This Iowa game is a BFG

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Stan

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I'm not sure if we're good or not. Blew out two bad teams, lost to a solid P4 team after missing 2 FGs and just playing OK. But I think we have a shot to be better than most expected and this Iowa game is a BIG FN GAME to determine if we can do something big this year. Beating Iowa back to back years would be huge, casual fans would take notice and it gives us buffer with a tough few weeks ahead. Lose this one and we are starring 2-4 in the face. Obviously its a week to week sport and our goal is to be 1-0 in the Iowa Championship Season, but this is a big opportunity.

I'm already working on drafts of my official thread post. I need to meet the moment. It's not lost on me.
 



This game is a huge game for many reasons:

  • This is 110% PJ's roster. These are his guys and his system. We need to matchup (and better) physically and athletically against Iowa across all teams.
  • Let's see if our passing game can ball out. If we can toss the ball around the field and hit those deep crosses and fades, I'll have a lot of confidence going into the next few weeks.
  • This is do or die for our front 7. We have an elite d-line and let's see if our LB corps is ready to go to war with this Iowa running game. Their RB is no joke and I hope our boys brought their big boy pants
  • Kesich missed two big FG's against Iowa and in this several week stretch we'll need him to keep us in or win games.

Go Gophs.Y'all know there's no reason f'ing Iowa City should have a better football program than us
 

I've lived in Des Moines area for 40 plus years. I just love to bet the frickin Iowegians. It doesn't happen nearly enough. It really should happen this year.
 


A home game against a good, not great opponent. These are games the Gophers should win. There are teams that have been down, below us that are gaining serious momentum. Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska & Northwestern are on the upswing. Rutgers is, too. It would be a bad look if we started losing ground to these teams this deep into PJ's tenure.
 

From a Hawkeye fan site. This guy apparently knows that several of the Iowa wins against PJ have been the result of our missed chances in games played with a razor thin margin, rather than Iowa’s dominance. Fix it this year.IMG_7444.jpeg
 

Gophergrandpa said:
From a Hawkeye fan site. This guy apparently knows that several of the Iowa wins against PJ have been the result of our missed chances in games played with a razor thin margin, rather than Iowa’s dominance. Fix it this year.View attachment 33638
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This is actually a perfect recap of the Minnesota/Iowa rivalry. Hope his score is wrong - but both teams HATE beating each other and will try nearly everything to lose the game.

Lots of fluke plays in the past - best running back in recent school history having a career game and fumbles in the closing minutes inside the 20. Fast forward a year later, and Cooper DeJean, who was an absolute stud, made an amazing punt return only to have it negated due to him waving his arms and suddenly every Iowa and Minnesota fan became an expert on Valid and Invalid Fair Catches.
 
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It COULD BE a Crossroads game for the program. Lose and maybe only win 2 more games all year? Win, playing really well, and build momentum. Maybe only lose 2 more games all year?
 

Perich pick six buries Iowa, book it.
 





In the last 20 matchups, we have won 5 times and two in the last 10 years. Cannot be disappointed to lose, but shocking to win.
 

GridironGus said:
It COULD BE a Crossroads game for the program. Lose and maybe only win 2 more games all year? Win, playing really well, and build momentum. Maybe only lose 2 more games all year?
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I don't know if it's quite that dire. But if we want to have a decent season, this pretty much needs to be a win. We already lost a winnable game against UNC. We follow this with Michigan and USC, so we could be looking at 2-4 with a loss.
 


tpbeight said:
A home game against a good, not great opponent. These are games the Gophers should win. There are teams that have been down, below us that are gaining serious momentum. Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska & Northwestern are on the upswing. Rutgers is, too. It would be a bad look if we started losing ground to these teams this deep into PJ's tenure.
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Would be a bad look? Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern all may not have better teams than we do, but they have better coaches - something Illinois and Northwestern proved last year. I think Maryland uses fear the turtle. That should be Minnesota fans mantra with our head cheerleader.

Rutger's should end up like the Iowa game, two teams battling to not lose. Fleck is a Schiano disciple.
 

My prediction: turnovers will play a big role in this game. We will be hearing Blur's "Song #2" multiple times at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday night. If those turnovers can be converted into TDs, we'll keep Floyd home.
 

1983 said:
In the last 20 matchups, we have won 5 times and two in the last 10 years. Cannot be disappointed to lose, but shocking to win.
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Could not disagree more about not being disappointed to lose. The last 5-6 years are all that really matter because those games involve players that are still around. And while Iowa has gotten the better of the W/L record the margin between the teams has been razor thin with most of the games decided by a couple of points and often on a fluky play of some kind.

Looking just at the record would make you think Iowa is dominating the series but the games have been significantly closer than the record would indicate. It would be surprising to beat a team like Ohio State, it would not be surprising to beat Iowa because we have been right there with them the past few years.
 


