Ball State
8th MAC4-8
Iowa
5th Big Ten7-5
Ball State @ Iowa preview
Kinnick Stadium
With all of the mental mistakes and other mishaps in Iowa’s 34-27 loss at No. 16 Arizona last week, coach Kirk Ferentz has plenty of things on his mind this week.
What to do at running back is at the top of the list.
The Hawkeyes (2-1) enter Saturday’s home game against Ball State with only one back with experience. Ferentz confirmed this week that sophomore Jewel Hampton has been lost for the season with a torn ACL of his left knee, the second time the talented running back has had a season-ending knee injury.
Hampton, who was sharing carries with starter Adam Robinson and considered the Hawkeyes’ most talented big-play runner, missed the 2009 season with a torn ACL of his right knee.
The news was bad for an Iowa running game that managed only 29 yards and averaged only 1.1 yards against Arizona. Making matters worse is that senior Paki O’Meara, who has 56 yards in limited duty, also will not play this week after suffering a concussion against Arizona. O’Meara also is one of Iowa’s most productive special-teams players.
That leaves Robinson, who has been effective (270 yards, four TDs), and freshmen Marcus Coker and De’Andre Johnson in the backfield. This will be the first collegiate action for both freshmen.
Ferentz has other concerns this week, too. While the 18th-ranked Hawkeyes impressively came back in the fourth quarter to tie the score against a very good Arizona team, the defense looked a step slow in allowing the Wildcats to drive 72 yards for the winning score. Then, with nearly four minutes to answer that score, the Iowa offensive line gave up three sacks on its final possession to end any hopes the Hawkeyes had to even things back up. Iowa allowed six sacks in the game.
Quarterback Ricky Stanzi (18-of-33, 278 yards, three touchdowns) played well for the most part against Arizona, but he also threw an interception that was returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
Then there were the special-teams blunders: blocked punt, missed extra point and allowing Arizona a 100-yard kickoff return.
Ball State (1-2) offers Iowa the hopes of righting some of their problems and perhaps finding another capable running back. The Cardinals are coming off a 24-13 loss to Purdue in a game that really wasn’t as close as the final score. Starting quarterback Keith Wenning was 11-of-21 for 89 yards and was intercepted twice. Ball State lost to Liberty 27-23 the week before.
Ferentz also announced that linebacker Bruce Davis (knee) is lost for the season.
Iowa has won 10 of its last 12 games played after a loss to a nationally-ranked team.
What to do at running back is at the top of the list.
The Hawkeyes (2-1) enter Saturday’s home game against Ball State with only one back with experience. Ferentz confirmed this week that sophomore Jewel Hampton has been lost for the season with a torn ACL of his left knee, the second time the talented running back has had a season-ending knee injury.
Hampton, who was sharing carries with starter Adam Robinson and considered the Hawkeyes’ most talented big-play runner, missed the 2009 season with a torn ACL of his right knee.
The news was bad for an Iowa running game that managed only 29 yards and averaged only 1.1 yards against Arizona. Making matters worse is that senior Paki O’Meara, who has 56 yards in limited duty, also will not play this week after suffering a concussion against Arizona. O’Meara also is one of Iowa’s most productive special-teams players.
That leaves Robinson, who has been effective (270 yards, four TDs), and freshmen Marcus Coker and De’Andre Johnson in the backfield. This will be the first collegiate action for both freshmen.
Ferentz has other concerns this week, too. While the 18th-ranked Hawkeyes impressively came back in the fourth quarter to tie the score against a very good Arizona team, the defense looked a step slow in allowing the Wildcats to drive 72 yards for the winning score. Then, with nearly four minutes to answer that score, the Iowa offensive line gave up three sacks on its final possession to end any hopes the Hawkeyes had to even things back up. Iowa allowed six sacks in the game.
Quarterback Ricky Stanzi (18-of-33, 278 yards, three touchdowns) played well for the most part against Arizona, but he also threw an interception that was returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
Then there were the special-teams blunders: blocked punt, missed extra point and allowing Arizona a 100-yard kickoff return.
Ball State (1-2) offers Iowa the hopes of righting some of their problems and perhaps finding another capable running back. The Cardinals are coming off a 24-13 loss to Purdue in a game that really wasn’t as close as the final score. Starting quarterback Keith Wenning was 11-of-21 for 89 yards and was intercepted twice. Ball State lost to Liberty 27-23 the week before.
Ferentz also announced that linebacker Bruce Davis (knee) is lost for the season.
Iowa has won 10 of its last 12 games played after a loss to a nationally-ranked team.