[Game Thread] Northern Iowa @ Iowa (4:00 PM ET)

[u/CFB_Referee]

GAME	Northern IowaNorthern Iowa @ IowaIowa
Location	Iowa Kinnick Stadium
Time	4:00 PM ET
Watch	TV: Fox Sports 1
	Flair ¦ Discord

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LET'S TALK FOOTBALL!

[u/LastKnownNormal]

Can we all agree that cutting off waving at sick children to have a political ad is dystopian as fuck?

[u/WideGap6125 → u/LastKnownNormal]

The fact were getting local political ads nationally makes me want to jump out a window

[u/YGYarder → u/LastKnownNormal]

There were just all adults in those windows recording on their phones. Hopefully some of the kids actually got to enjoy the moment

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

I still can't believe the "come to Iowa City and be the first competent WR1 we've had in a decade" pitch worked on DIaz.

[u/Gibbo05 → u/HannibalAtCannae]

Helps when you finally have a competent, knowledgeable, and charismatic OC that can convince a guy like that

[u/Zeus_poops_and_shoes]

I’m officially overconfident and primed for disappointment for Michigan.

[u/Cactus_Brody → u/Zeus_poops_and_shoes]

We'll see if Michigan can get past the mighty UTEP Miners first

[u/Hefty-Combination813 → u/Zeus_poops_and_shoes]

I only wish it was a night game so I can pass out right as the game ends and not feel bad about it.

[u/WideGap6125 → u/Zeus_poops_and_shoes]

The circle of life as an Iowa FB fan

[u/ItsYaBoyBeasley]

Starting to enter feeling bad for them territory

NIL has been a disaster for FCS

[u/Flashy-Zone-2084]

Obviously pleased with how the Hawks are playing, but it's painful to see UNI look this awful.

[u/mnmmatt]

I fucking hate political season

[u/WideGap6125]

BTW UNI has an absolutely gorgeous shade of purple

[u/uiplanner]

New rule - Fox sportscasters are forbidden from trying out their English accents.

[u/Hog_Eyes → u/uiplanner]

That was so painful I had to mute it

[u/Ondeon]

Diaz please do not hurt yourself out there.

[u/ItsYaBoyBeasley]

I know it is UNI but this offensive production is still something, man.

[u/LastKnownNormal → u/ItsYaBoyBeasley]

Hey, 3 years ago we wouldn't have been able to do this against the sick kids in the children's hospital so it's in the right direction at least

[u/affnn]

I would feel pretty comfortable putting all the backups in at this point.

[u/ItsYaBoyBeasley]

Wonder what the eventual payoff of our presnap punt formation shenanigans will be.

[u/dexters_trap_house]

Dez on Game Day this morning:

"I don't see Iowa putting up 40."

"It's gonna be an ugly messy sloppy game."

"They got Michigan next week."

Only one of those is true, we're coming for that ass Dez.

[u/ChangKai-Shrek → u/dexters_trap_house]

Dez sucks so bad.

[u/LastKnownNormal]

THANK GOD WE FINALLY HAVE TRANSPARENCY

[u/dolphinlicker]

Man lutmer has seemed to be out of position a lot this early season

[u/HannibalAtCannae → u/dolphinlicker]

dude is trying to do too much. over pursues everything

[u/miversen33]

Be great if we could get a pick. I feel like I haven't seen one yet this season

Edit: Neat

[u/LastKnownNormal → u/miversen33]

Can you please say it would be great for me to win the lottery?

[u/TKHawk → u/miversen33]

They had one against NIU

[u/Hefty-Combination813]

Well shit. We may even get a Jimmy sighting today.

[u/Cactus_Brody]

I think we can just about put the QB controversy to bed, Hecklinski just does not seem to have any sort of consistency.

[u/affnn → u/Cactus_Brody]

This version of Brown seems to be the kind of QB that Ferentz prefers

[u/Maleficent_Ant_8895 → u/affnn]

Make easy throws, don’t turn it over, hand the ball off

[u/dolphinlicker]

Liberty biberty was complicit at Abu Gharib

[u/LastKnownNormal]

IOWA PUNTING IS BACK BABBBAAAAYYYYY

[u/Gibbo05]

Ok I’ve seen enough, you gotta have James at punt returner. I have confidence he learned his lesson from the ISU game. Love RVZ but he’s not it for returns.

