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Despite a 31-14 home defeat to Ohio State last weekend, the Iowa Hawkeyes remain in contention for the Big Ten Championship. The loss prevented Iowa from securing a second straight victory over a ranked opponent, following their impressive road win at Michigan to close out September. However, with no other ranked teams currently on their schedule, the path to the conference title game is still clear for Kirk Ferentz's squad.
Iowa's immediate challenge is to bounce back from a disappointing performance. The Hawkeyes must navigate a tough road trip, starting with a visit to Washington, a team capable of causing problems. That game is followed by another potential stumbling block on October 24 at Minnesota. Additionally, the status of quarterback Hank Brown, who was injured against Ohio State, remains uncertain. Brown, who became the primary quarterback after sharing duties in Week 1, struggled mightily against the Buckeyes, completing only 12 of 27 passes for 132 yards and an interception. Backup Jeremy Hecklinski provided a spark, completing all five of his attempts for 67 yards, nearly 10 yards more per completion than Brown.
Key Analysis
Iowa's running game was also stifled by Ohio State, managing just 1.9 yards per carry. While the game situation contributed to that, such inefficiency cannot continue if the Hawkeyes hope to run the table. After the two road games, Iowa returns home to face Wisconsin to close out October. November opens with a trip to a resurgent Northwestern team, followed by a home matchup against Purdue, known for its dangerous offense. Road games at Illinois and a season finale against Nebraska round out the schedule. If Iowa can address its issues and get back to its strengths, a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game is well within reach.
Originally reported by yahoo.