PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Nate Stanley continues to show signs of confidence even in Iowa’s 28-17 loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 22. Stanley played well in the first three quarters and had the Hawkeyes on the brink of knocking off the Badgers, who dialed up their pressure on Stanley in the fourth quarter and escaped from Iowa City with a 28-17 win. The second-year starter completed 14-of-23 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns with one interception (on a tipped ball). Both of the touchdown passes went to TE Noah Fant. This week against Minnesota, Stanley faces a defense ranked 17th nationally in pass efficiency defense, 14th in total defense and 19th in scoring defense.
–RB Ivory Kelly-Martin returned from an injury in the opening game and contributed 79 yards on 14 carries for a 5.1-yard average in Iowa’s 28-17 loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 22. Kelly-Martin’s quickness and elusiveness in the backfield give the Hawkeyes a complement to RB Toren Young, who is considered more of a power runner and the team’s leading rusher after four games with 268 yards on 49 carries.
–WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette was one of three players to lead Iowa in receptions with three in the loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 22. The sophomore does have some big-play ability on an offense with few playmakers. However, Smith-Marsette continues to show inconsistency and has some durability issues. After Wisconsin took the lead in the fourth quarter, Smith-Marsette had a pass from QB Nate Stanley bounce off his hands and into the arms of the Badgers’ T.J. Edwards for a game-clinching interception. Smith-Marsette had 10 catches in three games.
–DE A.J. Espenesa is, by all accounts, improving from week to week. That’s a scary proposition for opposing offensive tackles. The former five-star recruit is tied for the Big Ten lead with four sacks in four games. The sophomore also has four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. And he’s done that while playing about a third of the defensive snaps as part of a rotation at defensive end, which is probably the Hawkeyes’ strongest position group.
SERIES HISTORY: Minnesota leads Iowa 62-47-2 but the Hawkeyes have won three straight in the annual Floyd of Rosedale trophy game and 13 of the last 17. Iowa came away with a 14-7 win in its last visit to Minnesota in 2016.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Obviously, it’s a rivalry game, and I think we probably play for the best trophy there is in college football. Floyd is certainly a great, great trophy. Floyd of Rosedale is one of the great traditions in college football, and our players get to experience that, so it’s really kind of a neat thing, and I’m sure they feel the same way.” — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz on the annual game against Minnesota