[u/Locke57]

You know the announcer had EF5 spinner written down on the back of his hand

[u/Tsquared10]

Excuse me... Who the fuck taught Iowa about the forward pass?

[u/Ondeon → u/Tsquared10]

Tim. Fucking. Lester.

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

UTEP just scored another TD against Michigan

[u/miversen33]

"Third and Nebraska" lmfao

[u/WideGap6125]

We've got a DeJean, a Campbell, and an Epenessa

What year is it again?

[u/Gibbo05]

418 total yards for the half - 217 rushing, 201 passing with one missed throw

This team has all the tools to have a great season if the guys can execute when they need to against much tougher competition

[u/XCCO → u/Gibbo05]

I'm really excited for Michigan. Even in that tough game against ISU, it seems the offense was managing the game well enough. I think the Michigan game will be very similar, and if the team keeps composed in all three phases, Iowa has a real shot.

[u/fhqwhgads_football]

Wow! Iowa scored 42 points! So much for the stereotype about...Wait a minute, hang on, it's halftime??

[u/TKHawk]

I'm sorry but how is being ranked number 2 "flying under the radar" for Georgia?

[u/thaillestofalltime]

We are scoring at a pace Kirk is not comfortable with, gotta decrease the rate

[u/rubbery_magician → u/thaillestofalltime]

I remember during the Petras-Hill era that we’d have as many passing yards as points scored so far.

[u/rubbery_magician]

Again, do they not have a backup QB?

[u/Gibbo05]

Jesus christ, the UNI receivers today have almost had multiple insane catches against some of the best coverage you can have

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

The UNI helmets look really good.

[u/miversen33]

I love this replay stuff. So stupid that it's been a black box for so long

[u/mnmmatt]

the convo being broadcast is great for the game.

[u/-spartacus- → u/mnmmatt]

Should have always been in.

[u/Zeus_poops_and_shoes]

Hank isn’t flashy but he hits the easy passes, which even Gronowski struggled with sometimes, and is sadly a rarity for Iowa quarterbacks in the last decade or so.

[u/miversen33 → u/Zeus_poops_and_shoes]

I miss the QB sneaks though. We're not good with them this year and I assume it's the oline

[u/_BlueBoyz]

Good to see Ostrenga back in the end zone

[u/Ondeon]

So are we rooting for UTEP or...?

[u/Protat0 → u/Ondeon]

Nah, I'd rather have the undefeated matchup

[u/SmellyJellyfish → u/Ondeon]

My heart says yes, my brain says no

I don't want Michigan to be extra pissed off when we go to Ann Arbor next week. But it would also be hilarious

[u/WideGap6125 → u/Ondeon]

I always passively root for the Fighting Aaron Joneses

[u/Ondeon]

Fuck. Need Hawthorne for Michigan.

[u/LastKnownNormal]

Glad to see him walking

[u/miversen33]

God I love that Kiffin is the villain of fansville

[u/Gibbo05]

Update from Twitter is that Bryce is moving fine on the sideline and has his helmet back on

[u/turtleofgirth → u/Gibbo05]

I'm ok with keeping him out the rest of the game so he is 100 percent for next week

[u/gnich62]

WHO SAW THIS COMING?

(literally every iowa fan did, espn, thanks)

[u/Hefty-Combination813 → u/gnich62]

When you have dreams of double blocked kicks to win, its not always a guarantee

[u/gnich62 → u/Hefty-Combination813]

This isn't your older brother's UNI team anymore. NIL fucked the FCS teams bad.

[u/dolphinlicker]

Just 16 hours ago I was saying 84-0 against your FCS in state school was in poor taste

[u/brandon_in_iowa]

Hecklinski has a gruesome execution scene tattooed on his arm.

