The Daily Iowan Pregame - 12.04.2020

COMPETITOR KIRK FERENTZ CALLS CENTERS THE MVPS OF AN OFFENSE, AND LUCKILY FOR IOWA, IT HAS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION.

The Daily Iowan

PREGAME SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 IOWA VS. ILLINOIS MEMORIAL STADIUM

2 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020

REMEMBER WHEN...

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Brandon Smith Sam LaPorta Alaric Jackson Cody Ince Tyler Linderbaum Cole Banwart Jack Plumb

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Chauncey Golston Daviyon Nixon Jack Heflin

Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Spencer Petras Tyler Goodson Monte Pottebaum Keith Duncan

Zach VanValkenburg

Barrington Wade Seth Benson Nick Niemann Matt Hankins

Kaevon Merriweather

Jack Koerner Riley Moss Tory Taylor

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Illinois Starters Robin Svec/The Daily Iowan After completing a screen pass, Illinois receiver Jacob Willis is tackled by the Iowa defense and gains no yardage, forcing the Fighting Illini to punt the ball away in Kinnick Stadium on Oct. 13, 2007.

The 2007 season was mostly one to forget for Hawkeye football, but Iowa’s signature moment from that year was upsetting No. 18 Illinois at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa was 2-4 on the season and had lost four games in a row heading into its Oct. 13 matchup against Illinois in 2007. The Fighting Illinni were on a five-game win streak, having just defeated No. 21 Penn State and No. 5 Wisconsin the previous two weeks. The Hawkeyes and Illini were stuck in a defensive battle for most of the game. Illinois took the lead with a 46-yard field goal with 4:42 left in the first quarter to go up 3-0. A Daniel Murray 28-yard kick tied the game at 3-3 just before the end of the first half. Another field goal from Illinois put it up midway through the third quarter, but Iowa finally found the end zone with only six seconds remaining in the quarter. Hawkeye quarterback Jake Christensen connected with tight end Brandon Myers for a 20-yard touchdown and Iowa went up 10-6. That ended up being the final score as Iowa upset Illinois, providing a highlight in an otherweise unremarkable season. Christensen finished 17-of-25 passing Publisher: Jason Brummond Executive Editor: Sarah Watson Pregame Editor: Robert Read Managing Editor: Alexandra Skores Managing Digital Editor: Kelsey Harrell

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on the day with that lone touchdown. Albert Young ran 25 times for 99 yards for Iowa, while also catching four passes for 25 yards. But the player of the game was on defense. Iowa linebacker Mike Humpal tallied 18 tackles, including a sack and 2.5 tackles for loss, against Illinois.

The Hawkeye defense held the Illini to only 287 yards of total offense. Humpal, a senior in 2007, finished the season with 123 tackles and three interceptions, and was a sixth-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2008 NFL Draft. Humpal had help from other Hawkeye defenders that day against Illinois. Adam Shada was second on the team with 10 total tackles, while defensive back Brett Greenwood snagged a pivotal interception.

Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall, who ran for 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2007, ran for only 67 yards against Iowa. Iowa finished the 2007 season 6-6, while Illinois went 9-4 and made an appearance in the Rose Bowl. For more about Humpal and his performance against Illinois in 2007, go to page eight to read his oneon-one interview with The Daily Iowan.

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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020 - 3

ON THE LINE Matchups

No. 19 Iowa vs. Illinois

No. 12 Indiana vs.

No. 16 Wisconsin

Nebraska vs. Purdue

Maryland vs. Michigan

No. 5 Texas A&M vs. Auburn

Robert Read

Austin Hanson

Isaac Goffin

Chris Werner

Kade Overton

Pregame Editor (14-15)

Sports Editor (18-11)

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR (17-12)

Football Reporter (21-8)

DITV Sports Director (15-14)

John Bohnenkamp Jason Brummond Sports Writing Coach (20-9)

IOWA Five in a row.

IOWA Petras > Peters.

IOWA Sorry, mom.

IOWA iLLini.

IOWA Is it too late to redo the first two games?

IOWA Hopefully the Illini aren’t thrown off by the claps.

IOWA All it takes to stop an offense is clapping. Who knew?

WISCONSIN Really wish Penix Jr. was healthy.

WISCONSIN No quarterback vs. nothing to play for.

WISCONSIN The Badgers didn’t enjoy another week off.

INDIANA Wisconsin is kinda done already.

