Iowa @ Northwestern preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2016 ) Northwestern 38, Iowa 31

Northwestern looks to build on its first Big Ten win when it hosts Iowa on Saturday. The Wildcats kicked off conference play with losses to No. 5 Wisconsin (33-24) and second-ranked Penn State (31-7) before rebounding with a 37-21 road victory against Maryland, and they hope to notch back-to-back wins for the first time this season by knocking off the Hawkeyes for the second time in as many years.

"I thought we improved last week and my hope is we can do it again," Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald told reporters. "You have to earn it against Iowa because they don't make mistakes." The Hawkeyes hope to have ironed out a few wrinkles on offense during their bye week after beginning Big Ten play 1-2 for the first time since 2013. Iowa is averaging 24.7 points per game in conference action, but achieved its highest total of the season in the 45-16 win over Illinois on Oct. 7 and looks to climb back into the race for first place in the West Division. "From now on every game is a must-win and I feel like we kind of have our backs against the wall," Iowa running back Akrum Wadley told reporters. "We have a decent record but that's not what we're settling for."

TV: Noon ET, ESPN2. LINE: Iowa -1.5

ABOUT IOWA (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten): Nate Stanley threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns while Wadley rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Illini to finish with over 100 yards for the 12th time in his career. Running back James Butler practiced for the first time since suffering an elbow injury in the win against North Texas on Sept. 16, but likely needs another week to recuperate. Senior linebacker Josey Jewell continues to lead the defense and has 70 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception in six games.

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (3-3, 1-2): Senior running back Justin Jackson racked up a season-high 171 yards and two touchdowns in the win against Maryland to break the Wildcats' all-time rushing record previously held by Damien Anderson (4,485). Jackson needs 38 more yards to move past Anthony Davis (4,676) into eighth place on the Big Ten's career rushing list. Charlie Kuhbander was named the Big Ten's Special Teams Player of the Week after becoming the first freshman in Northwestern history to kick three field goals in a single game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Iowa has won three of the last four meetings with Northwestern.

2. Jackson has registered 23 100-yard games in his career.

3. Hawkeyes WR Matt VandeBerg has caught at least one pass in 25 consecutive games.

PREDICTION: Iowa 24, Northwestern 20