The Daily Iowan Pregame - 10.18.2019

The Daily Iowan

PREGAME SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 IOWA VS. PURDUE KINNICK STADIUM

DEDICATION TRISTAN WIRFS’ JOURNEY TO THE STATE WRESTLING FINALS AS A SENIOR BEGAN WITH A LETTER. NOW, THE LESSONS HE LEARNED THAT YEAR ARE AT THE FRONT OF IOWA’S O-LINE.

2 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019

REMEMBER WHEN ...

Iowa Starters WR TE LT LG C RG RT WR QB RB FB PK

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Brandon Smith Nate Wieting Alaric Jackson Landan Paulsen Tyler Linderbaum Mark Kallenberger Tristan Wirfs Ihmir Smith-Marsette Nate Stanley Mekhi Sargent Brady Ross Keith Duncan

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LE DT DT RE LEO MLB WLB LC SS FS RC P

57 95 91 94 49 34 32 11 9 28 8 22

Chauncey Golston Cedrick Lattimore Brady Reiff A.J. Epenesa Nick Niemann Kristian Welch Djimon Colbert Michael Ojemudia Geno Stone Jack Koerner Matt Hankins Michael Sleep-Dalton

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JR. SR. SR. JR. JR. SR. SO. SR. JR. SO. JR. SR.

Purdue Starters

Whitney Kidder/The Daily Iowan

Iowa tight end Dallas Clark runs away from Purdue free safety Stuart Schweigert on Oct. 5, 2002. The Hawkeyes hold a 9-5 record against the Boilermakers since.

Before Iowa rose to No. 3 in the AP Poll in 2002, it sat unranked until its Week 6 matchup with Purdue on Oct. 5, 2002.

With a fresh No. 24 ranking — Iowa’s first time in the poll since 1997 — the Hawkeyes escaped Kinnick Stadium with a 31-28 win over the Boilermakers. With 2:16 left in the game, Iowa quarterback Brad Banks led the Hawkeyes on an 87-yard drive with no timeouts to set up a game-winning 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Clark on fourth-and-goal. Iowa used two scores on special teams to stay within reach, including a blocked field goal that was returned by Antwan Allen and a blocked punt by Sean Considine that Jermire Roberts recovered in the end zone. Iowa found more magic in the third quarter when Banks hit Clark for a 95-yard touchdown to give the Hawkeyes a 24-14 lead. Purdue fought back with two rushing touchdowns in the fourth, but Iowa’s final drive proved to be too much for the Boilermakers.

Most of Banks’ success throwing to the ball was thanks to his tight end. Clark led the way for the Hawkeyes in the air attack, hauling in three passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Banks finished 14-of-22 for 226 yards and the two scores to Clark. Running back Fred Russell also posted a solid performance on the ground, rushing for 109 yards on 22 carries. On the other side of the ball, defensive backs Bob Sanders and Adolphus Shelton intercepted passes to keep Purdue at bay.

Publisher: Jason Brummond Editor-in-Chief: 335-6030 Marissa Payne Managing Editor: Brooklyn Draisey Managing News Editor: Kayli Reese Managing Digital Editor: Aadit Tambe Creative Director: Katina Zentz

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Pregame Editors: Pete Ruden, Asst. Anna Kayser Sports Editors: Anna Kayser, Asst. Robert Read Photo Editors: Shivansh Ahuja, Katie Goodale TV Directors: Lucy Rohden Asst. Sports Jon Rawson Copy Chief: Beau Elliot

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David Bell Grant Hermanns Mark Stickford Sam Garvin Matt McCann Eric Miller Brycen Hopkins Jackson Anthrop Amad Anderson Jr. Jack Plummer King Doerue J.D. Dellinger

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FR. JR. SO. SO. SR. #FR. SR. JR. #FR. #FR. FR. JR.

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Derrick Barnes Kai Higgins Lawrence Johnson George Karlaftis Jaylan Alexander Ben Holt Cornel Jones Cory Trice Navon Mosley Jalen Graham Dedrick Mackey Brooks Cormier

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JR. SR. #FR. FR. SO. SR. JR. #FR. SR. FR. SO. FR.

