The Iowa Hawkeyes will try to end a “Northwestern jinx” when they host the Wildcats in Kinnick Stadium. Northwestern has won five of the last six in the series and to get it turned around the Hawks will need to slow down Wildcat quarterback Dan Persa.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferrentz says Persa played as well against them as anyone has in the game last year and will be a “big big challenge” again this year. Persa injured his Achilles on the winning touchdown pass against the Hawks a year ago and he is back after a long and difficult rehab.
Ferrent says they’ve played some very good quarterbacks over the years and Persa is one that creates a lot of tough problems. Ferentz says Persa is an impact player for Northwestern as seen by how the team was affected when Persa came out of the lineup last year.
The Iowa State Cyclones visit Missouri in Big 12 action. Both teams are 0-2 in the league race but ISU coach Paul Rhoads refuses to call it a must win for his team as he says there’s alot of football to be played. He says win or lose Saturday there are many games ahead and he’s not going to weight the scale to far to one side on this game.
With Blaine Gabbert gone Missouri is going though a transition on offense. Rhoads says it’s similar to his team as they have a new quarterback that’s taking over the system. Rhoads says the Cyclone defense will need to be sure it is lined up correctly for the several “abnormal” formations that Missouri can use.
Iowa State is 3-2 overall.