Ken Schreiber: Looks are deceiving when it comes to Iowa
After Iowa defeated Iowa State, 27-17, the Hawkeyes, now 2-0, are ranked fifth. Are they that good?
Well, against the Cyclones, the Hawkeyes finished with just 173 offensive yards. If you can't move the ball, you cannot win consistently. The Cyclones' four turnovers did them in. That the Hawkeyes schedule is full of cupcakes will only disguise their flaws. This team is a typical coach Kirk Ferentz squad that doesn't beat itself and depends on other more talented opponents to make mistakes. The Cyclones obliged. Iowa ultimately will lose as it always does.
◘ Every time I write about Notre Dame's image, schedule, resources and perceived favorable treatment from the College Football Playoff, I am accused of being anti-Irish. Well, here's a story for you. The Irish are at home against Purdue on Saturday. The Boilermaker band has what is considered to be the largest drum in college football. Notre Dame will not allow the giant bass drum onto the field because it is too large to fit through the visiting tunnel. It fits through the home tunnel but Notre Dame refuses to allow it, even though the bass drum has been at every game since 1979 and was actually on the same field at their last home game in 2012. Notre Dame has a lot of explaining to do why it is ending a 42-year streak.
◘ Anytime there is a major college football head coaching vacancy, Urban Meyer's name invariably is at the top of the list. After USC fired Clay Helton last week, Meyer, in his first season as coach of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars, was asked about interest in the Trojans job. While he said there was "no chance," let's wait until the end of the year and see how Meyer's team plays on the field. Then there is Penn State coach James Franklin, who also has been linked to the job. His stock took a dip after a 4-5 season in 2020 but it says here that Franklin is interested in the USC job and overtures may be made at the end of the season. First, he must prove last year was an aberration and not a pattern.
◘ The American Athletic Conference, after losing Houston, Cincinnati and Central Florida to the revised Big 12, is now attempting to raid the Mountain West Conference and expand by four teams to 12. Those teams would be Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State. If successful, what happens to the Mountain West? Raid another league or perish.
◘ We talk about the Pac-12's inherent three-hour time difference from almost half the country. Coach Chip Kelly of UCLA this week had an interesting take on the 7:45 Pacific Time kickoff against Fresno State. "It's prime time in the Philippines, so let's put on a good show for the people in Manila."
◘ Nov. 25, 1971. Thanksgiving Day. The game of the century. No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 2 Oklahoma. Both undefeated and playing for a national championship in their final regular-season game. I attended with my family a dinner at the Coachman restaurant in Tiverton, but was promised we could leave early to watch the second half. While my grandparents were furious about my abrupt disappearance, history was more important than eating turkey. If one could have videotaped a game back then, I am sure I would have stayed the entire afternoon. The game lived up to the hype, with Nebraska scoring a late touchdown to prevail, 35-31. This season marks the 50-year anniversary of that game and the two schools — now in different leagues and who rarely play each other — face off on Saturday. The Huskers, who have fallen on hard times, are a 22-point underdog.
◘ After just two weeks, it says here this is the most wide-open season for the coveted College Football Playoff since its inception. There is a real chance one of the four will have two losses for the first time. And after just two weeks, coaches already are on the hot seat. Florida State's Matt Norvell heads the list after losing to FCS Jacksonville State. Scott Frost was perceived as the son who came home but it's been a disaster at Nebraska so far. The other problem is that Frost's next recruiting class for 2022 is shrinking, not growing, and has just seven recruits. If Frost cannot get the Huskers to a bowl game, even prodigies get fired when it comes to coaching. Washington's Jimmy Lake is only in his second season but lost to FCS Montana and again last week to Michigan, 31-10. The Huskies have not been the same since Chris Peterson left two years ago. It seems unlikely but another loss to Arkansas State at home today and look out!
What's next
No. 1 Alabama (-14.5) at No. 11 Florida: It's not easy to pick against the Crimson Tide, especially when they have Bryce Young, a quarterback with special talent. Florida is athletic and talented and defeated South Florida last week, 42-20. But there is a quarterback controversy. Emory Jones was the starter and was 14-for-22 for 151 yards but he had two interceptions. Anthony Richardson was 3-for-3 for 152 yards, ran for 115 yards and had a touchdown. Coach Dan Mullen has a decision to make, and while Jones is the projected starter, he must be productive or be replaced. Another chance for another team to make a statement win. Alabama coach Nick Saban will have his team ready. They are just too physical and too talented. Only turnovers can prevent a rout but don't expect it. Roll Tide!
No. 22 Auburn at No. 10 Penn State: It's a rare occurrence when the Big Ten and the SEC play each other during the regular season. For Auburn, it's the first time it has played a Big Ten road game in 90 years. It will be an intimidating environment with a full "white-out" and more than 100,000 fans. Auburn quarterback Bo Nox has played great this year, completing 76% of his passes. Those games were against Akron and Alabama State, respectively. Nix, however, just has not played well the last two years on the road. The Nittany Lions were fortunate to defeat Wisconsin in Week 1. They did it with their defense as quarterback Sean Clifford has not had a breakout game. Expect the defenses to control the line of scrimmage and both teams will have their chances to prevail. Take the points as the game will come down to the last possession.