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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019 - 3

4 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019

Iowa offensive lineman Tristian Wirfs prepares for a play the Iowa football game against Penn State in Iowa City on Oct. 12. Wirfs has utilized what he learned in wrestling in his football games.

Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan

From the mat to the field Before he played a key role for Iowa’s offensive line, Hawkeye offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs found himself on the podium during his successful prep wrestling career.

BY ANNA KAYSER anna-kayser@uiowa.edu

Atop the 2017 heavyweight WaMaC Conference wrestling podium stood Aaron Costello, a wrestler who would go on to win the Class 3A state title and redshirt at Iowa later that year.

Beside him, one peg lower but nevertheless towering over him, stood another Iowa commit, one that would claim his own state title that year in Class 2A. To get there, though, was a success story in itself.

As Tristan Wirfs walked out in front of the Mount Vernon crowd as part of the 2016 homecoming court, his bio of many sports accolades was read over the loudspeaker.

“Three years of wrestling,” the PA announcer said.

After months of hearing rumors around town and never giving up hope, Aaron Truitt — Mount Vernon’s assistant wrestling coach and longtime teacher, coach, and mentor to

Wirfs — went to confront him.

“Hey Tristan, they messed up your bio,” he recalled saying.

Wirfs laughed it off, but Truitt was serious.

He made him a deal: finish out football season, and after it was over, they would sit down to talk about Wirfs’ future on the mat.

Wirfs was hesitant to wrestle from his freshman year. Mount Vernon needed a heavyweight, and Wirfs, being a big guy, was the ideal candidate. But he didn’t want to be

shoved into the role.

So, Truitt and the rest of the coaching staff made him a deal, their first of his career. He would wrestle varsity in dual meets, and in weekend tournaments, he would have his pick between the JV and varsity squads.

It didn’t take long for Wirfs to stick with the big guys, but that freshman year proved to be a tough one. He went 10-27 at the varsity level.

“You can’t judge the experience off of your freshman season,” Truitt recalled telling

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019 - 5

Wirfs. “You have to wait until February 2017 when you’re a senior, the final chapter is written.”

In his junior year, he was one spot from standing on the podium at state, and that could have been it. Instead, Wirfs came on a visit to Iowa and talked to Landan and Levi Paulsen, two more of Iowa’s many offensive linemen that found wrestling success in high school.

“I’ve grown up knowing them through wrestling, so it’s really exciting seeing that whole offense and defense just evolve, and that wrestling’s kind of at the core of some of the talents that they have,” Costello said.

After visiting Iowa, Wirfs made his decision.

He wrote Truitt a letter and sent it before Mount Vernon’s annual fall chili cook-off that year.

“He basically said, ‘Hey, you told me three years ago when I was a freshman that February 2017 is when I’ll write the final chapter of my wrestling career. I’m going to see it through,’” Truitt recalled.

The importance of what he could accomplish wasn’t lost on Wirfs.

“And I think I said, ‘I want my name up on the wall’ in the wrestling room,” Wirfs said.

“That’s where our state champs are; they’re

painted on the wall. So, it [was] kind of just me telling them I’m holding up my end of the bargain.”

The first step was done: commit to wrestling. Wirfs then had to lose the weight he had put on for football and would eventually need the next fall at Iowa.

At the end of football season, he weighed 325 pounds, 40 pounds over the heavyweight limit. He made the cut in four-to-five weeks, but his commitment to wrestling showed the most after the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Game, which Wirfs was selected to play in.

After taking a few days off for school and recovery, Wirfs got back into the wrestling

room, and Truitt asked how much time he would need to get back down to weight.

“Who do we wrestle tomorrow? Do they have heavyweights?” Truitt recalled Wirfs asking.

“Yeah,” Truitt said back.

“Well, I’ll make it tomorrow then,” Wirfs replied.

From spending the night at his head coach’s house the first time he was cutting weight to help fight the temptation of getting up in the middle of the night to eat to being all-in committed to helping the wrestling program succeed no matter what the personal cost, Wirfs’ work ethic has transferred SEE WIRFS, 6

Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan

Iowa offensive lineman Tristian Wirfs walks along the field during the Iowa football game against Penn State in Iowa City on Oct. 12. Wirfs was an Iowa state wrestling champion before his time at Iowa.

