Tag: Iowa

Iowa, Victorious in New Jersey Last Night

September 20, 2025

We learned a lot about the Scarlett Knights last night during their game against Iowa, and I’m going to be fair about this. It seems to me, Head Coach, Greg Schiano and his Scarlett Knights, are back to where they were when Rutgers first made their change from the Big East College Football Conference to the Big Ten, and that my friends, is proving that they belong. In my opinion, there’s still a little bit of that old energy or aura lingering. Just a little bit. 

Okay, let’s put the mental and psychological stuff aside. Rutgers took their first loss of the season last night against the Iowa Hawkeyes, 38-28. Rutgers is now 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play, and Iowa improved their overall record to 3-1. By the way, this was the first inter-conference game for both teams.  

Rutgers took injuries on both sides of the ball, which is never good this early in the season. I don’t know the extent of their injuries so I’m not even going to mention them specifically, but definitely saw one offensive lineman, one defensive end, and one linebacker limp off. We’ll get the injury report later this week I assume.

Both teams started this game with a lot of energy, and the score at halftime was 21-21, but this is now the second time Rutgers started off a game fast and explosive only to run out of gas and break down in the second half (their game against Ohio).

Well, we learned last night that Rutgers wide receiver, Ian Strong, is not only a great player and a game-changing player, but he is the center piece of that entire Rutgers team. Having said that, Rutgers has an excellent group of receivers (KJ Duff and DT Sheffield).

We learned that if you give quarterback, Athan Kaliakmanis, time to sit in the pocket and throw the ball, he can burn you at any time. Kaliakmanis to Strong is probably one of the most dangerous connections in the country.

The entire game changed in the second half. Iowa went back to their ground and pound style of offense, and their defense, after making some adjustments, started to get pressure on the quarterback. As a matter of fact, Rutgers couldn’t get anything going offensively in the second half. Iowa’s defense started rushing five guys and they really turned up the pressure.

Iowa quarterback, Mark Gronowski, completed 12 of 18 passes for 186 yards, but he was able to escape the pocket and do damage on the ground. Gronowski rushed 55 yards and 3 touchdowns. He did it to Rutgers just like Parker Navarro did it to Rutgers.

Running back, Kamari Moulton, looked good last night. He ran hard, downhill, and violently. Statistically, he finished with 68 yards on 14 carries for 1 touchdown. That’s 4.9 yards per touch.

Let’s not forget about wide receiver, Dayton Howard, who made a huge play late in the fourth quarter that set up Iowa’s go-ahead touchdown.

Iowa 38 Rutgers 28

It’s a Rivalry! Iowa at Iowa State

September 4, 2025

This is a big-time rivalry game that will be played at Jack Trice Stadium.  The kickoff is scheduled for 12 o’clock noon on Saturday, September 6th.

Iowa began their 2025 campaign with an impressive 34-7 win over Albany, and I think Albany turned out to be way more physical than a lot of people expected.  To Iowa’s credit, they played tough, and they were actually losing that game 7-3 in the second quarter, but in the end, they won by 27.

Iowa State shocked everyone (but not me) with a Week 0 upset over the Kansas State Wildcats, and they came back and blew out South Dakota, 55-7, in Week 1.  Currently, the Cyclones are 2-0, and they’ve quietly repositioned themselves at number 16 nationally.

Conclusion & Predictions

I don’t know how much it’s going to help, but Iowa State is home for this game.  Traditionally, Iowa is known for their Big Ten brand of football, which is tough defense and the ability to run the football.  So far, they haven’t disappointed.  They held Albany to seven points and 43 yards rushing, and offensively, Iowa has a double threat coming out of the backfield. 

Xavier Williams had 122 yards on 11 carries and 1 touchdown, and teammate Terrell Washington Jr. carried the rock 15 times for 69 yards.  That’s 4.6 yards per carry for Washington, and both backs are the reason why the Hawkeyes were able to hold on the ball for almost thirty-seven minutes.

Against South Dakota, it was another brilliant performance by Rocco Becht and the boys.  Becht completed 19 of 20 passes for 278 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Wide receiver, Brett Eskildsen, caught a beautiful pass for 61 yards right down the middle of the field to open the game.  Eskildsen finished with 2 catches for 77 yards.  Tight ends, Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle accounted for three touchdowns, and out of the backfield, it was a new face this week.

Freshman running back, Dylan Lee,  carried the ball 13 times for 81 yards and 1 touchdown.  Lee is a big back, 6’1″ and 215 pounds, and what Iowa State proved last week is that they have quality when it comes to depth at the running back position.  Abu Sama and Carson “Um Bop” Hansen got some rest.  Nice.

You know, Albany held Iowa to 44 yards passing.  Mark Gronowski completed 8 of 15 passes for 44 yards and 1 touchdown.

Even with Washington and Williams running the ball, the Hawkeyes will need more production from their passing game.  If not, Iowa is gonna see eight guys in the box all day. 

I do believe Iowa State is one of the hottest teams in college football right now.  They’re healthy, they’re home this week, and they were able to rest some of their starters against South Dakota.

Having said that, Iowa is going to test Iowa State in ways they haven’t been tested all season, but specifically, this is the toughness test for the Cyclones.  After Week 2, we’ll know for certain how real this Iowa State team is.  I think the Cyclones win this by 7.

My Prediction Straight Up: Iowa State

My Prediction Versus the Spread: Iowa State -3.5