By Jordan Hansen
Ugly.
I predicted this game would be ugly before the game, but this is not what I meant. Iowa has been bad in nearly every phase of the game so far and did not look ready for this… any of this… at all.
So what’s worked for the Hawkeyes? On Iowa’s last drive before the half, several screens were called, one to LeShun Daniels Jr. and one to Akrum Wadley. Daniels’ went for 25 yards and Wadley’s went for a TD. That certainly isn’t a play Iowa can rely on, however.
Wide receiver Jerminic Smith also had a couple nice grabs in the first half, including one that went for 27 yards. George Kittle has one catch for 6 yards. He’s very obviously still not healthy and it’s killing the Iowa passing game.
Josey Jewell did have a blocked punt in the first half, but other than him the defense has been pretty forgettable. It can’t do anything to stop Saquon Barkley, who has 12 carries for 116 yards and a touchdown. Brutal.
Nothing’s really gone the Hawkeyes way so far in this game consistently, though they do get the ball back first in the second half. If Iowa can score a touchdown, perhaps it still has a chance. If not… there’s a pretty good chance this game gets unwatchable pretty quickly.
