The 13th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes host top ranked Ohio State in their biggest game in several years and only the second night game at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeye defense will need to contain an explosive Buckeye offense led by quarterback Troy Smith.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the Hawkeye defense will need to stay disciplined because Smith can be most dangerous on broken plays. Ferentz says that happened in the Penn State game, and so his team will have to really carry out their assignments. He says the Buckeyes are going to complete some passes, but they can’t afford to give up the big plays.
Ferentz says the Hawks would like to control the ball and keep the Ohio State offense off the field. Ferentz says though, Ohio State is only giving up eight points a game. He says he thought graduation would have weakened their defense, but he says they’re not playing like it this year.
Ferentz says it is tough to make big plays against Ohio State, and he says it boils down to making the plays that’re are makable, or you may not get another chance. Ferentz says it should be a great atmosphere in Kinnick Stadium, as he says it’s a marquee opportunity to make a good showing. Ferentz says he’s confident his team will do just that.