The Iowa Hawkeyes try to go 8-0 for the first time in the history of the program when they visit Michigan State. The Spartans have won three in a row and have another solid defense that is yielding just under 100 yards on the ground per game.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the Spartans linebackers are active and involved, the front four are good pass rushers, so he says they will have to work to keep quarterback Ricki Stanzi secure. The Spartans have used two different quarterbacks: Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol. Cousins went the distance last week in a victory over Northwestern.
Ferentz says the approach is working and the offense doesn’t seem to change much depending on who is in the game. It is another tough road game for the Hawks but that has not mattered to this point. They already have Big Ten victories at Penn State and Wisconsin. He says Iowa State was also a tough game, and says anytime you win on the road, it is a positive.
The Iowa State Cyclones are on the road in the Big-12 to play Nebraska. The offensive line must battle a Husker front seven led by standout lineman Ndamukong Suh. Cyclone coach Paul Rhoads says Suh is a disruptive force, but he has six guys around him that also play extremely well. Rhoads says it will be a challenge for I.S.U. offensive line that has been the strength of the team. He says they’ve been able to runt he ball and protect the quarterback so far, and he hopes they are up to this new challenge.
The Cyclones could see Zac Lee or freshman Cody Green at quarterback for Nebraska. Rhoads says both are quality players who can lead the team. After losing to Texas Tech at home last week Rhoads expects to meet up with a highly motivated Nebraska team.
The U.N.I. Panthers are on the road in the Missouri Valley Football Conference race to take on South Dakota State. The Panthers are ranked sixth after dropping their first conference game at home last week to Southern Illinois while the 11th ranked Jackrabbits are unbeaten in conference action.
U.N.I. coach Mark Farley says Southern Illinois will visit there next week, so South Dakota State has a lot on the line and this will be another tough football game. Farley who says it will come down to execution as he says usually the top teams are sound offensively and defensively and just a few things determine how the game comes out.
Farley says this is a must-win if the Panthers want to stay in the league title chase. He says there is very little room for error and they have lost a home football game and now have to find an extra win on the road that maybe wasn’t and issue before.
Elwin Huffman of KOEL in Oelwein contributed to this report.