PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Nate Stanley could watch what Ohio State did to Indiana last week and take notes on how to handle the Hoosiers. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins passed for 455 yards and six touchdowns against the Indiana defense. Stanley probably won’t approach those video game-like numbers, but if he could duplicate last week’s effort in Iowa’s 48-31 win at Minnesota, it bodes well for the Hawkeyes. The junior completed 23-of-39 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns and one interception. More important, he reconnected with Iowa’s wide receivers, who had lacked consistency to that point in the season. The touchdowns, completions and yards were season highs for Stanley.
–DE Anthony Nelson played a big role in Iowa’s 48-31 win last week at Minnesota. The 6-foot-7 Iowa native logged a career-high three sacks for 19 yards in losses and finished with five tackles. For his efforts, he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. This week against Indiana, Nelson and Iowa’s defensive front will be focused on containing and pressuring Hoosiers QB Peyton Ramsey. The Hawkeyes have totaled 18 sacks in five games, which is tied for second in the Big Ten, and Nelson leads the conference with five sacks this season, one more than teammate A.J. Espenesa. Nelson and his cohorts also have allowed just two rushing touchdowns and 2.7 yards per carry
–WR Nick Easley led Iowa last week in the road win over Minnesota in catches with six for 52 yards. His 21-yard touchdown reception late in the first half expanded Iowa’s lead to 18 points on the way to a 48-31 victory. Sixteen of his 18 receptions this season have come in two games. His catch total leads Iowa’s wide receivers. The Hawkeyes’ three top wideouts combined for 14 catches last week, a positive sign for one of Iowa’s suspect position groups going into Saturday’s road game at Indiana.
–DB Riley Moss was thrust into action as a true freshman last week and Minnesota and proved more than capable of handling himself in his first career start. The Gophers tried to pick on him, but the Iowa native had two interceptions, five tackles and on Monday was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Moss and fellow freshman Julius Brents, also a first-time starter, survived with a “next play mentality,” Moss said. “Bad things are going to happen. I knew they were going to come my way. I’m a true freshman, so I knew it was coming.”
SERIES HISTORY: Iowa leads Indiana 44-28-4. The Hawkeyes have won six of the last seven meetings, including the last one, a 35-27 victory over the Hoosiers in 2015 at Indiana.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s going to be a tough out. It’s going to be a good challenge for us.” — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz on this week’s game at Indiana