Shivansh Ahuja/The Daily Iowan

Iowa offensive line Tristan Wirfs defends quarterback Nate Stanley during the Iowa-Penn State game in Kinnick Stadium on Oct. 12. Wirfs, a multi-sport start in high school, is a potential first-round 2020 NFL Draft pick.

6 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019

WIRFS CONTINUED FROM 5

from the wrestling mat to the football field with ease.

On Aug. 31, Iowa’s first football game of the season, offensive tackle Alaric Jackson went down with an injury. Wirfs moved from right tackle to the left side of the offensive line, something that he didn’t do much of in practice.

It worked out for the Hawkeyes, however, and they downed Miami (Ohio) 38-14 while the

makeshift offensive line

helped the running game

to 213 yards and left

Nate Stanley un protected for a sack only once. “[Wirfs] did a good job sliding in and then Levi [Paulsen] slid out to the tackle position and didn’t seem to be affected, either,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “That’s one benefit of having guys that have played.

But not every player is capable of doing that, too. I’ll qualify it by saying that.”

Paired with Wirfs on the offensive line this year is center Tyler Linderbaum, who also stood on the same WaMaC conference podium as Wirfs and Costello in the third- place position.

“It’s kind of a cool thing, just seeing three guys that you know coming into the Big Ten, living out their dreams of playing sports and all that,” Linderbaum said.

Linderbaum pinned Wirfs in his last meet before state, and that was the mo- ment Wirfs’ mindset and the way he wres-

tled changed. After talking to Truitt and

the other coaches, he started pushing the

envelope in his matches and being more

aggressive for a full seven minutes.

Wirfs beat his first two opponents in

the state tournament in wide margins for

heavyweight standards, but the night be-

fore the finals match, he came down with

the flu.

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Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan

Iowa offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs prepares to block Penn State’s Jayson Oweh on Oct. 12

“I woke up, and I took a lot of ibuprofen,” Wirfs said. “I was drinking like a bottle of honey because I had a sore throat. Then, I went out there and I think my adrenaline kicked in there before the match.”

Wirfs wrestled the opponent he lost to in his final match during his senior year, giving him a chance to show how far he had come.

“Even though it was a close match on the scoreboard, Tristan was in control pretty much the whole match and ended up getting a takedown with about a minute left, so I think 3-2 was the final score,” Truitt said. “It was an awesome ending, a storybook ending, and in my career, that’s definitely one of the highs.”

That wasn’t the last time Wirfs made a mark on Mount Vernon athletics.

As a four-year letter winner on the track team, he was the fourth Iowa

male prep to win both the shot put and discus titles in back-to-back years and the first to win three-straight discus titles since the 1950s. His career-best throw of 66-3 1/4 in the shot put ranked sixth-best nationally and second-best all-time in the state of Iowa.

Being an all-around athlete has propelled Wirfs into his success on the football field thus far, helping him to a starting role in the final eight games of his freshman year and every game since.

“From track, it’s just explosiveness.

You’ve got to be quick and explosive through the ranks,” Wirfs said. “And wrestling, people ask that a lot. I think the biggest thing is body control. It’s just being able to tell where you’re able to flip your hips and stuff like that, that kind of translates to football, so if you get in a weird position on a block to be able to stay on your feet.”

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019 - 7

Go Hawks!

Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan

Iowa offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs blocks a Nittany Lion in Iowa’s game against Penn State on Oct. 12. Wirfs competed against current teammate Tyler Linderbaum and Hawkeye wrestler Aaron Costello in wrestling in high school.

It’s kind of a cool thing, just seeing three guys that you know coming into the Big Ten living out their dreams of playing sports.

- Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum

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8 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019

SCOUTING REPORT

PURDUE

Pete Mills

peter-mills@uiowa.edu

Katina Zentz/The Daily Iowan

Purdue wide receiver Terry Wright catches a pass during the Iowa/Purdue game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Nov. 3, 2018. The Boilermakers defeated the Hawkeyes, 38-36.

Coming into the season, Purdue was thought to be a serious threat to win the Big Ten West, but a tough first half of the season full of offensive woes has brought the team to a 2-4 start.

The center of Purdue’s troubles so far this season starts with its inability to run the football, along with its refusal to even try. The Boilermakers average a dismal 2.2 yards per carry this season, which puts it only ahead of Akron in the FBS. For perspective, Iowa is putting up 4.1 yards per carry, granted the number is much lower against Power 5 opponents.