INDIANA Badgers? More like BADgers

WISCONSIN The Badgers won’t need to clap.

WISCONSIN Indiana is good, but not good enough without its starting QB.

NEBRASKA Maybe Nebraska has a reason to clap this game.

PURDUE The Boilermakers don’t need mustaches to win football games.

PURDUE Nebraska is an incoherent team.

PURDUE Gotta get those mustaches right before I can pick you.

PURDUE Purdue is going to do a lot of clapping.

PURDUE Please, Boilermakers, don’t clap.

PURDUE *insert clapping emoji*

MARYLAND I’ve picked Michigan too many times this season.

MARYLAND Maryland’s “M” logo is better than Michigan’s.

MARYLAND There’s a job for Jim Harbaugh in Detroit.

MARYLAND Michigan just lost to the worst Penn State team ever.

MICHIGAN Is Harbaugh coaching for his job? Win.

MARYLAND Claps will echo through the Big House.

MARYLAND Harbaugh increasing his odds of getting that promotion to the NFL.

TEXAS A&M Didn’t work out very well for either of these teams against Alabama.

TEXAS A&M I heard Auburn’s iron levels are low.

AUBURN Ask me about the time I saw Auburn play.

AUBURN “Auburn’s gonna win the football game!”

AUBURN I just want a reason to cheer for Bo Nix.

TEXAS A&M Aggies may clap their way into the CFP.

TEXAS A&M Aggies haven’t been this good since Johnny Football.

Publisher (21-8)

4 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020

Setting the tone

Moving from the defensive line and becoming one of the best centers in the nation? Players like Tyler Linderbaum are ‘few and far between.’

BY ISAAC GOFFIN

isaac-goffin@uiowa.edu Tyler Linderbaum has only been Iowa’s starting center for 19 games but is already one of the best players — if not the best — at his position in the nation. The characteristics necessary to attain that level of success were apparent in Linderbaum from an early age.

Mark Sovers, who was Linderbaum’s elementary physical education teacher in Solon, saw an energetic child who had high expectations for himself. Years later, when Sovers was one of Linderbaum’s coaches for football and track and field at Solon High School, he saw something else in Linderbaum.

“The one thing I noticed when he came to high school was the impact he had on his peers and just the relationships he was able to build with them,” Sovers said.

“And I think that really helped him really be successful as he went along. He just valued those relationships with his peers and brought them to the same level that he expected out of himself.”

Linderbaum, a defensive tackle recruit who now suits up as Iowa’s center, is rated as the best at his position in the Big Ten and in the nation, according to Pro Football Focus. After his performance against Michigan State this season, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the top performer for prospects heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, though Linderbaum doesn’t know what he’ll do after the 2020 season quite yet.

The redshirt sophomore is too focused on dominating the line of scrimmage this season.

Linderbaum, one of Iowa’s two team captains on the offensive side of the ball, allows his starting quarterback, Spencer Petras, time to throw, and the Hawkeye running game to excel. He rarely doesn’t execute an assignment to perfection.

That’s something Kevin Miller, his high school football coach, saw. Miller said he can count on one hand the plays Linderbaum took off in high school.

In Linderbaum’s second season as Iowa’s starting center, the 6-foot-3, 289-pound offensive lineman has helped make the Hawkeye front five one of the best in college football in recent weeks.

Iowa totaled 405 yards of total offense, including 226 rushing yards, in a 49-7 win in Week 3. Linderbaum made a key block on a 71-yard run by Tyler Goodson. As Goodson got past the line of scrimmage,

Shivansh Ahuja/The Daily Iowan Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum throws a block during a football game between Iowa and Nebraska at Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 27. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cornhuskers, 26-20.

Linderbaum blocked a linebacker, steering him away as Goodson broke free.

The Hawkeyes tallied 235 more rushing yards in the following week in a 35-7 win at Minnesota.

Once again, Linderbaum helped Goodson, but in a different way. With Goodson taking a direct snap at Minnesota’s seven-yard line, Linderbaum controlled his man immediately. When Goodson crossed the goal line, Linderbaum had pushed his man to just short of that line.

The consistency continued in Iowa’s 4121 win over Penn State, when the Hawkeyes scored four rushing touchdowns. Goodson scored a 10-yard touchdown against the Nittany Lions. When he stopped running, Linderbaum was the first to congratulate him.

