Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Football: Keys to beating Minnesota, & David Eickholt joins the show

Starting point is 00:00:00 We expect a rock fight on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. What are the keys to beating the Gophers? We got that for you today. Plus, old friend David Eichold from Hawkeye Insider on the Iowa beat stops by to break it down today. Locked on Hawkeyes. You are locked on Hawkeyes. Your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:00:19 Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Condon, and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you get podcasts and you can also find us on YouTube. While you're there, make sure you hit that subscribe button. Helps us get in front

Starting point is 00:00:52 of more Hawkeye fans. Today's episode is brought to you by PrizePix. Go to prizepix.com slash LockedOnCollege and use code LockedOnCollege for a first deposit match up to $100. That's prizepicks.com slash LOCKEDONCOLLEGE with the code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE.

Starting point is 00:01:17 Let's get into it here as we are inching closer to another matchup in the Big Ten West. It is Minnesota on tap next. The Gophers come in to this one with a 3-3 record. Did not look very good their last time out. An early pick six, and Michigan race them off the field. Though, we'll get to a little bit later. Michigan in hot water once again with the news of them potentially stealing signs from teams and some scouting that was happening that is not allowed by NCAA and Big Ten rules.

Starting point is 00:01:44 Maybe that makes things look at least a little bit different for the Gophers their last time out. They did have a bye last week, though, and certainly believe that's important. We know how banged up this Iowa football team is right now and the injuries that they've been dealing with. And they continue to pile up from Eric all this week, lost for the season with the ACL, the former injuries to Cade McNamara, what they're dealing with, obviously with Luke Lachey and though the hope that maybe he could come back

Starting point is 00:02:09 for a bowl game, there's no sign of him coming back. Defensive line, why a black? That is a huge one as we continue to wait on what's officially going to happen on that front. Now, the more that we've dug into that more and more, maybe unlikely, it seems that he's going to be able to give it a go on Saturday we'll hope uh sound like Kirk was certainly more optimistic than I thought he was going to be on Tuesday about the possibility Kelvin Bell also had a press conference in the middle of the week and got to hear from him and we'll get some comments on that from David Eichold

Starting point is 00:02:39 he was part of those conversations uh being on the Hawkeye beat here coming up in just a little bit but as the injuries pile up well Michigan has injuries of their own including their top as part of those conversations being on the Hawkeye beat here coming up in just a little bit. But as the injuries pile up, well, Michigan has injuries of their own, including their top running back, and that's where this team is built. Eaton Kalamatas has not certainly developed in the way that I think a lot of people anticipated. You saw him last season. He had a monster performance at the end of the year against Wisconsin, threw for over 300 yards in that game,

Starting point is 00:03:03 and they thought potentially the young quarterback was starting to turn the corner. That has not been the case this year. The turnovers have continued. Six picks this year against six interceptions. He's thrown for just shy of 800 yards on the year. They're once again built on the ground game, and it is Darius Taylor. So Darius Taylor has not played their last two games. He's basically had three weeks off with a leg injury. The anticipation is he's going to play, but with PJ Fleck, old Phil Fleck, our neighbor to the North, he does not like talking about injuries. He is very, very, a guy that just does not want to talk about it, does not bring it up. And we will find out really probably with the availability availability report that is available two hours before from the big 10 if he is going to play he's special

Starting point is 00:03:51 he's a difference maker and after seeing what mo ibrahim has meant to this team just the ground game in general with minnesota throughout the years and even in the pj black regime they're a team that is built that way very big up. So a couple of keys to this one. And we know about Iowa, the limitations that they have offensively and the warm and fuzzies that we got from the victory a week ago against Wisconsin certainly does not negate how much this offense is struggling and the pass game is struggling. One of four passing in the second half, you throw for 37 yards in a victory. That's fun.