Both teams get exposed:

Iowa for being overrated
Minnesota for being underrated

This Gopher team has a different vibe. Was at the URI and Nevada games. These players all love each other and they are locked in with their coaches and the system. I think we are all going to be see fireworks.
 

Coach needs to improve his best.

Change not warranted given how close the games have been under the Fleck-Ferentz Era of this storied rivalry.

Always great to see Captain Kirk lose his smirk.

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Honestly, I'm trying to approach this game with zero expectations. Neutral emotion is the goal.... now here's the rub, the more friends offer me shots or beers the more my ability to remain a grey stone is challenged. It's the game within the game people.

Since it feels better to be confident that the Joe Mauer "aww shucks" routine, I'm saying we walk away with a 27-24 victory. Defenses play worse than expected, and a back and forth fourth quarter comes down to a fateful kick through the uprights of our favorite big ten kicker of the year.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Could not disagree more about not being disappointed to lose. The last 5-6 years are all that really matter because those games involve players that are still around. And while Iowa has gotten the better of the W/L record the margin between the teams has been razor thin with most of the games decided by a couple of points and often on a fluky play of some kind.

Looking just at the record would make you think Iowa is dominating the series but the games have been significantly closer than the record would indicate. It would be surprising to beat a team like Ohio State, it would not be surprising to beat Iowa because we have been right there with them the past few years.
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Offensively Iowa has moved back to its mean, and while good, the defense is not what it has been in the last several years. If Gophs score 20+ I think they win. My guy says they score close to 30 and Iowa under 20.
 

caliGopher said:
Would be a bad look? Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern all may not have better teams than we do, but they have better coaches - something Illinois and Northwestern proved last year. I think Maryland uses fear the turtle. That should be Minnesota fans mantra with our head cheerleader.

Rutger's should end up like the Iowa game, two teams battling to not lose. Fleck is a Schiano disciple.
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How did NW prove that they have better coaches? Also Bielema has yet to show that he can build a program.
 

Hates Monikers said:
I don't know if it's quite that dire. But if we want to have a decent season, this pretty much needs to be a win. We already lost a winnable game against UNC. We follow this with Michigan and USC, so we could be looking at 2-4 with a loss.
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Michigan is terrible with no QB, and may prove to be one of the biggest one year dropoffs for a national champ in a while (it’s not inconceivable they could struggle to bowl eligibility). Iowa is average with below average QB. Wisconsin is below average and lost their average QB. Gophs could possibly win the Pig, Jug and Axe in the same year though all 3 opponents may end up like 6-6.
 

btowngopher said:
How did NW prove that they have better coaches? Also Bielema has yet to show that he can build a program.
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This year is probably the time to assess Bielema’s program building, his 4th year in Illinois which is starting out quite good so far.

Northwestern’s very green staff did outcoach PJ last year and Braun won COY. So there is some objective evidence though it needs to be sustained.
 

Arminius said:
Both teams get exposed:

Iowa for being overrated
Minnesota for being underrated

This Gopher team has a different vibe. Was at the URI and Nevada games. These players all love each other and they are locked in with their coaches and the system. I think we are all going to be see fireworks.
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Completely agree. Having not given up a point in 8 quarters and a touchdown since the 2nd quarter of the UNC game, I'd say we're vibing. Not saying URI and UNR are powerhouses of any kind, but being dominate on defense like that and the offense figuring things out is a sign of things looking up. Let's goooo
 

btowngopher said:
How did NW prove that they have better coaches? Also Bielema has yet to show that he can build a program.
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1)

9.23.23 after 3 quarters:

Gophers 31
Northwestern 10

Final

Gophers 34
Northwestern 37

Turtling on a Teenage Mutant Ninja level.

2)
11.4.23

Roughly one minute to go in the game, Luke Altimeter, starting QB is injured. 4th and 11 from their own 15 yard line, the backup QB enters the game.

3 plays, 85 yards and roughly 20 seconds later, Illinois score a touchdown, win 27-26.

Bielema at Illinois in the B1G

12-15 through the first three years after taking over a real dumpster fire.

25% of his victories in the B1G through 2023 are against Fleck. 3-0.

None of this brings me joy.
 

caliGopher said:
1)

9.23.23 after 3 quarters:

Gophers 31
Northwestern 10

Final

Gophers 34
Northwestern 37

Turtling on a Teenage Mutant Ninja level.

2)
11.4.23

Roughly one minute to go in the game, Luke Altimeter, starting QB is injured. 4th and 11 from their own 15 yard line, the backup QB enters the game.

3 plays, 85 yards and roughly 20 seconds later, Illinois score a touchdown, win 27-26.

Bielema at Illinois in the B1G

12-15 through the first three years after taking over a real dumpster fire.

25% of his victories in the B1G through 2023 are against Fleck. 3-0.

None of this brings me joy.
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None of it proves either is a better coach either.
 

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