“That’s kind of our mentality, we got to get the ground game going,” Linderbaum said. “It starts up front, it starts with us

five and the tight ends and the running backs hitting the holes.”

The running game is succeeding despite two starters from the beginning of the season — right guard Kyler Schott and right tackle Coy Cronk — missing time with injuries this season.

Cody Ince and Mark Kallenberger, the latter of which is now injured himself, have had to replace those players, and Ince has lined up right next to Linderbaum.

“It makes things on the field a little bit easier and he’s a great communicator on the field,” said Ince, who plays guard.

“Definitely helps out with having your first opportunity in the game as a starter, kind of calm your nerves a little bit, and kind of guide the unit in a positive direction.”

Even with his clear competitiveness, Linderbaum is known to be a funny guy around his teammates, and is a chill guy, Petras said. During their first year at Io-

wa, Linderbaum played the video game Call of Duty with Petras and receiver Nico Ragaini.

Linderbaum showed them how good he was at that game, catching Petras’ and Ragaini’s attention. “[He] had like a 50-game kill streak with only one death,” Petras said. “It was crazy good. At that point, we were like, ‘Whoa, this guy’s pretty good.’ We both see the world pretty similarly. We both love football, both on the same page there. He’s just a great guy to be around.”

Petras, the first year starting quarterback, also appreciates having Linderbaum as the anchor of his team’s offensive line.

Iowa’s offensive identity includes quarterback sneaks, and Linderbaum helps Petras succeed on those plays by getting low on his man and pushing him as far back as he can.

The starting quarterback is one of Lin-

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020 - 5

derbaum’s roommates.

“He never likes to watch highlights or anything like that,” Petras said. “Any kind of praise I give him he’s like try to beat me up after, he’ll make me like one of those d-linemen whenever I try and give him any props or anything.”

It shouldn’t be surprising that Linderbaum is all over the field when executing a great block week after week.

Miller said in high school, Linderbaum played scout team receiver from time to time, though he was an offensive and defensive lineman on game days.

“He could have played at almost any position,” Miller said.

Besides being a three-year letterman in football, Linderbaum was a four-year letterman in baseball and three-year letterman in wrestling and track and field. In his junior year of high school, he pinned former Iowa tackle and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs, and he placed fifth in the state championship as a heavyweight.

“He had a lot of the natural athletic ability that you’re looking for,” Sovers said. “He had that explosiveness and that quickness.

In fact, when he came to us from junior high, one of his goals was to play quarterback when he came in as a freshman because he had a really strong arm and he could throw it a long ways. He just wanted to use that athletic ability. You could see it come through in everything he did because he never did anything that wasn’t full speed or at 100 percent.”

That explosiveness and quickness is useful to Linderbaum in the Big Ten, as he uses those skills for reach blocks and to get great leverage on his man.

As his track and field coach, Sovers saw Linderbaum as a thrower. Linderbaum

qualified for the Drake Relays with a personal best of 54 feet in the shot put his junior year, showing how he could use his body in multiple ways.

“Track and field is interesting because people approach it differently,” Sovers said. “Some people may approach it for other activities that might be down the line a little bit. Some do it to keep them in shape, but Tyler did it because he loved to compete. So, you always saw that every time he went out there and stepped into the ring that he just competed at the highest level possible and never backed down to anyone. That’s what I admired about him.”

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz admired Linderbaum in 2018 when he was a defensive lineman as a freshman.

But then Ferentz’s staff thought he had a chance of being a really good center for them toward the end of the 2018 season, which is why Linderbaum was the second-string center for the Outback Bowl that year.

Shivansh Ahuja/The Daily Iowan Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum throws a block during a football game between Iowa and Nebraska at Kinnick Stadium on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cornhuskers, 26-20.

He just wanted to use that athletic ability. You could see it come through in everything he did because he never did anything that wasn’t full speed or at 100 percent.

- Mark Sover, Linderbaum’s elementary physical education teacher Ferentz said his adeptness showed in the move, and in the end, it was a seamless transition that was kind of amazing in itself. If the Hawkeyes had five Linderbaums, they would all be starting.

“He’s just got a great attitude, Ferentz said. “He loves football, he loves his team-

Shivansh Ahuja/The Daily Iowan Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum throws a block during a football game between Iowa and Nebraska at Kinnick Stadium on Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cornhuskers, 26-20.

mates, and he works at it. He really studies things. He and Petras are in constant communication, so that’s a big thing too, that combo. He’s just a really good football player. And we have had a few of them come through here and he’s certainly in that category.”

