PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Nate Stanley rebounded from a dismal performance at Penn State three weeks ago with improved play the past two weeks against Purdue and Northwestern, but he couldn’t lead his team to victories. Earlier in the season, the junior was on pace to set a season record for touchdown passes, but his production has dropped off. In the loss to Northwestern last week, Stanley was 27-of-41 for 269 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions, but Iowa just doesn’t seem to be able to make the big play when it needs one.
–TE T.J. Hockenson leads the Hawkeyes with 615 receiving yards and his 39 catches are tied for the team lead with WR Nick Easley. Both are career highs. The sophomore also has a career-best four touchdown receptions while sharing time at the position with Noah Fant. Together, the two are one of the most effective tight end duos in the country. Hockenson caught seven passes for 89 yards, including a 37-yard reception, in last week’s loss to Northwestern. It appears that he has become Iowa’s preferred choice at tight end over Fant, a potential first-round NFL draft pick who inexplicably sat out at key points of the game last week.
–S Jake Gervase have proven to be one of the steady performers in the secondary this season. In Iowa’s 14-10 loss to Northwestern last week, the senior free safety led the Hawkeyes with 10 tackles and an interception. It was his second straight game with a career-high 10 tackles. The former walk-on leads Iowa with 65 tackles and his three interceptions are tied for fourth most in the Big Ten.
–WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette has quietly had a good season, giving Iowa a player with some game-breaking ability the offense typically lacks. In last week’s loss to Northwestern, Smith-Marsette scored Iowa’s long touchdown on a 28-yard touchdown pass from QB Nate Stanley in the third quarter that gave the Hawkeyes a 10-7 lead. He also had a 36-yard reception among his four catches for 90 yards. The sophomore also has developed into one of the top returns in the country with a 31.9-yard average on kickoffs that ranks No. 2 nationally. He had three returns for 100 yards against Northwestern, including a 43-yarder. This week against Illinois could be the game that Smith-Marsette takes one all the way.
SERIES HISTORY: Illinois leads Iowa 38-33-2. The Hawkeyes have won 12 of the last 15 meetings in the series, four in a row overall and two straight in Champaign, Ill.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It really goes down to two things for a football team or anybody when you face disappointment. You’re either going to pull together or you’re going to divide, or you’re going to fight and compete or you’re going to surrender. There really aren’t options in either one of those choices.” — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz
