Hawkeye Talk with Jimmy Hawk

Can the Iowa offense control the ball enough to keep the potent Ohio State offense off the field long enough to pull off an upset? The offense will need to run the ball and get the passing game going to have a chance. Turnovers and field position will also be a key to the Hawkeyes chances to pull off a major upset. It's hard to believe, but basketball is just around the corner, and Fran's staff has assembled an interesting roster with more athleticism, potential for better defense, and a lot of guys who can knock down threes.

Kaleb Johnson continues his amazing run with 204 yards rushing on just 21 carries. The Iowa offense ran the ball at will, especially in the second half, but the passing game might need a little work in the bye week. The defense was solid other than the two 2nd quarter drives by Minnesota that resulted in touchdowns for the Boat Rowing Minnesotans. PF Fleck losing is always a fun time and even better when it's my Hawkeyes with 270 yards of rushing on the Boat Rowers. Floyd is home!!

The first half was a bit uncomfortable after the Hawkeyes defense gave up a 60 plus yard TD pass and special teams gave up a punt return for a TD....not something we are accustomed to see from the special teams. The defense gave up another long TD pass in the second half, but the offense prevailed with a strong running game and Cade McNamara's 19-23 passing. Next up is the battle for Floyd! Go Hawks!!

The Hawkeyes had first and goal inside the five twice and settled for field goals, making the home crowd unsettled. Then things got stranger, as the Hawkeyes elected to go for two up 19-7 in the 3rd quarter. Chasing points doomed the Hawkeyes, along with a struggling quarterback and a defense that gave up big some big plays in the second half. It looked like the Hawkeyes were going to dominate with over 200 yards rushing, but the passing game stalled and the game slipped away from Iowa. What is next at QB for the Hawks and when do they experiment with Sullivan, the transfer from NW?

After a slow first half with the offense unable to find the endzone, the Hawkeyes' offense turned it on in the second half in a 40-0 victory. It was a very balanced Iowa offense with 251 passing yards and 241 rushing yards. Cade McNamara got hot in the second half and looked like the QB1 we have all been hoping for. Freshman WR Reese Vander Zee had two TD catches, and transfer Jacob Gill also had a TD reception and looked the part. Off the bench, Kaleb Johnson was the star, rushing for two TDs and over 100 yards after sitting out the first half. Next up, it's the ketchup and mustard team from Ames, coming off a win over North Dakota. ND controlled the ball with 42 rushes and controlled the time of possession with 38 minutes but couldn't find the end zone against the Clowns.

How many wins can the Hawkeyes get this year on the gridiron? How many will they get? Position group overviews. Biggest question mark is what will the offense do under Tim Lester? Is the offensive line ready to dominate this season? Will the WR step up to make some explosive plays and help extend drives? Is Cade McNamara ready to go? The defense is going to be SOLID in 2024 with so much experience back, including 8 starters.