Starting point is 00:04:24 It's good. But there's going to be a moment where I was going to have to throw the football to win. passing in the second half. You throw for 37 yards and a victory. That's fun. It's good, but there's going to be a moment where I was going to have to throw the football to win. To think that you're going to be able to arrive on 82-yard touchdowns like they got a week ago against Wisconsin. Week in, a week out. It's just unlikely. And take that away. The ground game is improving. There's no doubt. That offensive line seems like they're starting to really work their way into shape. Rusty Feth getting the veteran out there, the Miami of Ohio transfer that has been a plus. And though the numbers from pro football focus on pretty by any means, he just has added that element to this team, a little toughness out there to go with guys that have

Starting point is 00:05:00 been around for a while. I think that they're starting to click Logan Jones. The issues that we talked about a season ago for him have not been at the same level. He's playing some good football. Connor Colby, he's been banged up. Mason Richmond's been banged up, and maybe his best play of the game came on Saturday when he knocked the deflected ball away from the defensive lineman from Wisconsin, negating which would have been an interception and likely would have put Wisconsin in position. They would have got the ball inside the 25-yard line in position to kick a field goal that would have given them a 9-7 lead. Instead, it was an incomplete pass because of Richmond's hustle there.

Starting point is 00:05:32 So this offensive line is improving. The running game is improving, but you still have to get something out of the pass game. And that goes back to Deacon Hill. I think you got to continue to take shots with him. Wisconsin, their defensive coordinator, Joe Rossi. We talk a ton about Phil Parker and we should because he's an absolute stud. He is great at what he does and putting his team in position week after week. He's a wizard. He is absolutely incredible. Joe Rossi, since he's take over the Minnesota defense though, he's been really good too. Remember early in the Fleck regime,

Starting point is 00:06:03 this was a team that could move the football, but they just struggled mightily defensively. That has not been the case here as of late. He's done a really good job, took over what 2018. It wasn't a full-time role as a defensive coordinator and has built first year, little Rocky. And since then they've been at an elite level year after year, after year, maybe not in an Iowa level, but really, really good defensively season in and season out. And you know, he's going to have a game plan where they're going to do everything possible to shut down the Iowa running game and make Deacon Hill beat them. So two ways. First, it's got to be those plays up the field. We know the accuracy is not there. He is not good in the

Starting point is 00:06:39 short and intermediate throws. He just isn't. And with experience, can he get better? Sure, but he's never going to be, I don't think even at a good level in those aspects of the game. What he can do is chuck the ball down the field. So you got to take those shots and you got to take those shots with some play action. Iowa has not utilized a ton of play action really throughout the course of the season.

Starting point is 00:06:59 A week ago, it went away. Now it went away because they didn't have to throw a ball a ton, but I think that needs to be a component here. And another thing, scrap the five wide receiver stuff. Even when they have a running back in the game and they go five wide, look, Iowa, when they are set up, teams are going to be geared up to stop the run. And it doesn't matter if it's first and 10 or second and nine or third and four, they still know that I was going to want to run the football. And when you go with that five wide receiver look, it completely takes out any element of a surprise, of any kind of run threat. I was not good enough offensively to do things like that. Scrap it. It doesn't work. You don't throw

Starting point is 00:07:34 the ball to your wide receivers enough as is. Your tight ends now are so depletion and all out. Just go away from that. Rip those pages out of the playbook. Completely get rid of them because they don't do the things that you need. You need play action. You need at least the ability in the passing game to show that you are going to run the football. Bring back the waggle. Bring back the drag routes from a tight end, even a wide receiver, a guy like Raghaini coming across the middle. That's what you need. And of course, the shots down the field. And when you look at Wisconsin, excuse me, Minnesota this year, they have struggled mightily getting off the field.

