Illinois State at No. 25 Iowa, Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)
BetMGM College Football Odds: No Line.
Series record: Iowa leads 1-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Iowa had to give it its all in its last game against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent, winning 7-3 against South Dakota State in its 2022 opener. The Hawkeyes will be without coach Kirk Ferentz and wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr. They will impose a one-game suspension on themselves for violating recruiting rules. Seth Wallace will be the acting head coach. The Redbirds played against a Big Ten opponent for the last time in 2022, losing 38-0 to Wisconsin.
KEY GAME
Iowa fans will get their first look at the offense under new coordinator Tim Lester, who replaces the fired Brian Ferentz after the Hawkeyes finished last and second to last in yards per game the past two years. QB Cade McNamara, whose season ended in the fifth game due to a serious knee injury, returns as the starter. The Redbirds return nine of their top 11 tacklers from a defense that allowed 20.5 points per game, ranking 22nd in the FCS.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Illinois State: LB Amir Abdullah is one of the most disruptive defenders in the FCS. Last season, he had 9.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss on his 64 total stops. He also had three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
Iowa: TE Luke Lachey opted not to enter the NFL draft and returns in the third game after a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Facts & Figures
Iowa has been ranked in the preseason for five straight years, matching the longest streak in program history (1957-61). … Kamari Moulton is listed as the No. 1 running back on Iowa’s depth chart, ahead of veterans Leshon Williams and Kaleb Johnson. Ferentz said Williams has been battling a lingering injury and Moulton earned the job because he’s been consistently sharp at practice. … The Hawkeyes have allowed fewer than 20 points per game for eight straight seasons, the longest active streak in the nation. … Illinois State had not named a starting quarterback as of midweek. It will be either 2023 backup Tommy Rittenhouse or Kansas State transfer Jake Rubley.
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