Early Schedule Look

The 2011 schedule is out and here is an early look at it:


9/3 – Tennessee Tech
9/10 - @ Iowa State
9/17 – Pittsburgh
9/24 – Louisiana Monroe
10/1 – BYE
10/8 - @ Penn State
10/15 – Northwestern
10/22 – Indiana
10/29 - @ Minnesota
11/5 – Michigan
11/12 – Michigan State
11/19 - @ Purdue
11/26 - @ Nebraska



Key Non-Conference Game-
While the annual Iowa State game is huge for the fans and players from the state, I think that the Pittsburgh game is bigger this year. First off, with all the lumps that the Big Ten has taken in BCS bowls the last several years, the conference as a whole needs to win all the out of conference games against fellow BCS conference teams. Three years ago, Iowa let the game at Pittsburgh slip through their fingertips, they need to redeem themselves for that game. And the last reason this game is bigger than the Iowa State game is exposure and recruiting. This will be one of two games that Iowa will play against teams from the east coast. Iowa has a history of great players from the area and getting some extra exposure certainly helps their chances.

Key Stretch-
There are several key stretches for this Iowa squad, but the most important stretch would be the first two Big Ten clashes of the season, at Penn State and hosting Northwestern. Now you may wonder why these two teams when Iowa has a trip to Nebraska and home games against both Michigan schools, and the reason is that those games don’t mean a thing if they can’t get through these two games. Of late, Iowa has been able to handle Penn State, but this will be the first visit to Happy Valley for many of players on this young Hawkeye team. If they can go into an environment like that and win, it could mean great things for the rest of the season. After their visit to Happy Valley, the Hawkeyes will entertain the Northwestern Wildcats, a team that is quickly becoming their Achilles heel. The Wildcats have beaten the Hawks five of the last 6 games even though they have been decided underdogs in all of those games. This season looks to have the same pre-game prognostication and the Hawks need to right the ship and get back to winning the games they are supposed to win.

Trap Game-
The Hawkeyes play host to both Michigan teams in Legends division matchups and end the season play at Nebraska, which could decide the Legends division. In between the Michigan State and Nebraska game is a trip to Lafayette to play Purdue. Iowa will undoubtedly be licking their wounds after two inter division games and possibly looking forward to the trip to play big red. Purdue is a team that has been down of late, but has shown signs of life under coach Danny Hope. It will be senior day at Ross-Ade Stadium and the Boilermakers could be in the hunt for bowl eligibility.