Iowa Everywhere
Two Guys: Picking Every Iowa & Iowa State Game
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- Iowa's season hinges on the quarterback battle between Hecklinski and Hank Brown, with expectations to see both in the opener and a desire to establish clarity early.
- The Iowa vs. Iowa State game is a critical early test—could shape perceptions, especially considering Iowa’s challenging schedule against top Big Ten teams.
- Iowa's schedule is brutal with a tough three-game stretch against Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington, which could determine their playoff chances.
- Iowa State faces a challenging schedule with long road trips and tough opponents like BYU and Oklahoma State, with a realistic goal of bowl eligibility at 4-8.
- Coaching changes and roster rebuilds make many Big 12 teams unpredictable, especially Oklahoma State, Baylor, and Cincinnati, adding excitement and uncertainty to the season.
- The season opens with a variety of intriguing matchups, but a lack of traditional Thursday night games was noted, reflecting on how kickoff traditions have changed.
- Overall, both hosts express excitement for the season, emphasizing that unpredictability and coaching upheavals make this college football year particularly compelling.
Summary
Season Predictions and Expectations for Iowa and Iowa State Football
Chris Williams and Chris Hassel discuss their predictions and expectations for the upcoming college football seasons for Iowa and Iowa State. They analyze key games, such as Iowa's quarterback battle between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown, and debate whether Iowa can make the college playoff after a tough schedule including Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington. Hassel predicts Iowa will go 8-4 and believes they can beat Michigan but might lose to Iowa State, whereas Williams is slightly more optimistic about Iowa's chances for a playoff run. For Iowa State, the focus is on Jimmy Rogers' first season, the difficulty of their schedule, and the path to bowl eligibility, including key matchups against Utah, West Virginia, and others.
Cy-Hawk and the Big Picture For Iowa and Iowa State’s Scheduling and Performance
The podcast covers the importance of the Cy-Hawk game as a potential tone-setter for Iowa, emphasizing that a win could be pivotal for their season, especially with the tough schedule ahead. They also discuss scheduling challenges in the Big Ten, such as Iowa's tough stretch against Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington, coupled with the physicality and potential impact on team performance. Iowa's potential to win or lose important games like Michigan is debated, with a focus on the importance of quarterback confidence and strength of schedule. For Iowa State, the schedule's difficulties are noted, especially with short weeks and challenging road games; predictions include a likely 4-8 finish, with hopes of upsetting some opponents like West Virginia.
Analysis of Teams and Coaches in the Big 12 and Beyond
The hosts analyze the strength and weaknesses of Big 12 programs including Oklahoma State, Baylor, Kansas State, and Cincinnati, emphasizing how coaching changes and roster shifts influence team performances. They discuss Oklahoma State’s resurgence, Baylor’s potential under DJ Lagway, and the overall chaos and unpredictability within the league. The conversation includes reflections on college football's evolving landscape, coaches’ longevity, and team rebuilding efforts, highlighting that many teams are in flux with high uncertainty around season outcomes.
Key Matchups and Week 1 Overviews
The episode previews the opening week of college football, spotlighting major matchups like North Carolina vs. TCU, USC hosting San Jose State, and North Dakota State’s transition to FBS playing Jacksonville State. They lament the lack of exciting Thursday night games and reminisce about past seasons' kickoff traditions. The hosts emphasize the importance of these early matchups in setting the tone for the season, with some predictions on game results and implications for rankings and team momentum.
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Show notes
Chris Williams and Chris Hassel predict the entire 2026 Iowa and Iowa State football seasons, breaking down every game on both schedules and projecting their final win totals. The guys debate Iowa's quarterback battle between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown, the massive Cy-Hawk matchup at Kinnick, Iowa's brutal three-game stretch against Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington, and whether the Hawkeyes can make the College Football Playoff.
For Iowa State, the guys discuss Jimmy Rogers' first season, Jalen Raynor, the Cyclones' difficult schedule and the path to bowl eligibility. They break down Iowa State's matchups against Utah, West Virginia, BYU, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Cincinnati, UCF, and Kansas State before revealing their final win totals.
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