This makes it difficult to convert on third downs. Purdue finds itself in several third-and-long situations, because its run game can’t afford its offense options on first and second down.

The predictability of pass plays in third-and-long situations makes it easy for feisty Big Ten defenses, and this is

without even mentioning the Boilermakers’ struggles at the offensive tackle position.

Purdue ranks No. 64 in the FBS in third-down conversion percentage at just over 40.2.

Penn State took full advantage of mismatches here on third-and-long situations. The Nittany Lions fully expect a pass and bring a lot of pressure on the outside in Purdue’s weakest parts of its offensive line. Penn State recorded 10 sacks in its win over Purdue.

The Boilermakers dropped four of their first five games this season because of their lopsided offense. This led to a massive change in personnel by head coach Jeff Brohm last week, who inserted three new starters into the struggling offensive line. His team bounced back.

Purdue still relied heavily on its SEE PURDUE, 13

10 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019

IOWA HAWKEYES vs. PU

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2019 | KIN

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Nolan Donald Wes Dvorak Peyton Mansell Ryan Gersonde Tyrone Tracy Jr. Keith Duncan Nate Stanley Dane Belton Oliver Martin Jestin Jacobs Ihmir Smith-Marsette Spencer Petras Colten Rastetter Alex Padilla Matt Hankins Jack Combs Geno Stone Mekhi Sargent Caleb Shudak Connor Kapisak Michael Ojemudia Brandon Smith D.J. Johnson Henry Marchese Joe Evans Daraun McKinney Tyler Goodson Dallas Craddieth Charlie Jones Terry Roberts Ryan Schmidt Devonte Young Drew Cook John Milani Max Cooper Mike Timm Keontae Luckett Julius Brents Ivory Kelly-Martin Thomas Hartlieb Samson Evans Michael Sleep-Dalton Shadrick Byrd Kaevon Merriweather Jermari Harris Toren Young Jack Koerner Jackson Ritter Sebastian Castro Quinn Schulte Jack Campbell Djimon Colbert Riley Moss Kristian Welch Barrington Wade Brady Ross Mitch Riggs Kyler Fisher Monte Pottebaum Nate Wieting Turner Pallissard Johnny Plewa Colton Dinsdale Shaun Beyer

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Dillon Doyle Seth Benson Joe Ludwig Tommy Kujawa Logan Klemp Noah Feldman Nick Anderson Bryce Schulte Nick Niemann Louie Stec Jackson Subbert Amani Jones Spencer Daufeldt Matt Fagan Daviyon Nixon Luke Empen Yahweh Jeudy Nick DeJong Clayton Thurm Chauncey Golston Taylor Fox Nathan Nelson Noah Fenske Cole Banwart Justin Britt Kyler Schott Tyler Linderbaum Levi Paulsen Dalles Jacobus Landan Paulsen Tyler Endres Kyle Sorensen Mark Kallenberger Coy Kirkpatrick Cody Ince Tristan Wirfs Austin Schulte Jeff Jenkins Ezra Miller Alaric Jackson Jack Plumb Josiah Miamen Desmond Hutson Ben Subbert Calvin Lockett Alec Kritta Sam LaPorta Austin Spiewak Logan Lee Nate Vejvoda Javon Foy Jackson Frericks Nico Ragaini Taajhir McCall Brady Reiff John Waggoner Jake Karchinski A.J. Epenesa Cedrick Lattimore Lucas Amaya Zach VanValkenburg Chris Reames Noah Shannon

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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019 - 11

URDUE BOILERMAKERS

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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019 - 13

2.2 7

Yards per carry

Forced turnovers

40.2

Third-down conversion percentage

2-4 Record

Nick Rohlman/The Daily Iowan

A Purdue All-American Marching Band member stands with their oversized bass drum during the Iowa/ Purdue game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Nov. 3, 2018.

PURDUE

CONTINUED FROM 8 passing game in its win over Maryland last week, but its 3.4 yards per carry in the game was a massive improvement since the team failed to gain positive yards on the ground against Penn State in its previous game.

Because its run game was marginally better in the win over Maryland, it opened

up opportunities through the air.

