Hawkeyes will be without suspended coach Kirk Ferentz when they open against Illinois State
Kent State running back Joachim Bangda (21) is tackled by Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins (34) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. Credit: AP/Charlie Neibergall
Illinois State at No. 25 Iowa, Saturday, noon ET (Big Ten Network)
BetMGM College Football Odds: No line.
Series record: Iowa leads 1-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Iowa got all it could handle the last time it played an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision, winning 7-3 over South Dakota State in the 2022 opener. The Hawkeyes will be without coach Kirk Ferentz and wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr. They'll serve self-imposed one-game suspensions for committing a recruiting violation. Seth Wallace will be acting head coach. The Redbirds last played a Big Ten opponent in 2022, losing 38-0 at Wisconsin.
KEY MATCHUP
Iowa fans get their first look at the offense under new coordinator Tim Lester, who takes over for the fired Brian Ferentz after the Hawkeyes ranked last and second-to-last in yards per game the last two years. QB Cade McNamara, whose season ended in the fifth game because of a major knee injury, returns as the starter. The Redbirds bring back nine of their top 11 tacklers from the defense that allowed 20.5 points per game to rank 22nd in the FCS.
Iowa running back Leshon Williams (4) runs from Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett (23) and defensive end Josaiah Stewart (5) during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Indianapolis. Credit: AP/Darron Cummings
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Illinois State: LB Amir Abdullah is one of the most disruptive defenders in the FCS. Last season he had 9.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss among his 64 total stops. He also had three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
Iowa: TE Luke Lachey passed on declaring for the NFL draft and returns from the knee injury that knocked him out for the season in the third game.
FACTS & FIGURES
Iowa has been ranked in the preseason five straight years, matching the longest streak in program history (1957-61). ... Kamari Moulton is listed as the No. 1 running back on the Iowa depth chart ahead of veterans Leshon Williams and Kaleb Johnson. Ferentz said Williams has been battling a nagging injury and Moulton merits the job for being consistently sharp at practice. ... The Hawkeyes have allowed fewer than 20 points per game in eight consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the nation. ... Illinois State had not named a starting quarterback as of midweek. It will be either 2023 backup Tommy Rittenhouse or Kansas State transfer Jake Rubley.