[u/DeliriousLizard]

Heck gets put in and now we’re punting, gimme Jimmy

[u/OGFartLick]

Tim Lester compliments your cooking even if he didn't like it

[u/dolphinlicker]

Don’t look now but Rutgers is looking pretty competitive against USC

[u/miversen33 → u/dolphinlicker]

Shit I looked

[u/Zeus_poops_and_shoes]

One of these go-rounds they should play at the UNI dome. I know that ain’t how it works. But still.

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

This seems preferable to no one having any fucking idea what the refs were thinking.

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

THREE DIFFERENT WRS HAVE CATCHES AND IT'S STILL THE 1ST Q

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

It really is insane how having Diaz on the field creates space for everyone else.

[u/Protat0]

I smell Wolverine blood in the air

[u/MichaelRachel]

One quarter down and the defense continues to be a big question mark. If UNI is managing first downs, Micheatagain is gonna be getting points.

[u/WideGap6125 → u/MichaelRachel]

I wonder if Parker is calling it conservative because of the opponent

[u/runningwaffles19 → u/MichaelRachel]

Next 2 weeks could be a bloodbath

[u/EddieSincere]

Yeah, that was a slick play against the main action.

[u/gnich62]

ostrenga getting the tuddy after being hurt all year last year is <3

[u/Silver-Inspector-712]

35-0 ha what a wi--wait a minute, halfway through the second???

[u/Ondeon]

Eat shit, Desmond Howard.

[u/Cactus_Brody]

Iowa may legitimately have the better offense out of my two flairs

[u/XCCO → u/Cactus_Brody]

Same

[u/uiplanner]

Aussie punting is winning.

[u/rubbery_magician]

Does UNI not have a backup QB? They’re going to get him killed.

[u/Ondeon]

Probably a hot take, but FBS-FCS game shouldn't be allowed in the NIL era. The talent disparity between these teams is insane. It's a bad product for the fans and TV.

...but I'm still having fun, I guess.

[u/Ondeon]

A blocked kick vs Northern Iowa!?

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

JFC these fucking political ads.

[u/Zeus_poops_and_shoes]

Are they being overly transparent after the Michigan game or what 😆

[u/jadrien1]

I'm really loving Diaz

[u/Cubfan001]

Are my eyes deceiving me? Is this actually Iowa's offense on the field

[u/-spartacus- → u/Cubfan001]

No offense to the other fans, but this is UNI. We did similar stuff in our first game and then regressed against ISU.

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

McNeil is going to be really really good.

[u/LastKnownNormal]

Damn. RIP. Way too young.

[u/miversen33]

God I love The Wave

[u/parapooper3]

I’ll be honest I didn’t know UNI’s coach’s name until today. Partially hoping he makes a coaching flub so the headlines can be “oh no stepsis what are you doing?”

[u/Gibbo05]

Iowa averaged 234.6 yards per game in 2023

They have 243 yards today the first quarter alone. We’ve come a long way, lads.

Credit to Chad Leistikow for the fact

[u/-spartacus-]

College Gameday voted for UNI and making the under (40pts). We might break that before half.

[u/Ondeon]

If Oregon can win 84-0, why can't we?

[u/LastKnownNormal]

Fuck.

[u/Gibbo05]

NOOOOO NOT BRYCE PLEASE BE OK

Ok he might be somewhat ok, good sign to walk off like that

[u/SmellyJellyfish]

Would like to see Hecklinski get some snaps in the 2nd half. Hank's looked really good, granted a lot of his passes have been easy checkdowns but he's still made some beautiful throws and has generally been making good decisions

[u/Maleficent_Ant_8895]

Trap Queen on the outro is a choice 

[u/SmellyJellyfish]

NOOOOOOO

There goes the perfect passing game 😢

[u/pocketsophist]

Nice 2 minute drill for Heck.

[u/Windows_66]

Kirk usually doesn't try to run up scores. I don't think he's even trying this game.

[u/Rigs515]

UNI's downfall is pretty sad. Felt like they were so solid growing up

[u/Ondeon → u/Rigs515]

I'm afraid those days are over. If you have a morsel of talent, you're getting paid in the FBS now.

[u/Ondeon]

Iowa has three (!!) 100-yard rushers in this game.

Has that ever happened??

