Randy Peterson
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August 29, 2024
There’s been gambling and COVID, conference realignment and quarterback quandaries -- and now there’s a fill-in, while the nation’s active dean of coaches sits out a game for the kind of recruiting violation other big-name coaches do all the time, but without penalty. You name it, we’ve seen it.
Throughout it all, however, our state’s Big Two college football programs persevered, which will be the case during 2024’s Week One.
Iowa, despite Kirk Ferentz’ one-game absence, will beat Illinois State (but possibly not by the 22 point-spread.) Iowa State, where there’s more legitimate hope for a great season than there’s ever been, will handle North Dakota (Not State).
A pair of 1-0 teams heading into the most anticipated Cy vs. Hawk in a long time? Without a doubt. Unbeatens that should win season-opening games so easily, that we might even see the teams combine to use at least four quarterbacks? For certain.
Remember, the Hawkeyes are so loaded, that they could be favored in 11 of 12 regular-season games, we hear and read. Iowa State? It’s got a proven high-end quarterback who is good enough to give Cy the state’s Big Two quarterback advantage for seemingly the umpteenth season. That means about as much as Ferentz sitting out the opener, however.
How do we at Iowa Everywhere see Week One, starting with our Power Four teams? Here’s your picker panel: Chris Hassel, Keith Murphy, Matt Van Winkle, Chris Williams, Andrew Downs, Jake Brend and, ahem, That Retired Guy.
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2:30 pm, Jack Trice Stadium, FS1
Peterson: Pure vanilla Iowa State. Nothing fancy – unless needed. Cy-Hawk is approaching, you know. Easy win for the Cyclones. Iowa State 35-0.
Hassel:Cyclones offense will have their way with a bad team that has a lot of new pieces. Iowa State 38, North Dakota 7.
Murphy:Cyclones open a season full of promise with a walk over North Dakota. Iowa State 40, North Dakota 13.
Van Winkle:Rocco throws 3 TDs and 3 different ISU RBs score. This won't be close. Iowa State 48, North Dakota 10.
Williams:Cyclones roll early, and Matt Campbell will happily put us all to sleep in the fourth quarter. Iowa State 41, North Dakota 10.
Downs:Cyclones will feel confident heading to Iowa City.Iowa State 42, North Dakota 17.
Brend:Iowa State rattles the inexperienced QB, and takes advantage of mismatches to win a comfortable season-opener. Iowa State 45, North Dakota 10.
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11 a.m., Big Ten Network
Peterson: The Hawkeyes will take Step No. 1 toward what should be a very achievable College Football Playoffs. Iowa 31, Illinois State 10.
Hassel: Illinois State will try to take away the run and force Cade to throw over the top. It won’t be pretty, but. . .Iowa 23, Illinois State 6.
Murphy:No Ferentz. More offense. Easy win. Iowa 31, Illinois State 3.
Van Winkle: Talk of the game isn't defense or QB play. It's new RB1, redshirt freshman Kamari Moulton. Iowa 31, Illinois State 3.
Williams:We won’t learn much about Iowa’s offense, as the Hawks take care of biz without their head coach.Iowa 26, Illinois State 6.
Downs:Iowa’s offense looks better, but not fixed. Iowa 35, Illinois State 9.
Brend:Hawkeyes come out more aggressive without Ferentz, and build a big, early lead.Iowa 31, Illinois State 6.
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And how do we feel about a few other games involving teams in our Power 4 conferences? There’s some intriguing games, not the least of which is Colorado hosting North Dakota State. Let’s say the Buffs lose against the annual FCS power. Does the coach even show up to the postgame interview, considering the grilling he’s going to get from reporters? Was Colorado so desperate that it agreed to the reporters-Sanders-likes-only clause? I like the USC-LSU game, too.
Defenders Jay Higgins, (34) and Nick Jackson (10) stand for a photo during Iowa football media day in Iowa City, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. © Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Peterson: Penn State 31, West Virginia 30.
Hassel: Penn State 24, West Virginia 14.
Murphy:Penn State 31, West Virginia 21.
Van Winkle: West Virginia 28, Penn State 27.
Williams: Penn State 23, West Virginia 21.
Downs: Penn State 28, West Virginia 21.
Brend: Penn State 31, West Virginia 20.
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USC – LSU (in Las Vegas)
Peterson: LSU 38, USC 31.
Hassel: LSU 34, USC 27.
Murphy: LSU 38, USC 34.
Van Winkle:LSU 31, USC 24.
Williams: LSU 38, USC 20.
Downs: USC 35, LSU 31
Brend: LSU 42, USC 34.
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Peterson: TCU 24, Stanford 21
Hassel: TCU 31, Stanford 17.
Murphy: TCU 35, Stanford 24.
Van Winkle: TCU 34, Stanford 27.
Williams: TCU 24, Stanford 17.
Downs TCU 24, Stanford 14.
Brend: TCU 28, Stanford 13.
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NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT COLORADO
Peterson: North Dakota State 41, Colorado 37.
Hassel: Colorado 31, North Dakota State 24.
Murphy: Colorado 35, North Dakota State 28.
Van Winkle: Colorado 45, North Dakota State 35
Williams: Colorado 41, North Dakota State 30.
Downs: Colorado 38, North Dakota State 27.
Brend: North Dakota State 30, Colorado 26.
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** Watching last weekend’s Georgia Tech-Florida State game showed me why thousands of Iowa State fans may be considering attending the 2025 Cyclones-Kansas State game in Dublin, Ireland. It looked like a cool place to spend a few days.
** It was almost routine last football season, a journalist asking Campbell why the passing game wasn’t being used more. Same reporter also often asked why quarterback was behind center and not under center on short-yardage situations in the red zone. Never was that journo banned from asking a question. Just sayin’ . . .
** Campbell told us at the Arnolds Park (that’s at Okoboji) Cyclones Tailgate stop, that linebacker Kooper Ebel, of Hartey-Melvin-Sanborn, had a great spring practice. He hinted that Koop might even start, then when he spotted the sophomore in the crowd, he even introduced him. Well, my most significant takeaway on an otherwise predictable depth chart released Monday showed Ebel indeed will be a starter on Saturday – ahead of 13-game 2023 starter Jack Sadowski. Interesting. All three starting linebackers, by the way, are Iowans – Caleb Bacon of Lake Mills and Will McLaughlin of Harlan were the other two listed as depth chart starters.
** Does the Netflix college football spying piece end with Harbaugh awarding Stalions an assistant COY award?
** Early Cy-Hawk betting line: Hawkeyes by 2 ½ points.
(Randy Peterson can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close)