Starting point is 00:08:08 Both third and fourth down defense has been amongst the worst in the country. That is where Iowa is going to have to make those third and manageable plays. Keep the clock running with the defense that's banged up in its own right. Possibility of why a black not going, even if he does, how is he going to be health wise? You want to obviously run the clock. possibility of why a black not going even if he does how is he going to be health wise you want to obviously run the clock and i was so shocked last week that they were able to win time of possession against wisconsin gonna need to do something at least close to it again can't afford those games where the defense is on the field 35 38 40 minutes just can't happen there's a team

Starting point is 00:08:40 that's going to grind you with that big offensive line that they have. We saw Joe Evans a week ago. He's limited because of injury. They met black injury. Definitely need to do that and pick up those third and manageables. And the final thing is when you get the red zone, you have to score and score touchdowns. Red zone defense has been an issue for the Gophers this year. That is where you need to go. Now, Iowa might only get in there a couple of times, but if they can get in there and get two scores,

Starting point is 00:09:08 get a touchdown and a field goal, I think Iowa's going to be in really good shape. This point spread continues to hang around the three and a half mark, but the total continues to drop down. Absolutely incredible of what we're seeing on that front. We continue. We hear from a man on the Hawkeye bait. He is David Eichel back with us once

Starting point is 00:09:26 again. Always enjoy our conversations with David. He joined myself and Ken Miller earlier this week on my radio show on KXNO. We got that for you coming up and we take a look around the Big Ten, including who's the dark horse in the Big Ten West. If it's not Iowa, it's not Wisconsin.

Starting point is 00:09:42 It's going to be the Gophers or somebody else will do that as we continue Locked on Hawkeyes. Today's episode is brought to you by PrizePix. PrizePix is the largest independently-owned daily fantasy sports platform in North America. The easiest and most exciting way to play DFS is just you against the numbers. Instead of battling thousands of other players, including pros and sharks, you pick more or less on between two and six players' stat projections

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Starting point is 00:10:27 easy gameplay, and an enormous selection of players and stat types. What make prize picks the number one daily fantasy sports apps. All right. I got my picks up here for this evening. This is what we got coming up this weekend. And I took the Iowa game. I took Iowa,

Starting point is 00:10:43 Minnesota Deacon Hill and Calic Monis, the two quarterbacks. And then the biggest game of the Big Ten this weekend with Kyle McCord and Drew Aller. I took more than 184 passing yards for Aller. I took less for Kyle McCord and that great Penn State defense at 233 and a half. For Calic Monis, I think they're going to have to throw the football a little bit. I went over more than 116 and a half pass yards. And with Deacon Hill, the number is 99 and a half. For Calic Modest, I think they're going to have to throw the football a little bit. I went over more than 116 and a half pass yards. And with Deacon Hill, the number is 99 and a half.

Starting point is 00:11:10 Yes, I went less than that. You put all four to those together, you hit them four times your amount that you put in there. That's how you do it. As simple as that. NFL, college football, NBA right around the corner. They got you covered at

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Starting point is 00:11:41 LockedOnCollege with the code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE. With that, daily fantasy sports made easy. dollars price picks dot com slash locked on college with the code locked on college with that daily fantasy sports made easy trying kind of back with you once again on the locked on hawkeyes podcast as always thanks for making locked on hawkeyes your first listen every day time to hear from the man on the beat from hawkeyeinsider.com he is david eichel david eichel hawkeye insider part of 24-7 sports david as always thank you for finding time for trent and i good to speak with you i guess uh right off the bat just uh since you heard from

Starting point is 00:12:22 coach bell any update on uh why black who i was shocked that he's on uh on the depth chart i think it's great news obviously he's playing very good football but boy when it happened it looked as though he was in a lot of pain and that looked like a shoulder to me any update david yeah for sure you guys have me on yeah i mean i was just as surprised as you and i'm sure many other people and I saw his name on the depth chart of course if people remember correctly he had a sling on his arm and it looked like he was going to be out until I would say at least after the bye week but remember Minnesota is his home state school he's the only Minnesota native on this Iowa roster and he's really emerged I think over the past couple

Starting point is 00:13:01 of weeks Kelvin Bell did say that YA did not practice today, but Kelvin refused to rule him out of Saturday. He mentioned that he didn't see Joe Evans practice until Saturday morning when he was warming up to play last weekend. So, you know, and YA is a tough kid. I mean, he's physically one of the most imposing defenders Iowa has. And, you know, initially when the injury happened, I know Iowa was not