Linderbaum already had experience on the other side of the ball prior to flipping to center. In high school, he was forced to play on both sides of the ball because he was too good of a player to stay off the field, plus Solon had a small roster.

Even before Iowa considered making him a center, someone familiar with the Hawkeyes saw some potential for Linderbaum to make big waves.

Former Iowa linebacker James Morris, also a Solon alum, helped the Solon offensive line one summer. During that time, he said if Linderbaum played center at Iowa, he’d be an All-Big Ten player.

Linderbaum’s leadership and communication skills are what Ferentz wants in a center in his system. Ferentz said he always thought that the center has the toughest job on the field because of their need of communication with the quarterback and then having to block. He also said there are certain blocks in Iowa’s offense that aren’t easy to execute.

“Centers are the MVPs,” Ferentz said.

“Quarterbacks think they are big shots, but

if they don’t get the ball, they are going nowhere. You can’t play a game without a center, so it’s just a really important position.”

Linderbaum is considered a top NFL draft prospect should he choose to leave after the season.

That’s not Linderbaum’s focus right now.

“We just take every day as it goes,” Todd Linderbaum, Tyler’s father, said. “We’re not really ahead looking at those things.

Every day is a different day, you get up, you go to practice, you work hard. I think those NFL aspirations and things will take care of themselves if they do happen, you know what I mean. I’ll be honest, we really haven’t discussed it as a family.”

Linderbaum recently changed his degree from enterprise leadership to elementary education. His dad’s side of the family is full of teachers — Todd Linderbaum is a physical education and health teacher at Mark Twain Elementary School in Iowa City. Linderbaum also wants to get into high school coaching.

That’s in the future. Linderbaum is focused on the present and continuing to improve upon his already high level of play. And Iowa is focused on making the most out of its defensive lineman turned (potential) All-American center.

“On the offensive line everything is going to start at the center position,” offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz said. “The guy is going to be your tone setter, going to be your tempo setter, and he’s going to be your bell cow… He has all those measurables that you’re looking for, but the level he’s competing at, his desire to compete and to line up and beat the person across from him, it’s as high as I’ve been around.

“If we can steal some more guys like that from the defense, we’d certainly love to do it. Guys like him are few and far between.”

6 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020

IOWA HAWKEYES vs

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2020 | M

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Aaron Blom Nolan Donald Ryan Gersonde Deuce Hogan Keith Duncan Tyrone Tracy, Jr Dane Belton Leshon Williams Jestin Jacobs Ihmir Smith-Marsette Reggie Bracy Spencer Petras Matt Hankins Alex Padilla Jack Combs Tory Taylor Mekhi Sargent Caleb Shudak Connor Kapisak AJ Lawson Brandon Smith Joe Evans Henry Marchese Quavon Matthews Dallas Craddieth Tyler Goodson Charlie Jones Brenden Deasfernandes Wyatt Wegener Diante Vines Max Cooper Julius Brents Keontae Luckett Thomas Hartlieb Ivory Kelly-Martin Terry Roberts Gavin Williams Jamison Heinz Kaevon Merriweather Jermari Harris Jack Johnson Jack Koerner Isaiah Wagner Sebastian Castro Jackson Ritter Quinn Schulte Jack Campbell Djimon Colbert Johnny Plewa Riley Moss Jay Higgins Barrington Wade Mike Timm Kyler Fisher Monte Pottebaum Turner Pallissard Josef Smith Colton Dinsdale Shaun Beyer Matt Lorbeck Seth Benson

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Deontae Craig Nick Phelps Logan Klemp Nick Anderson Andrew Wilson Ethan Hurkett Bryce Schulte Nick Niemann Zach Kluver Louie Stec Coy Cronk Asher Fahey Spencer Daufeldt Matt Fagan Daviyon Nixon Luke Empen Nick DeJong Chauncey Golston Clayton Thurm Taylor Fox Noah Fenske Cole Banwart Justin Britt Kyler Schott Tyler Linderbaum Dalles Jacobus Tyler Endres Mark Kallenberger Coy Kirkpatrick Cody Ince Austin Schulte Josh Volk Tyler Elsbury Alaric Jackson Mason Richman Jack Plumb Josiah Miamen Desmond Hutson Alec Kritta Sam LaPorta Austin Spiewak Luke Lachey Logan Lee Jameson Witte Tommy Kujawa Elijah Yelverton Isaiah Bruce Jackson Frericks Nico Ragaini Taajhir McCall Lukas Van Ness John Waggoner Jake Karchinski Yahya Black Logan Jones Lucas Amaya Jack Heflin Liam Reardon Zach VanValkenburg Chris Reames Noah Shannon

