Iowa aims to take back Floyd from Minnesota and avenge last year's loss on the invalid fair catch
Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson (2) tries to break a tackle by Troy safety Ian Conerly-Goodly (39) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. Credit: AP/Charlie Neibergall
Iowa (2-1) at Minnesota (2-1), 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC).
BetMGM College Football Odds: Iowa by 2½.
Series record: Minnesota leads 63-52-2.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Iowa's ardent fans will make their presence felt as usual at Huntington Bank Stadium, where Minnesota hasn't beaten the Hawkeyes in 10 years. The Gophers won in Iowa City last season for the first time since 1999, a 12-10 victory that was preserved when Hawkeyes punt returner Cooper DeJean's go-ahead touchdown was controversially negated by an invalid fair-catch signal with 1:21 remaining. The Hawkeyes will aim to bring Floyd of Rosedale, the bronze pig trophy that has gone to the winner of the border-state foes since 1935, back to Iowa City.
Minnesota is coming off consecutive shutouts of Rhode Island and Nevada, the first such feat for the program since 1962. The Gophers would give themselves a golden opportunity to hang tough in the expanded Big Ten with a win against Iowa, with daunting games against Michigan and USC waiting in the next two weeks.
KEY MATCHUP
Minnesota place kicker Dragan Kesich (99) attempts a game-winning field goal kick as time expires of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. Kesich would miss the field goal. Credit: AP/Abbie Parr
Minnesota QB Max Brosmer vs. Iowa pass defense. The last three games in the series were decided by a combined 10 points, so one big gain could well loom large in the outcome. Brosmer has only two completions that have gone for 30 yards or longer, and Minnesota has just 11 plays from scrimmage of 20-plus yards. Jermari Harris has two of Iowa's three interceptions this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Iowa: RB Kaleb Johnson has hit the 100-yard rushing mark in all three games. He finished with 173 yards and two TDs on 25 carries against Troy last week. He’s on the longest streak of 100-yard games for the Hawkeyes since Jordan Canzeri had three in a row in 2015.
Minnesota: PK Dragan Kesich, who had four field goals at Iowa last year to account for all of the scoring for the Gophers, had a rough start to the season with two misses in the 19-17 opening loss to North Carolina including a 47-yarder as time expired that would've won the game. The 2023 Big Ten Kicker of the Year is 5 for 9 on field goals.
FACTS & FIGURES
Iowa has nine runs that have netted 25 yards or longer over three games. Last season, the Hawkeyes had only 10 runs of 25-plus yards over 14 games. ... Iowa DE Ethan Hurkett is coming off the best game of his career: two sacks and two forced fumbles against Troy. ... Gophers WR Daniel Jackson is seeking to lead the team in receiving yards for a third straight year. Jackson leads the team in targets (21), receptions (12) and yards (156). ... The Gophers have forced eight turnovers, tied for seventh-most in the FBS. They have seven interceptions.