Starting point is 00:13:25 optimistic but why is that I can take the pain I want to play and uh you know if it's why his decision at this point I believe he is going to play but uh definitely give me interesting a storyline I do think we'll go right up until game time even with why a black if he plays you wouldn't anticipate it's going to be a full go he's not going to play 60 70 snaps anything like that so you go a little bit deeper inside after Logan Lee we've seen Aaron Gray's and his If he plays, you wouldn't anticipate it's going to be a full go. He's not going to play 60, 70 snaps, anything like that. So you go a little bit deeper inside after Logan Lee. We've seen Aaron Graves and his emergence also over the last couple of games. What's left after that?

Starting point is 00:13:53 Who else are we looking at at defensive tackle? Yeah, Kelvin Bell said Jeremiah Pittman would take a lot of those snaps. He also mentioned that Ontario Thompson is close, but he's just not ready at this point. Ontario Thompson has been really good on special teams when he's been in some of the special teams. Snaps had that punt block a few weeks ago. And I do think he'll be a really good player down the line. But it sounds like it'll be Logan Lee, Aaron Graves, and Jeremiah Pittman would kind of be the free man rotation at D-tackle. I would also throw in Deontay Craig could potentially slide in as well.

Starting point is 00:14:24 He played some defensive tackle last year as well. Kelvin did not mention him, but I do think that would be something at least worth paying attention to because I do think Iowa feels a little bit better about the depth at defensive end rather than defensive tackle. And of course, you know, if Noah Shannon would be ruled eligible to be on the field as well,

Starting point is 00:14:42 Saturday, but I think we're going to have to wait until past the bye week to see that one. Yeah, it doesn't even sound like the committee is even going to be talking until next week. So I think the likelihood of that is... Their first thing is Zoom. I think it's ridiculous that they can't make time. Yeah, you got to go to the Four Seasons. Got to make it happen, David.

Starting point is 00:14:57 You got to use that vacation. Get on the plane. Oh, absolutely. Five-star hotel and spend that per diem. You know the NCAA bureaucracy and that's the way it's done. Hey, you mentioned Jeremiah. I don't know how they have any money left. five-star hotel and spend that per diem. You know the NCAA bureaucracy, and that's the way it's done. Hey, you mentioned Jeremiah Pittman. I don't know how they have any money left. They spent hundreds of millions of dollars against a lawsuit

Starting point is 00:15:10 that they were never going to win. Good money if you can get it. Hey, Jeremiah Pittman. It felt like he was emerging last year. We really haven't seen him this year. You know, is he in the doghouse? Was it because it felt like that was a guy that was going to help out also this year, and we just barely have seen him? Yeah, you know, I don't want to say he's in the doghouse? Was it because it felt like that was a guy that was going to help out also this year,

Starting point is 00:15:25 and we just barely have seen him? Yeah, you know, I don't want to say he's in the doghouse. I think, you know, from what I've heard, he's been pretty good at practice. He's done some good things. He hasn't done anything wrong, in my opinion, and based on people I've talked to. I just think that the guys that are over him are just that much better at this point. I just think that, you know, they do trust Pittman. He'd be the last guy they would trust in the middle outside of Deontay Craig. And some of the other guys are close, but you also

Starting point is 00:15:48 look at the guys in the middle, right? Like Logan Lee has been fantastic this season. I don't think he's getting enough credit for what he's done. I think Aaron Graves, you know, his statistics aren't eye popping, but if you watch on film, the amount of pressure he's taken off the edge rushers and making lanes for, you know, Jay Higgins, who's second in the nation, tackles with 87. Nick Jackson, who I've said gotten better week after week. Sebastian Castro, who I personally think was robbed of Big Ten defensive player with what he did.

Starting point is 00:16:18 Just watch. I mean, just use your eyes and watch him, right? You know, so I don't think he's in the doghouse necessarily, but it's almost like every other position at this point guys like if you're healthy you're probably going to play because at this point it's easier to say who's healthy than who's not healthy um i know this is going to sound like a criticism of minnesota's offense it's going to sound weird coming from somebody who covers iowa what comes off it. But Minnesota's not very good either on offense.