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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020 - 7

s. FIGHTING ILLINI

MEMORIAL STADIUM | 2:30 PM | FS1

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Isaiah Williams Chase Brown Derrick Smith Jakari Norwood Marquez Beason Khmari Thompson Trevon Sidney Milo Eifler Deuce Spann Tony Adams Coran Taylor Casey Washington Nate Hobbs Josh Imatorbhebhe Desmond Dan Jr. Carlos Sandy Caleb Griffin Matt Robinson James Frenchie Jr. Brian Hightower Blake Hayes Ty Lindenman Delano Ware Josh Beetham Kendall Smith James McCourt Brandon Peters Dalevon Campbell Hugh Robertson Kyron Cumby Jartavius Martin Kenyon Sims Conner Lillig Tahveon Nicholson Nick Fedanzo Kerby Joseph Mike Epstein Matt Bobak Reggie Love III Christian Bobak Sydney Brown Devon Witherspoon Tailon Leitzsey Ezekiel Holmes Ryan Meed Jake Hansen Ben Schultz Jaden Jones-Watkins Isaac Darkangelo Aidan Hall Shammond Cooper

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8 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020

ONE ON ONE WITH

our defense and how he just couldn’t get anything going, couldn’t break any big runs, that sort of thing. So, that specific game sat in his mind as kind of a thorn in his side, I guess, for that season, kind of nice to know that. We didn’t have a ton of successes, you know, lots of wins and big bowl games and all that sort of thing so that was disappointing, but it’s good to know we were able to perform at times.

MIKE HUMPAL

DI: And then kind of going on to your NFL career, I know you were drafted in the ‘08 draft, and then you played in the preseason.

Then, you weren’t on the active roster for the regular season. Can you kind of take me through what your NFL career was like?

Daily Iowan Sports Reporter Chris Werner chatted with Humpal about his 18-tackle performance in 2007 in an upset win over Illinois.

Humpal: It was a lot shorter than I wanted it to be. The NFL, Not For Long. I was drafted in the sixth round by the Steelers and then I was injured on a kickoff in a preseason game, so I ended up being put on injured reserve that year after the Super Bowl, I didn’t get a ring, people always ask, didn’t really contribute much, I was released. So, then I tried out for another year, trained, had multiple tryouts and I couldn’t get signed. I couldn’t pass physicals to get signed due to the injury that I had, a neck injury. That was kind of my exit from my football playing days. Fast forward now and I’m a chiropractor. To help fix people’s neck and back

CHRIS WERNER

christopher-werner@uiowa.edu

DI: Did you become a chiropractor because of your injuries?

The Daily Iowan: What do you remember about that 2007 game? I know Illinois was ranked. And you guys were underdogs, but you came out with the win.

Mike Humpal: I remember a few things in general. I do recall we were having a hard time at that point in the season. I don’t remember exactly where it fell maybe kind of mid-season, somewhere in there but anyhoo, we weren’t playing the greatest, as well as we wanted to.

Illinois was doing really well, they were winning a lot of games, they were ranked. They had a lot of hype over some of their offensive players. So, we had a good game plan defensively. And our offense was able to get some points on the board and we pulled out a close win. I do remember during that game we were shutting down their starting offense and quarterback so well. They ended up putting their backup in. Game planning that week, we were a little more concerned about their backup and we thought he was a better quarterback. So he came in, throws a touchdown pass. Thankfully, it ended up getting called back for an illegal formation or something.

Otherwise, we wouldn’t have won the game.

That would have changed a lot of other things.

It was a tight-knit game, real close, a hardfought game. Norm Parker was the defensive coordinator. Phil Parker was still coaching the defensive backs. But they had put a really good game plan together for us and we were confident as players, went out and executed.

And I don’t know that Illinois really expected it. Because, like I said, we weren’t really having a whole lot of success at that time during the

Humpal: Largely because of it, yeah and I found relief from chiropractors myself. So, yeah, it was effective. My personal approach to health care and health, a more natural approach. It fit well with me and healthcare’s always been something I’ve been interested in. I decided it was a good fit.

