'll be back with you tomorrow.

Starting point is 00:25:53 We got Spencer McLaughlin. He's coming up this week from Locked on Ducks and Locked on College football. We will do a crossover edition and I got some things waiting for Spencer. Can't wait for that one coming up later in the week. Of course, Todd Brombo Camp, he'll be by. We'll have some reaction to the press conference, Kirk Farrer's press conference, and meeting with the players tomorrow. So busy, busy week in front of us again.

Starting point is 00:26:15 Make sure you're hitting subscribe so you know when we are live with you each and every day here on the podcast feed. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Hawkeyes Face BIGGEST Test in Decade as Oregon Invades KINNICK | Can Ferentz Pull Off the UPSET?

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