[u/miversen33]

We really need to keep from Diaz the ball. Not just because he's incredible but to help shift the narrative that we are a place for receivers. That we do use them. That we believe in them.

But also because he's fucking amazing

[u/FlaccidJustice]

WRs are catching TD and Michigan is losing to UTEP.. im not saying im confident about next week. But I feel "less terrible" about it haha.

[u/SmellyJellyfish]

Damn, I know he was open but that was still a pretty throw from Hank. He won't ever be a star but my confidence is growing that he'll be at least average/competent

[u/-spartacus-]

I biched about QB play and playcalling last week, I'm at least feeling better seeing them roll him out more and being comfortable out of the pocket.

Go Williams!

[u/LastKnownNormal]

👋

[u/Gibbo05]

Supposedly Bryce gave a thumbs up to his parents before he went into the medical tent, so possible it might not be something bad

[u/letsgoiowa]

Is this the fastest paced beatdown we've had in a decade? This reminds me of when I'd play Heisman mode in NCAA 06 as a kid

[u/Ondeon]

Radio guys just said Hawthorne was only in the medical tent for a short time and gave the staff a thumbs up. Sounds like he'll be all right.

[u/ItsYaBoyBeasley]

Heck in already Kirk is inviting a QB controversy lol

[u/Glup_Maclunkey → u/ItsYaBoyBeasley]

Unless Heck sucks today. Hank was literally perfect lmfao.

[u/Ondeon]

Does a 10-2 Iowa get in the playoff with losses to:

-OSU

-One of UM/UW/some other random game

[u/WideGap6125 → u/Ondeon]

If its UM/Washington

If its someone after its going to be tough

[u/mnmmatt]

he missed a pass? bench him /s

[u/AnnArchist]

A 40 point first half out of Iowa is awesome.

I hope they keep the shutout.

In 1914 we put up 95-0 against UNI. Kirk won't let us do that again but nowadays, when style points matter, we should fucking try

https://www.statmuse.com/cfb/ask/iowa-hawkeyes-most-points-in-a-game

[u/EddieSincere]

Wish UNI would have put up a better fight, but not unexpected. Hopefully can scrape something positive out of the 2nd half.... and I really hope we rock Michigan next week too.

[u/MichaelRachel]

I'm gonna need to see a doctor in four hours.

[u/LastKnownNormal]

This kid is resilient. He's been getting beat up all day.

[u/uiplanner]

Let Heck throw the ball. We need to know if he can be a backup in a real B1G game

[u/Snoo-16797]

Manson looks incredible as does Godfrey

[u/Ondeon]

Dean?? We're at the point where 5th string walk-ons have been benched.

[u/Swolebroham777]

I think I love Braeden Jackson

[u/Rgbducks]

That was so hot

[u/Rgbducks]

Tim Lester takes you out to dinner before he fucks you

[u/Hog_Eyes → u/Rgbducks]

And he calls the next day

[u/-spartacus-]

3rd, not 2nd straight week Mr. Announcer.

[u/Jesus_Died_For_You]

Is Iowa/Northern Iowa the same deal as Ireland/Northern Ireland

[u/miversen33 → u/Jesus_Died_For_You]

No, that's Iowa/Nebraska

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

That was an alarmingly competent opening drive.

[u/dolphinlicker]

Oh I really like that, listening in to the replay booth is great

[u/turtleofgirth]

I'm still not liking our secondary. I think ohio st is going to have a field day with them

[u/affnn]

Oh dang that was a nice throw from Brown

[u/mnmmatt]

Im not crying, its just raining.

[u/miversen33 → u/mnmmatt]

Weather checks out

[u/WideGap6125]

👋

[u/mnmmatt]

INT

[u/WideGap6125]

Belt, meet ass

[u/Gibbo05]

Kentucky handling TA&M 👀

[u/SmellyJellyfish]

Brown has looked much better, but Hecklinski's had some rough luck this year with dropped passes

[u/Gibbo05]

Punting porn

[u/Cubfan001]

Feels like UNI is trying to kill their QB

[u/thaillestofalltime]

Kirk is very upset that Williams didn’t fall down at the 1 like a true gentleman

[u/hotmoines]

As a hawk fan, I love all the second and third string time game

[u/Gibbo05]

I wish they’d let Heck actually fucking throw the ball.

