Iowa football news: How Hawkeyes can snap Playoff drought, per Kirk Herbstreit appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kirk Ferentz is the Big Ten’s all-time winningest football coach, but Ferentz has never led his team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, to the College Football Playoff and isn’t a favorite to do so this season. The No. 21 Hawkeyes made a big quarterback decision Friday and have a tough task ahead on Saturday vs. Iowa State, with hope springing anew for a first-ever playoff season.
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On Friday, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit joined The Pat McAfee Show where he laid out how the Hawkeyes can snap their playoff drought.
“I feel like they are (a fringe playoff team) every year,” Herbstreit said. “I always look at Iowa with Kirk Ferentz as a team that is always knocking on that ten-win mark. I don’t think they get credit to be honest with you because of the style of ball they play.
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Iowa wants to run the ball and be physical, but suffered a bad news running back injury ahead of Saturday’s game. Quarterback play could be the X-factor according to Herbstreit.
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“It comes down to the quarterback play. Can they play with the big boys? You know they’re gonna get to the nine, ten-win mark, which to me gets them in the discussion, but what are they going to do when it comes to those top teams in the Big Ten?”
Herbstreit said the Hawkeyes need to go at least 2-1 in a three-game stretch that includes a road game at Michigan on September 26, a home game vs. Ohio State and a road game at Washington.
“Oh boy if you go 2-1…You got Minnesota, I know that’s on the road in a rivalry game, Wisconsin. If you get to 2-1 there’s a really good opportunity for them to make a run there, because who’s gonna beat ’em? Tell me who’s gonna beat them after they get through that two-week stretch.”