File photo/The Daily Iowan Iowa linebacker Mike Humpal makes a tackle during a football game between Iowa and Illinois on Oct. 13, 2007. year. We played well they didn’t play, maybe they played as good as they could, it’s hard to say. But, on that day, we got them so it was, it was fun.

DI: Individually, you had 18 tackles in that game and I think you were named the defensive player of the week after that. Was there anything different you did individually or were you just finding the ball carriers?

Humpal: I always tried to prepare my best every week, mentally, and I felt really good. I had a really good week of practice I remember, and I just felt really confident in the game plan we had. We really understood their offense and what they were trying to do. You know, so, read the formations and checks. A specific play, for example, little subtle things that you don’t really hear about much or game plan

for, their fullback was giving away some of the plays with his eyes. You know, you could see in the fullback’s eyes, where he was going, which direction the play was going. That can narrow things down pretty quickly for you. You know, after you’ve considered things like formations and down and distance and all that sort of thing where you can almost anticipate what the play is going to be. So that was a helpful little nugget on a few plays. Everybody played a really good game defensively anyway. We played a pretty solid game. After that, Rashard Mendenhall, who was their running back, ended up being drafted in the first round after that year to Pittsburgh, so we went to the same team. He’s a good dude and we’re talking and that specific game in ‘07 was one of the things that got away on them. You know, they weren’t able to win. I remember him, Rashard expressed his frustration with that game and

DI: I’m sure you had a team you rooted for in Iowa growing up, did that change when you got drafted by the Steelers? Do you foot for the Steelers now?

Humpal: I do actually, yeah. I was thankful for the opportunity I was given by them.

It’s a great organization. From the top all the way down. You know, so I like to see them do well. This year they’re having a good year so far so yeah hopefully they can keep it rolling. But I kind of, I was kind of a fan of the underdog when I was a kid so I liked the Buffalo Bills. I only liked following them for a few years but then I never really clung on to any specific team as I got into high school. And even really college, I was just more focused on my career and never really had a passion for any specific team. Until I had the opportunity in Pittsburgh.

Go to dailyiowan.com to read the full interview.

The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020 - 9

SCOUTING REPORT

AUSTIN HANSON austin-hanson@uiowa.edu Prior to the 2019 season, Illinois football hadn’t made a bowl game in five years. Last season, the Fighting Illini secured a bowl invitation with a 6-6 overall record — meeting the six-win criterion for bowl eligibility.

This season hasn’t been as kind to Illinois.

Including its loss to California in the Redbox Bowl, Illinois concluded the 2019 season on a three-game losing streak. Unfortunately for the Illini, that streak extended well into 2020 as they dropped their first three games of the season — twice in blowout fashion.

Illinois opened its 2020 campaign with a 45-7 loss to Wisconsin, followed up by a 41-14 loss to Minnesota just two weeks later.

In between the Wisconsin and Minnesota games, the Illini lost a heart-breaker to Purdue, 31-24.

Illinois’ six-game losing streak was finally snapped Nov. 14 with 23-20 win over Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Now, the Fighting Illini are finally gaining some traction. Prior to the cancellation of its Nov. 28 matchup with Ohio State in Champaign because of COVID-19 complications within the Buckeye program, Illinois thumped Nebraska, 41-23, in Lincoln.

The Illini’s lack of success can be partly attributed to the rotating cast of quarterbacks they’ve had taking snaps under center this season.

So far, Week 1 starter Brandon Peters has only played in two games — once at Wisconsin and a second time at Nebraska.

Peters missed four games after testing positive for COVID-19 the morning of Illinois’ Oct. 31 game against Purdue. Second-string quarterback Isaiah Williams was also forced into the Big Ten’s quarantine protocol as he was a close contact of Peters.

So, third-string quarterback Matt Robinson was named Illinois’ starter Oct. 31. But, his time in the spotlight didn’t last. He completed three of his first four passes before he was benched for fourth-stringer Taylor Coran.

In two games, Coran threw for 379 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Williams cleared his quarantine period in time for the Rutgers game, and the former

ILLINOIS

Wyatt Dlouhy/The Daily Iowan Illinois tackles Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley during last season’s Hawkeye-Illini game on Nov. 23, 2019. five-star recruit showed why he was a highly-touted prospect in high school. Williams ran 31 times for 194 yards and a touchdown.

