Northwestern at Iowa College Football: Everything You Need To Know

IOWA CITY, IA - A Northwestern season that has gone horribly off the rails doesn’t look like it will improve any time soon. A visit Saturday to Iowa, followed by an October 15 trip to Michigan State is hardly the cure for what has been ailing the Wildcats.

Moral victories count for virtually nothing in college football, but Northwestern’s 24-13 home loss to unbeaten Nebraska last Saturday almost falls into that category. The Wildcats actually led 7-3 in the second quarter and only trailed 10-7 at the half, giving the home crowd a rare glimpse of optimism before the Cornhuskers pulled away in the third quarter.

Northwestern fans searching for a silver lining to Saturday’s game can take solace in the fact Iowa isn’t playing at the same clip it did last year when the Hawkeyes finished unbeaten in the regular season. Iowa has already tasted defeat (at home) to FCS juggernaut North Dakota State, and last weekend, the Hawkeyes barely beat a mediocre Rutgers team 14-7.

Last Year's Meeting: Iowa Runs All Over Northwestern, Ending Wildcats' Perfect Record and Spoiling Homecoming

If the Wildcats are to spring the upset, quarterback Clayton Thorson (956 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 4 interceptions) will have to considerably improve his play, as will running back Justin Jackson (339 yards, 4.1 yards per carry). The defense will also need to buckle down after allowing 556 yards to Nebraska.

Kickoff time: 11 a.m. CT

TV and radio: ESPNU, WGN Radio AM-720

Point spread: Iowa is favored by 12 points, according to Scores and Odds.

Records: Northwestern 1-3; Iowa 3-1.

Tickets: Tickets are available at the Iowa football website.

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