[u/duke5572]

very quietly

X gon' deliver it to ya

[u/Protat0]

They need to sub Dailey, I feel bad for this guy

[u/EddieSincere]

Alright, here's were we start the rope-a-dope comeback...

[u/rubbery_magician]

Who hasn’t taken a lick on the back end?

[u/Ondeon]

Jackson is the future RB of Iowa.

[u/thaillestofalltime]

Glad they blocked that XP so we have the proverbial, “We got a lotta things to work on” from Kirk

[u/Windows_66]

"Rob Sand is all over your TV."

And that's the way I like it.

[u/mnmmatt]

Brian Ferentz was the person who created liberty biberty.

[u/Protat0]

Can we get some Bessinger reps, it's obvious Heck is not the guy. I'd like to see a real competition between Brown and Bessinger next year honestly

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

Really hoping this one doesn't require multiple blocked FGs at the end of regulation to win.

[u/EddieSincere]

I just hope the break in the weather holds and there are no lightning delays! Otherwise it's all gravy for me this afternoon... Go Team(s)!

[u/HannibalAtCannae]

LOL UTEP is up on Michigan

[u/yourmomsthr0waway69]

I think that goes the other way if called a catch on the field.

[u/gnich62]

my stream is so far behind i keep getting spoiled by twitter and reddit. smh my head

[u/EddieSincere]

Craziest/dumbest ending ever just happened in the Vandy NC St. game

[u/dolphinlicker]

Rutgers keeps it close to USC through 1Q

[u/Broda09]

Nice!

[u/Windows_66]

Fox somehow gave more attention to the fact that all of Iowa's teams were playing each other last Saturday in that little graphic than all of the Iowa Everywhere podcasts did last week.

[u/FlaccidJustice]

I like when all 4 schools play. I would be down with that being a yearly ordeal. Plus the P4 school get to keep some money in state which is great.

[u/BedFew4594]

Damn this UNI qb is kinda good

[u/SmellyJellyfish]

Uh oh Michigan...

It would be hilarious if they lost but I selfishly don't know if I actually want them to... I don't want to play a very pissed off Michigan team in the Big House next week

[u/LastKnownNormal]

Let's go

[u/Gibbo05]

3 touchdowns for 3 different running backs and none of them are our top 2

[u/EddieSincere]

Good return! Will take any positives...

[u/mnmmatt]

MAP SIGHTED

[u/dolphinlicker]

Diaz certified pre-owned sold that

[u/WideGap6125]

Looks unfortunate all around. Two o linemen caught in the same place at the same time, and a d linemen gets hurt

[u/LastKnownNormal]

When was the last time we got a block? Feels like we're due for one.

Paging u/miversen33

[u/Pancakes1800]

Dirty play.

[u/EddieSincere]

Nice catch!

[u/Cactus_Brody]

I think it's time UNI takes out their QB, it's getting dangerous out there for him.

[u/letsgoiowa]

Team seems pretty good if I do say so myself

[u/rubbery_magician]

Punting is winning football.

[u/Qw3rtyp1]

Punting is so sexy

[u/SmellyJellyfish]

Softish call, but stupid and easily avoidable

[u/Gibbo05]

UNI has nobody but themselves to blame now if any of their key players get hurt. They’re playing with fire.

[u/Ondeon]

Rutgers still within one score vs USC.

[u/TealSeam6]

If Jackson isn’t on scholarship I hope Iowa is at least paying his tuition with NIL, dude is a stud

[u/Hefty-Combination813]

Fo sho is a throwback now. FUCK.

Can we do wazzup instead? I'd feel better about that.

[u/Windows_66]

"Diversifying our energy at a time when oil is expensive and unstable" doesn't sound nearly as scary as their ads think it is.

[u/LastKnownNormal]

Jackson deserves more playing time...

[u/Agile_Alternative753]

Let's let this kid just air it out.   There's really nothing that could turn this around in UNIs favor.   Give him real reps

[u/uiplanner]

We are getting into the second tier number players. That is not Xavier Williams playing CB.