Purdue quarterback Jack Plummer fakes a handoff to the running back — with Maryland linebackers spying in the second tier — and Plummer goes deep to wide receiver Milton Wright for a touchdown. Any sort of running attack that keeps a defense honest like this goes a long way in establishing an explosive offense.

On the other side of the ball, Purdue’s

defense will be equipped to face the Iowa offense. The Hawkeyes have struggled greatly protecting the ball in their two recent losses to Michigan and Penn State, as Nate Stanley has thrown four interceptions and running backs have coughed up two fumbles.

But Purdue has had issues forcing turnovers this season, a welcome sight for the Hawkeye offense. The Boilermakers have only forced two fumbles on the year, which

is tied for last in the conference. The secondary has picked off five passes, which is respectable but still keeps it in the bottom half of the Big Ten in that category.

Purdue took down Maryland handily last week, 40-14, largely due to changes it made on offense. Whether that speaks more to the quality of its opponent or its progress has yet to be seen, but it seems that Iowa is set up to have a more manageable matchup on Saturday.

14 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019

BIG TEN MATCHUPS Pete Ruden

peter-ruden@uiowa.edu

How are we already halfway through the regular season?

POWER RANKINGS 1) Ohio State

Stop me if you’ve seen Ohio State at No. 1 before.

2) Wisconsin

Who would’ve thought Jack Coan would be better than Alex Hornibrook? Probably a lot of people in Madison, that’s who.

3) Penn State

No. 4 Ohio State vs. Northwestern Friday | 7:30 p.m. | FS1

No. 1 vs. No. 13 in our power rankings. I think we know which way this game’s going.

No. 23 Iowa vs. Purdue 11 a.m. | ESPN2

Finally, a game against a team that isn’t a top-four Big Ten program.

Maybe the offense can get rolling in this one.

No. 6 Wisconsin vs. Illinois 11 a.m. | BTN

Wisconsin has posted quadruple the number of shutouts Ohio State has. I smell another one coming.

No. 20 Minnesota vs. Rutgers

The Nittany Lions deserve this after going through a night game in Kinnick and winning.

4) Michigan

I heard Ann Arbor wasn’t a very nice lady, but after visiting Ann Arbor two weeks ago, I’m not convinced that’s true.

5) Minnesota

Last year, a member of the Pregame staff put Minnesota at No. 4 to start the season. Now, the Gophers are actually getting close to deserving that kind of praise.

6) Iowa

The offense might be broken, but for Hawkeye fans’ sakes, at least Iowa’s still better than Nebraska.

7) Michigan State

I’m not going to dock Michigan State for getting blanked by Wisconsin because it has happened to three other teams, too.

8) Indiana The epitome of average just doing its thing.

2:30 p.m. | BTN

9) Nebraska

The Gophers will win because of Lil Yachty’s “Minnesota.” And because it’s good at beating inferior conference foes.

10) Purdue

Indiana vs. Maryland 2:30 p.m. | BTN

Average vs. Mediocre, but only one can come out on on top. Which team wins that game? I’ll go with average.

No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 16 Michigan 6:30 p.m. | ABC

Penn State fared pretty well in its night game last week. I guess we’ll see if there’s a difference between Kinnick and Beaver Stadium.

*Nebraska fans begin claiming a 2020 title* Purdue’s leading passer and leading rusher had quite a day against Maryland last week.

11) Maryland

Remember when the Terrapins put up 142 points in the first two weeks? I don’t think they do, either.

12) Illinois

Illinois is finally moving up in the world.

13) Northwestern

Zero to 100 real quick? More like Big Ten West champs to No. 13 in the Pregame power rankings real quick.

14) Rutgers

What else can you expect when you play in New Jersey?

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019 - 15

Where can Iowa improve most?

Pregame Editor Pete Ruden and Assistant Sports Editor Robert Read debate which areas the Hawkeyes need to refine the most as they enter the second half of the season.

BY PETE RUDEN AND ROBERT READ daily-iowan@uiowa.edu

Forcing turnovers Iowa hasn’t been the team fans have come to know and love this season.

The Hawkeyes have ranked in the top 10 in the nation in interceptions in three of the past four seasons.

After finishing tied for 10th in picks in 2015, Iowa led the FBS with 21 in 2017 before ending 2018 tied for second with 20 interceptions.