Starting point is 00:16:46 This thing's got underwritten. What does Minnesota do well? They don't run the football. The kid that – the freshman that was in there, can't think of his name, got hurt against, I believe, is Northwestern. But what do they do well? Darius Taylor. That's the one.

Starting point is 00:17:00 Yep, thank you. What do they do well? Yeah. I think they have a strong – I think they have a decent offensive line. You know, Chris Altman-Bell, their seventh-year wide receiver. He was a Jordan Bohannon, I think, plus. Maybe Chris Altman-Bell is like the Animal House guy who's been in college for seven or eight years.

Starting point is 00:17:18 He has a doctorate degree. I know he's been hurt. Maybe his staff is up in the air, I believe, against Iowa as well. But, you know, as in Kelly McManus, i've always thought had some tools to be pretty decent i agree but he hasn't really panned out this year and when he's gone up against good competition he just throws up some ducks and you know i'm not going to be surprised that you know you mentioned about criticizing the offense man ken i'm not gonna lie i. I won't be surprised if Cooper DeGene scores in this game on a pick six, and it might be the only touchdown in the game.

Starting point is 00:17:50 I think thinking back to this Wisconsin game, I think Chad Leisco of the New England Register tweeted this out an hour ago. Iowa did not take a red zone snap last week against Wisconsin. And this is kind of the point where we're at. It's 32 and a half, the over-under right now. I'm not going to be shocked if it moves down to 31 and a half or even 30 and a half. I think there's going to be a lot of late money on this

Starting point is 00:18:11 coming down the stretch. But they have a big offensive line. I still think they can run the football decent and Zach Evans, they have some decent players there. But with the way the Iowa defense is playing, I'm really not going to bet a poor offense against this defense. It's just impossible for me. And the fact that I believe Minnesota has not won in Iowa State since the turn of the century.

Starting point is 00:18:32 1999. It was a long time ago. It was my sophomore year. Kirk's first year. Last time they won in Kinnick Stadium. Long time ago. So yesterday, Kirk was, I don't know, dancing on the grave a little bit, I guess, of Alex Padilla. I thought it was a bad look.

Starting point is 00:18:47 Yeah, he struggles with that, doesn't he? He does. The continual throwing his quarterbacks under the bus. His backup quarterbacks. Yes. And we see it happening now with Deacon Hill and the Joe Labus question. I don't think many people believe that Joe Labus is the answer, but Deacon Hill has had certainly issues. And for Kirk to say, I don't even know what the stats are

Starting point is 00:19:05 come on you don't know his completion percentage is under 40 then you got some problems in your own right what is it with kirk and quarterbacks you know here's where i think i think there's a fine line of balance i know people want to talk about you know kirk throwing his quarterbacks under the bus you know goes back to deuce hogan i believe you said you know i may as well stay at home i wouldn't travel to deuce hogan i played and i think there has to be a certain level of competitiveness that comes out of the quarterback room because as a quarterback you have to be the leader you have to be the guy you can't shy away from the face of criticism you have to take it on the chin and in my opinion if you if you're a quarterback if you're a backup quarterback and you can't take that as a challenge

Starting point is 00:19:41 to up your game or continue to progress or prove your head coach wrong. Personally, I don't think they're suited to handle the pressure of being a Division I and power conference starting quarterback position. I think you have to rise above the pressure. And, you know, we saw Deuce Hogan when he left Iowa. You know, he was very loved by the fan base. It was a big reason a lot of those guys in that recruiting class came to Iowa. Certainly didn't hurt.

Starting point is 00:20:02 But what's he doing at Kentucky right now? Poor team. I mean, it's no good. It's not right. It's right. He what's he doing at Kentucky right now? Poor team. I mean, it's not right. He had to walk on at Kentucky. He did. So I think if you're capable of being a starting quarterback at a power conference, I hate to say, you take it on the chin and you go prove the coach wrong. That competitive fire has to

Starting point is 00:20:17 come out of you. Otherwise, if the competitive fire does not come out from you, when the head coach says that, it's certainly not going to go. The competitive fire is not going to be set ablaze in front of 70,000 people and take him to the stadium during a night game where you need to win to win the Big Ten West or against a primetime team. That's just my opinion, though.

