Blue White Illustrated

had trouble replicating their charmed 2015 regular season. They enter this week's game unranked at 5-3 and 3-2 in the Big Ten and are looking like long shots to re- turn to the Big Ten Championship Game. The records and statistics, coupled with the White Out-type atmosphere that James Franklin is trying to whip up in Beaver Stadium on Saturday, seemingly favor the Lions. But coach Kirk Ferentz was on the sideline for all of the afore- mentioned games, and he has some expe- rience facing Penn State as an underdog. "That '08 team, the one thing I'll al- ways remember about them is the way they responded," Ferentz said. "We were 3-3. The sky was falling outside. It was doom and gloom everywhere you turned, yet those guys never flinched. They just kept pushing. "One of the great things about sports, as opposed to real life, is that the opportu- nity is pretty equal. At 7:42 on Saturday, we've both got a chance. I know it's not 50-50, but we've both got a chance to win the game. In some situations in life, that ain't the case. But in this one, it's a chance to go out there and win a ball game." Iowa's formula for success hasn't changed much under Ferentz. The Hawkeyes like to lean on a stout defense and a solid kicking game. They aren't trendsetters on offense, but when those other facets are working, they can afford to be patient and let their I-formation attack do its methodical work. This year's team fits that template. Iowa has some difference-makers on de- fense, including linebacker Josey Jewell, the second-leading tackler in the Big Ten, and cornerback Desmond King, whose 12 career interceptions are tied for sixth-best in school history. It also has an experienced senior quar- terback who knows how to manage risk. C.J. Beathard isn't among the league leaders in passing yardage at 172.5 yards per game, but he's thrown 11 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. In addition, Iowa has a backfield that holds onto the ball. The Hawkeyes have lost only one fumble all year, the lowest total in the nation. Said Franklin, "They don't make a lot of mistakes. They're one of the better teams in the country" when it comes to ball security. A year ago, the Hawkeyes bounced back from a five-year downturn by finishing 12-2 and making their first Rose Bowl ap- pearance since 1991. Their undefeated regular season resulted in a sizable con- tract extension for Ferentz. His pact still had four years leB on it, but it now ex- tends through 2025 and will pay him about $4.5 million annually. The extension was not entirely well-re- ceived in Iowa, where some fans think the program should contend for titles more frequently than it has during Ferentz's tenure. He guided the Hawkeyes to 13 bowl games and six bowl wins in his first 17 sea- sons, and they will become bowl-eligible yet again with a victory at PSU. But they've won only two conference champi- onships under Ferentz, and many Iowa followers yearn to see the program shed its good-but-not-great identity. This season hasn't helped in that re- gard. The Hawkeyes, who began the year ranked 11th, have already lost to North Dakota State, Northwestern and Wis- consin and needed a late touchdown to hold off Rutgers. The 23-21 loss to North Dakota State, which competes in the Football Championship Subdivision, isn't so surprising considering that the Bison have been giant slayers throughout their history. And Wisconsin is one of the Big Ten's best this year, so it was no sur- prise to see the Badgers escape from Kin- nick Stadium with a 17-9 victory. But the trip to Rutgers rekindled a lot of old anxieties. In their first road game of the season, the Hawkeyes ran fewer plays, had fewer first downs and gained fewer total yards than the last-place Scarlet Knights. They did, however, win the game. And if they can do the same on their upcom- ing Eastern road swing, it will give the Hawkeyes a jolt of momentum heading into the final weeks of their season. "This is not going to be easy," Ferentz said. "It's going to be a White Out, unof- ficial White Out, 110,000, whatever they put in there. It's going to be loud, crazy, all that stuff. But if you like college foot- ball, what more can you ask for than to go into a good environment? That's one of the neat things about our conference. There are so many really good environ- ments to play in that are challenging and tough. It gives you a good test to measure yourself and measure the team by." NATE BAUER RECORD 7-1 When was the last time Penn State was expected to beat Iowa? The reality is, the Hawkeyes are a wounded team, so the Nittany Lions should win. But how the program handles those expectations of- fers an illuminating new challenge to this young team. On a roll, back at Beaver Sta- dium, the Lions will likely pass the test. PENN STATE 30, IOWA 17 PHIL GROSZ RECORD 6-2 Penn State is on a roll. Its offense is get- ting better, and the defense has improved since Jason Cabinda and Brandon Bell have returned from to the lineup. All the matchups in this contest seem to favor Penn State. Even though the Hawkeyes had an off week to prepare for the Nittany Lions, I expect Penn State to cover the seven-point spread and win by two touchdowns. PENN STATE 31, IOWA 17 MATT HERB RECORD 5-3 Don't sleep on the Hawkeyes. They're a good road team that has weathered the White Out storm in previous years. The atmosphere won't cause insurmountable problems, but Saquon Barkley, Trace Mc- Sorley and Chris Godwin might. PENN STATE 27, IOWA 20 TIM OWEN RECORD 6-2 Two months ago, I would have picked Iowa by two touchdowns. Taking into ac- count how both teams have played since, though, it's hard to pick against PSU at home. PENN STATE 24, IOWA 20 RYAN SNYDER RECORD 6-2 Penn State is in an excellent position to make a New Year's Six bowl game if it wins out. It'll be a close one on Saturday, but I expect the Lions to pull it out. PENN STATE 24, IOWA 21 N O V E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 2 BWI'S FORECAST

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