Right now, the Hawkeyes sit tied for 72nd in the country with four picks.

Iowa’s rosters in those strong days boasted some players who will go down in Hawkeye history such as Desmond King, Josh Jackson, and Amani Hooker.

While all of those players are gone, it’s not like Iowa doesn’t have players who can step up.

Despite the secondary getting nicked up for a good chunk of the season, cornerback Michael Ojemudia and safety Geno Stone have been anchors for the defensive-back group.

Ojemudia has racked up two picks this season, and Stone added another against Michigan Oct. 5. Outside of those two players, only linebacker Djimon Colbert has intercepted a pass.

At this point last season, Iowa had forced eight interceptions — double what it has in 2019.

While the Hawkeyes have recovered three fumbles this season — including two clutch scoops against Iowa State on Sept. 14 — there needs to be more.

Iowa’s defense still ranks fourth in the conference, giving up only 10.2 points per game, but if the Hawkeyes find a way to force more turnovers, it’ll give their offense more opportunities to put points on the board — something it has struggled with as of late.

-Pete Ruden

Red-zone offense Halfway through the 2019 season, Iowa has done a lot of things well. The Hawkeyes boast a 4-2 record and one of the best defenses in the nation.

Michael Sleep-Dalton and Keith Duncan have both been exceptional on special teams for the Hawkeyes, particularly in Iowa’s dramatic victory over Iowa State.

Where Iowa has struggled the most this season — most notably against Michigan and Penn State — is on offense. In particular, the offense has struggled finishing off drives with touchdowns.

Nate Stanley and the Iowa offense have been reasonably successful moving the ball down the field this season. However, when the offense gets into the red zone, the Hawkeyes sputter.

A combination of giving up sacks, committing penalties, and poor play-calling has forced

Duncan to attempt far too many field goals this season. Or, even worse for Iowa, red-zone trips don’t lead to any points at all.

Iowa’s losses against the Wolverines and Nittany Lions were close ones, and if Iowa punched the ball into the end zone after many opportunities in opposing territory, the games may have gone very differently.

The Iowa offensive line has been a revolving door of sorts this season, so some signs of struggle are to be expected. But when the offense has threats such as Brandon Smith and Ihmir Smith-Marsette at receiver and Mekhi Sargent and Tyler Goodson at running back, scoring touchdowns — especially after entering opposing territory — should be an expectation.

Iowa has a chance to improve upon this facet of the game in the second half of the season, and it will need to in order to keep Big Ten West hopes alive.

-Robert Read

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16 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019

ON THE LINE Matchups

Pete Ruden

Anna Kayser

Robert Read

Pete Mills

Lucy Rohden

Jon Rawson

Jason Brummond

PREGAME EDITOR (16-14)

SPORTS EDITOR (16-14)

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR (15-15)

FOOTBALL REPORTER (15-15)

DITV DIRECTOR (18-12)

ASST. DITV SPORTS DIRECTOR (18-12)

PUBLISHER (18-12)

IOWA I will make sure I meet Purdue Pete this time, so we can bond over our cool names.

IOWA I really wanted to pick Purdue, but much like Iowa’s recent offense, I just couldn’t finish.

IOWA Brian Ferentz should start using “Ask Madden.”

IOWA Iowa lost without Nate Stanley’s goatee, and it also lost with the goatee, so I don’t know how to win.

IOWA Two black and cold teams. Two dead and cold offenses.

IOWA Purdue? More like Purdon’t, am I right?

IOWA Hawkeye offense explodes for 17 points.

No. 12 Oregon vs.

No. 25 Washington

OREGON What’s a duck’s favorite drug? Quack!

OREGON Roll.... Ducks?

OREGON The Oregon Duck is an elite mascot.

OREGON I can’t watch Pac-12 games because I go to sleep too early, so I’ll just take Oregon.

OREGON Get your insurance needs with Aflac!

OREGON I have no reason as to why I’m picking the Ducks, but 12 is better than 25.

OREGON The Oregon Duck and Harry the Husky Twitter feud is legendary.

No. 7 Penn State vs.

No. 16 Michigan

PENN STATE Penn State can be pretty good in night games apparently.

PENN STATE Ah, two weeks of pain wrapped up in a nice little primetime game.