Starting point is 00:20:36 How about this? How about you find somebody that knows what they're doing with quarterbacks? You don't have a former offensive lineman that has no background as your quarterback coach. You put together a staff. You're off your quarterback guru. You bring in John Budmeier was fired after one year as an OC. He doesn't have a great resume.

Starting point is 00:20:51 Bring in somebody that actually knows what they're doing. Carson May can't play at Wyoming. Alex Padilla is a backup at SMU. You go down the list of their recruiting last five years. They took Spencer Petras over Zach Wilson. They took Spencer Petras over Zach Wilson. They took Spencer Petras over Trey Lance. How about you find somebody that actually knows what they're doing at quarterback because we're talking about more than a half decade now

Starting point is 00:21:11 where they have swung and missed on every scholarship quarterback. Yeah, and I think that was one of my big criticisms. You know, it's that past Brian Ferenc. Like, I'm not just solely blaming Brian Ferenc. I know he's been quick to be thrown under the bus here, and rightfully so to some degree. But Iowa's just not been able to find really effective quarterbacks or guys that develop. I mean, I think

Starting point is 00:21:30 that's been a curse of Ferentz's tenure. I mean, you think back to some of the best seasons that players have had, right? They're one-year wonders or they regress. I mean, you think it was Drew Tate's best year, right? Sophomore year. Well, it was, you know, Ricky Stanzi. It wasn't his final year.

Starting point is 00:21:45 We're not TJ. Well, statistically it was fourth year. They just didn't win. Yeah. Yeah. I mean the, the eye test though,

Starting point is 00:21:51 too, but you, you know, you look back at CJ Becker, right? What happened to him is last year, but the only guy I would say stay consistent for the most part is Nate. Yep.

Starting point is 00:22:00 But Nate, but Nate Stanley never really progressed. You knew what you were getting out of him. He would show up in certain big games. He couldn't beat Wisconsin. He couldn't, you know, hit water. If he fell off a boat against Penn state, that was just, but again, I think everybody, every Iowa fan looks a lot more favorably upon Nate Stanley after what they've had to

Starting point is 00:22:20 watch, you know, for the past four years. But I do think it's been one of the big criticisms in the Kirk Ferentz era. Like it's not just a Brian thing. It's they have not been able to find a way to consistently develop quarterbacks, say it better and better. Oh, we shall see David Eichel. What have you got coming up, David at the Hawkeye insider, anything you'd like to promote before we let you go?

Starting point is 00:22:42 It's going to be just a busy time guys. I mean, I'm going all in on women's basketball this year. Sean's taking men's basketball. And, you know, we have a lot of recruiting stuff going on. And I am just so excited for the bye week. I might be trying to hit Circus Sportsbook out in Las Vegas. Why wouldn't you? Get me out of here for a little bit.

Starting point is 00:22:57 Let's go hang out and relax. But HawkeyeandThera.com. And I appreciate you guys having me. Thank you, David. We'll talk to you after the bye. Appreciate you coming on. Hey, take care, guys. Take care. Good to talk to you. David Eicholt on the Hawkeyes. Big thank you to David for joining us here on Lockdown Hawkeyes. And as always, thanks for making

Starting point is 00:23:16 Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We continue a look at the Big Ten West. Who is the team to keep an eye on? Short of, of course, our new favorite, the Iowa Hawkeyes and Wisconsin, who is right behind them in the numbers. We'll take a look at those numbers presented by FanDuel and what's happening with Michigan. The Wolverines cheating. We do that as we continue. Locked on Hawkeyes. There's a lot of uncertainty in the world today, and it's important to be prepared. Life-saving antibiotics is something that can be a necessity in a lot of emergency situations. That's why you need to

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Starting point is 00:25:39 put 160 down. To win 10 bucks, you got to put 16 up for that one. Wisconsin is plus 2602.60. No surprising with the Tanner Mordecai injury. Their schedule, pretty light, short of the Ohio State game. Nebraska is now the third betting choice of court. Huskers at plus $6.50. Minnesota at $16 to one, followed by Illinois at $30 to one.