He also connected on seven passes for 106 yards. The performance earned Williams Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.

No matter who has been under center this season — whether it be a runner like

Williams or a pocket passer like Peters — the Fighting Illini haven’t been shy about weaponizing their quarterbacks’ legs.

On two occasions this season, an Illinois passer was also the team’s leading rusher. In addition to Williams’ Week 4 performance, SEE SCOUTING REPORT, 10

10 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020

SCOUTING REPORT CONTINUED FROM 9

Wyatt Dlouhy/The Daily Iowan Iowa defensive end Henry Marchese tackles Illinois quarterback Matt Robinson at Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 23, 2019. The Hawkeyes defeated the Fighting Illini 19-10.

Peters’ 84 yards on the ground led the Illini against the Badgers in Madison.

In his two starts, Coran was also effective in the run game, producing 149 rushing yards. Coran and Williams led the Illini in rush attempts in every game they played, and Peters ranked top three in carries in both of his starts.

Illinois’ quarterback rushing attack might be one of Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s biggest concerns this Saturday. This season, Iowa hasn’t been great at containing mobile QBs. Penn State’s Will Levis racked up 59 yards rushing in his Nov. 21 appearance against the Hawkeyes before he was benched in favor of Sean Clifford in the third quarter.

Levis was the Nittany Lions’ leading rusher in that game.

The following week, Iowa surrendered 90 yards to the two Cornhusker QBs taking snaps. Starter Adrian Martinez averaged four yards per carry on 12 attempts for 48 yards and a touchdown. When Martinez was benched, backup Luke McCaffery carried the ball five times for 42 yards.

Illinois defeated Nebraska by a larger margin than Iowa did in its 26-20 win over the Cornhuskers. The Illini’s larger margin of victory over a common opponent and capable QB ground game may indicate that a tougher-than-expected Saturday may be ahead for the Hawkeyes.

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The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020 - 11

MATCHUPS ROBERT READ

Clinching the West because a game got canceled is so 2020.

robert-read@uiowa.edu

No. 4 Ohio State @ Michigan State 11 a.m. | ABC

It’s about to be a rough couple of weeks for college football in the state of Michigan.

Nebraska @ Purdue 11 a.m. | BTN

A team Iowa beat, and a team it should have beaten. Luckily for Nebraska, there won’t be much clapping in this game.

Penn State @ Rutgers 11 a.m. | FS1

Rutgers actually has a shot in this game, which is weird considering how everyone thought this matchup would go heading into the season.

No. 19 Iowa @ Illinois 2:30 p.m. | FS1

Can the Hawkeyes make it five in a row? I think so. Iowa’s only lost to Illinois three times since I was born.

No. 12 Indiana @ No. 16 Wisconsin 2:30 p.m. | ABC

This game would have been a lot more fun if Indiana’s quarterback hadn’t just torn his ACL. Interested to see how the Hoosiers look without their star against a quality opponent.

D E L CE

Maryland @ Michigan 2:30 p.m. | BTN

CAN D E L E C N CA

A week after losing to a winless Penn State team, I think Michigan might lose to Maryland. And that’s just... yikes.

No. 14 Northwestern @ Minnesota CANCELED

Makes sense that Northwestern pretty much clinches the Big Ten West after a game is canceled because of COVID-19.

POWER RANKINGS 1) Ohio State

Can the Buckeyes make it to Indianapolis?

COVID-19 is the only thing in their way.

2) Northwestern

You lost to a team that wore uniforms that bad?

3) Wisconsin

Some of the worst luck of any Big Ten team.

4) Iowa

Four wins in a row deserves some clapping.

5) Indiana

Losing your star quarterback hurts.

6) Maryland

Seems like a pretty weak team to be at No. 6.

7) Michigan State

Please burn those uniforms.

8) Minnesota

Well, here’s another cancellation.

9) Rutgers

The Scarlet Knights aren’t completely terrible this year! Greg Schiano did it!

10) Purdue

Yeah, losing to this team should still sting for Iowa.

11) Illinois

I miss Lovie Smith on the Bears. But mostly I miss his beard.

12) Penn State

Well the Nittany Lions finally won a game.

13) Michigan At least Wolverine fans were disappointed early on this year. Lowered the expectations.

14) Nebraska

Not a ranking worthy of an applause.

12 - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, December 4, 2020

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