PENN STATE ICYMI: Both of these teams beat Iowa.

PENN STATE Beaver Stadium? Whiteout? Michigan? Please.

PENN STATE Penn State will win if it gets more than one net rushing yard.

PENN STATE My sadness continues to mount with college football, much like Penn State up the rankings.

PENN STATE They can compare notes on how bad Iowa’s offense has been in October.

No. 13 Utah vs.

No. 17 Arizona State

UTAH Time for the Utes to celebrate at the Utah bars with their 2-percent beer.

UTAH What exactly is a Ute?

ARIZONA STATE “You play to win the game.” - Herm Edwards

UTAH UTES.

ARIZONA STATE I ain’t betting against the Devil, no freaking way.

UTAH I almost went to Arizona State, but here I am. Roll Utes.

UTAH I’m told Utah is the Iowa of the Pac-12. Works for me.

HAWAII The Air Force battling the Rainbow Warriors sounds like something you read in a history book.

AIR FORCE I’m convinced Pete threw this in here to throw us all off.

AIR FORCE Flyovers at Air Force games must be insane.

HAWAII Good thing Air Force has planes. It had to get to Aloha Stadium somehow.

AIR FORCE It’s feels wrong picking against a team with a mascot that’s a rainbow warrior.

HAWAII Colt Brennan. Don’t tell me he doesn’t play there anymore.

HAWAII I’ve never been to Hawaii or the Air Force.

No. 23 Iowa vs.

Purdue

Hawaii vs.

Air Force

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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019 - 17

18 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019

ONE ON ONE WITH NICO RAGAINI Daily Iowan Assistant Sports Editor Robert Read talked with Iowa wide receiver Nico Ragaini, who is proficient in sign language and has a specific pre-game routine.

The Daily Iowan: What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Nico Ragaini: I just finished a show on HBO. I watched in like three days, all the episodes. It’s called Euphoria. I finished it, so I’m really tired right now. So, just laying in bed, that’s a big thing. Sleep, that’s my favorite thing to do.

DI: What’s your favorite TV show?

Ragaini: Me and my friends back home, right before I left and came here, we used to watch this show called Entourage. It’s a great show. And then right when I came here, my friends here were watching it, so it’s a little thing on the side I like.

DI: What’s the most interesting class you’ve taken while at Iowa?

Ragaini: I take sign language, which I think is so cool. I’m in sign language 2 now. I mean, I could actually hold conversations in sign language now, so I’m pretty pumped up about that.

DI: What’s your favorite movie?

Ragaini: It’s called Shutter Island. I’m going to shout my friend out Livia. She always sends me movies and shows to watch. She sent me that, and I’m obsessed with that movie. I’ve watched it like five times.

DI: What would you be doing if you weren’t playing football?

Ragaini: I’d play lacrosse, definitely. I love lacrosse.

DI: What kind of music do you listen to before a game?

Ragaini: I’ve listened to the same song before every single game since I was like in fourth grade or sixth grade. It’s called “Swagga Like Us.” It’s kind of funny, but that’s my go-to song.

DI: Did you have an athlete that you looked up to growing up?

Ragaini: Like I told you, I listen to the same song every game. I watch Julian Edelman highlights before every single game. I’ve always wanted to be like him. Everyone is always calling me him like there’s similarities and everything. He’s a great route runner. I watch that video and it gets me all hyped up and ready to go.

DI: What is your favorite dessert?

Ragaini: My grandmother back home makes bread pudding, and she puts Nutella in it, and then I eat it with vanilla bean ice cream. I could go for some of that right now.

DI: What’s your favorite food spot in Iowa City?

Ragaini: I feel like it changes. I eat at the same places over and over and over again, and then I’ll get sick of it and then I’ll go somewhere else. Like a couple months ago, I had an Estela’s burrito like twice a week. But now, I’m on to a burger at Stella’s. It’s a good burger.

DI: To you, what’s the best part about being a Hawkeye?

Ragaini: Just the people I’ve met here so far. I live with four other guys, and I truly love them. They’re like my best friends here. Just all the relationships I’ve made and everything is something that most people won’t.

Being on a team like this, it’s so awesome. I really do love it.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019 - 19

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AND IT’S GOOD!

20 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, October 18, 2019

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