Starting point is 00:26:01 Northwestern at $30 to one. And finally, Purdue at $95 to, and finally Purdue at 95-1. So those are currently the numbers. Well, we know about Iowa, right? And I had this thought. You know, if I had to take a shot here, if I was taking a look at somebody else, I think it'd be the Gophers for me. And it came down to Nebraska and Minnesota.

Starting point is 00:26:18 Now, Minnesota still has a very difficult game remaining on their schedules. They still have Ohio State left. very difficult game remaining on their schedules. They still have Ohio State left, but they have a lot of things in their favor in terms of the, obviously, the way the schedule sets up, including this week with Iowa. If they can pull the upset here, they're going to put themselves in a position.

Starting point is 00:26:34 Now, the likelihood is, short of that game against Ohio State, second-to-last game of the year, they would have to run the table. They already have a couple of conference losses. You can put that one on there. That gets them at six and three. Well, that would mean a win against Iowa coming up this weekend and a win against Wisconsin at the end of the season in the battle for the act.

Starting point is 00:26:52 So that's the way that it kind of plays out in that direction. There would be likely probably a three-way tie at six and three, and the Gophers would have the tiebreaker over both Iowa and Minnesota if that scenario would play out. Iowa's in a great position. The problem, Iowa is probably going to be favored in every one of these games. They also could lose every one of those games. And that's what you continue to get into with this team and their limitations.

Starting point is 00:27:15 It's been great. Has a feeling. Biz brought this up yesterday, and it's a thought that had been rattling around in my mind, too. That's a game that has the feeling of 2021. Everybody's starting to finally buy in. Iowa up to second in the country. They're beating all comers.

Starting point is 00:27:33 They had the win against Penn State. As unlikely as it was, they come back and get that victory on the big play to Ragini and everybody's in. And then how quickly it changed. And it changed because the offense couldn't do anything in that game against Purdue. And then the following week against Wisconsin. And the same quickly it changed. And it changed because the offense couldn't do anything in that game against Purdue. And then the following week against Wisconsin. And the same thing happened here.

Starting point is 00:27:48 Is every break going to go Iowa's way? Are they going to get that bounce? Is that interception that Richmond was able to knock away at the last moment? Is that going to happen? Deacon Hill's getting a lot of balls deflected. He has a very long release. It takes a while to get out. And that allows the defensive lineman to get their hands up. Just absolutely something to keep an eye on coming up this week.

Starting point is 00:28:08 We will be talking with LaShawn Daniels for your everydayers. He'll be with us tomorrow. Former Hawkeye running back. Get his perspective and what he's seen in that ground game that really got going and on track and for the first time in a long time be able to do it against Wisconsin. It's going to be a tall task again this week against Minnesota. We will do that. Wisconsin. It's going to be a tall task again this week against Minnesota. We will do that. Finally, what's going on in Michigan? Cheating again?

Starting point is 00:28:30 Now, these are not things that are, I don't think, overly concerning, but they're bending the rules for Michigan, a program that likes to hold their nose up in the air, right? Likes to look down at many of the other programs in the Big Ten and that they do it right. Just a bad look. Jim Harbaugh's a weird dude. Would it surprise you if this comes to fruition as true? Absolutely not.

Starting point is 00:28:55 It is just the reality of what it is. We'll be back with you tomorrow with LaShawn breaking things down. Thanks as always for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen. Every day, we'll talk to you again tomorrow. Our final preview of Iowa, Minnesota with LaShawn breaking things down. Thanks as always for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Our final preview of Iowa, Minnesota here on Lockdown Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:29:10 Go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Football: Keys to beating Minnesota, & David Eickholt joins the show

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