Welcome back from the bye week, Western Washington Hawkeye fans! Hopefully you've had enough time to digest the disappointing MSU loss just in time to watch the Hawkeyes head into the Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio to take on the #3 team in the nation, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State, like Iowa, is coming into this game rested after a bye week, and currently owns the nation's longest winning streak at 18 games. OSU has also won the last 11 out of 12 against the Hawkeyes. Also, Iowa has a record of 4-6 coming off the last 10 bye weeks.
The Buckeyes are led by head coach Urban Meyer, who has faced off against Iowa's coach Kirk Ferentz once before-the infamous 2005 Outback Bowl, when the Meyer-led Florida Gators controversially won 31-24.
The Hawkeye defense, which still boasts the 8th best rushing defense (88.5 yards per game) in the nation and still hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown this year, goes up against a rush-heavy OSU offense that already has 17 rushing TD's this season.
The Iowa offense will still rely heavily on Mark Weisman, who is currently one of 12 players on the Maxwell Award watch list, which honors the best running back in the nation at the end of the year. He is currently the Big 10's third leading rusher at 104 yards per game.
The special teams, which weren't so special against MSU with Iowa falling for yet another fake punt, will be led by Kevonte Martin-Manley, who still leads the nation on punt return average (25.8 yards per return.) It remains to be seen if Coach Ferentz lives up to his promise of never running a punt return again after the MSU's successful punt fake.
We look forward to seeing you at one of the WWIC game watches this Saturday to cheer on the Hawks and high-five your fellow Iowa brethren! On Iowa and GO Hawks!
Saturday, October 19, 12:30 PM (PT) on ABC or ESPN2
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
