No. 4 Iowa is 11-0 with a chance to record the school’s first undefeated regular season.
By Jordan Hansen
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With just one game remaining in the regular season, the No. 4 (College Football Poll, No. 3 AP) Iowa football team has only Nebraska standing between it and a 12-0 regular season.
It won’t be an easy game. The Cornhuskers are 5-6 and need a win to become bowl-eligible in their first season under Mike Riley.
“It’s a trophy game, and it’s important, but it’s just as important as any other game we’ve played,” Iowa center Austin Blythe said. “We have a challenge inside. Their whole defense is really good, they run to the ball, like to play football.”
It’s been an up-and-down season for Nebraska; five of its six losses have come in the final minute of regulation or overtime. The one loss that didn’t occur, strangely enough, was against 2-8 Purdue.
One thing, however, is certain: The Cornhuskers are plenty talented. They pass the ball well and also are among the top rushing defenses in the Big Ten.
The motivation factor can also be not overlooked and, of course, this contest is a trophy game. Nebraska is also coming off a bye and with the game on Friday, Iowa has one fewer day of rest and preparation.
“Typical of Nebraska, they’ve got a lot of good football players. They’re a very good football team,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “They’ve got an excellent coaching staff, and I think probably the big thing right now is that they’re meshing.”
Stopping the passing attack
Nebraska’s passing offense ranks second-best in the Big Ten and is led by quarterback Tommy Armstrong.
Armstrong has thrown for 2,560 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Cornhuskers also have one of the better wide receivers in the Big Ten — Jordan Westerkamp — who has caught 61 passes and scored seven touchdowns this season.
Iowa cornerback Desmond King will likely draw the assignment against Westerkamp and is expecting a challenge.
“He’s a great receiver, he has great hands and he’s real, real quick. He’s a big threat against us,” King said. “We have to be physical with their him and the rest of their receivers and not let them off the line. Our coaches always say to defeat a wide receiver is to put him on the ground and we’re going to have to do that.”
King was also named as one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe award, given to the best defensive back in college football each season. Duke’s Jeremy Cash and Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves are the other two finalists.
Ott applies for medical redshirt
After suffering a torn ACL against Illinois, which ended his season, Iowa defensive end Drew Ott has applied for a medical redshirt and wants to return to the Hawkeyes in 2016.
While Ott said he would likely have to win an appeal, he hoped that it was a possibility.
“I think there could be a chance, hopefully,” Ott said. “There are a couple rules in there; I didn’t pass a couple of them, so we have to appeal it.”
Ferentz also hopes his team could get Ott back for another season. He had 7.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles in limited action (the Trumbull, Nebraska, native also suffered a dislocated elbow) through six games.
“Absolutely, we’d be crazy not to try it. I think there’s a fair case to be heard. I don’t know how the NCAA rules on things,” Ferentz said. “I really don’t pretend to be an expert in that regard, but I think if you listen to the whole case, it’s worth at least presenting, and we’ll see where it takes us.”
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