I can't remember a year where I wanted to beat Iowa more....
their fans think they're a legitimate playoff team, who will beat OSU
and could beat anyone and win the national title.
Iowa could easily lose Saturday, and the Nebraska game in two weeks could be tough as well. At the same time, if they win out, and play Ohio State in Indy, they are capable of winning that game, and that will put them in the 4 team playoff. If somehow they end up beating Michigan or Michigan State, then they might get jumped by a Big 12 team.
Iowa is a much different team than the 14-51 team. The QB is huge improvement, and the play calling is much better. They also have three very good RBs and the defense is much more solid with one more year of experience, even with #95 DE Ott out. The Offensive line is very good as always.
I think the 2009 era team, with the three great LBs had a better defense, but this one is tough. If Leidner can throw the ball and force them to spread out, then we might be able to run the ball. There is no way this Iowa Defense is better than Michigan's or Ohio State's, even if they are solid.
On a personal note, LB Josey Jewell is from Decorah Iowa and his family owns or owned a great deal of land northwest of town, upriver from Luther College. My grandfather once lived on some of that land, and at one time he and his father (pre 1940) owned some of that same land, and hundreds more acres all around the Upper Iowa River and Bluffton (Village) Iowa. If I had personally inherited all that land, I could spend all my time traveling to all Gopher football games, with tourist stops during the week between games and then living by the beach from January 10th until the end of August. Oh well