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Arizona Wildcats vs Iowa Hawkeyes Football Preview

The week-three slate in college football has a number of teasing intersectional encounters. This Iowa-Arizona duel is one of them.

There’s an icy focus surrounding the Iowa camp this year. The Hawkeyes wobbled in their first games of 2009 and played a lot of games close to the edge despite going 11-2 and winning the 2010 Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech. This season, though, the Hawkeyes look even better. They’re dialed in on both sides of the ball and are just hammering opponents. Iowa made Iowa State look really bad this past Saturday in a convincing 35-7 pasting that was over almost as soon as it started. Iowa rushed for 275 yards, committed only four penalties for an insignificant total of 25 yards, and scored on four of its first five possessions. The Hawkeyes built a commanding 28-0 lead at halftime and didn’t allow a touchdown until they had taken a 35-0 bulge into the fourth quarter. Ricky Stanzi did not commit a single turnover at the quarterback spot, which is so important for this defense-first team. Adam Robinson bolted for 156 yards from the tailback position. Iowa’s defense plucked three interceptions from ISU quarterback Austin Renaud and basically ran roughshod over Iowa State from start to finish. Yes, Iowa State is not a great team, but the Cyclones did win a bowl game last year. Moreover, this was a rivalry game in which unexpected things can happen. It simply appears that Iowa is fully an in-form team as it heads to Arizona. Iowa’s best ball is likely to beat Arizona’s best in a super showdown.

The Wildcats played The Citadel – a pansy from the Football Championship Subdivision – this past weekend, but it was the previous week’s performance that caused some observers to sit up and take notice. Quarterback NickFoles completed 32-of-37 passes in a 41-2 win over Toledo. Foles’ one interception was a freak occurrence – it was the result of a carom off the hands of running back Taimi Tutogi and into the mitts of a waiting Toledo defensive back.

Arizona started slowly in the first quarter but built a 21-2 lead by halftime. The Cats opened up the woodshed after halftime and cruised on the road in their season opener. Not all heavy favorites did as much in their week-one games. Arizona's green and unproven defense, with seven new starters this season (and especially untested at all three linebacker spots), limited Toledo to 80 yards rushing, including just 16 yards in the first half of what was essentially a shutout (naturally, a defense can’t allow a safety, which represented the extent of Toledo’s scoring).

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Both of these teams are playing really well, but Iowa has won games like this far more often than Arizona has in the past. The Hawkeyes are already a national program, while Arizona is trying to become one. The Iowa defense – coached by coordinator Norm Parker, one of the five best defensive coordinators in the United States – figures to contain Arizona and make the difference on Saturday night in Tucson.

It’s up to Arizona – so often the bridesmaid in college football and never the bride – to show the nation it’s made of special stuff in 2010. The ball’s in your court, Nick Foles. Time to see what you’re made of against an elite defensive unit.

By Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer