First Look: Iowa

MORE: Gold and Black Radio podcast: Iowa | Brohm Monday press conference notebook

Here's an early look at Purdue's seventh opponent in 2019, the Iowa Hawkeyes:

Time: Saturday, Noon ET

Location: Kinnick Stadium

Surface: FieldTurf

Capacity: 70,585 (Tickets Available)

Schedule/records: Iowa (4-2 overall, 1-2 Big Ten); Purdue (2-4; 1-2)

Series notes: Purdue leads the all-time series 48-38-3. Purdue has won the last two games, taking last year's meeting after Spencer Evans drilled a 25-yard field goal with eight second left for a 38-36 victory vs. No. 19 Iowa. The Boilermakers also won the last time they visited Iowa City, prevailing 24-25. In fact, the Boilers have won two of their last three in Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes had won four meetings in a row before Purdue's recent run. The Boilermakers won 20 in a row vs. Iowa from 1961-80. Since then, Purdue is 9-22-1 vs. the Hawkeyes.

TV: ESPN2. Beth Mowins, play-by-play; Anthony Becht analyst; Rocky Boiman, field

Early line: Iowa -17

After a 4-0 start, the Hawkeyes have lost two games in a row. Iowa fell, 10-3, at Michigan and then lost at home to Penn State last Saturday, 17-12. The Hawkeyes have been playing standout defense all season. Offense? It has been an issue. In fact, Iowa almost went a second game in succession without a touchdown. Yes, Michigan and Penn State are really good on defense. But Iowa can't continue to hope its defense keeps it in games. The Hawkeyes were the pick of some to win the Big Ten West. But Iowa sits 1-2 in league action and is staring up at Wisconsin and Minnesota. How good are the Hawkeyes? On a side note: No game in Kinnick Stadium can be discussed without mentioning the 'Iowa wave,' a tradition where at the end of the first quarter fans turn to wave to the children watching from the windows of the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital that overlooks Kinnick.

This Hawkeye squad is anchored by a rugged d-line led by ends A.J. Epenesa and Chauncey Golston. But despite having a primo line, Iowa ranks next-to-last in the Big Ten in sacks with 10. Iowa ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten in total defense (260.8 ypg), scoring defense (10.2 ppg) and rushing defense (100.8 ypg), and No. 3 in passing defense (160.0 ypg). Defensive coordinator Phil Parker has been on Kirk Ferentz's staff for all 21 years he has been in Iowa City. Parker is one of the best.

The Hawkeye offense is bogging down because it has struggled to run (156.8 ypg). Since 2015, Iowa is 40-4 when it rushes for at least 100 yards. When the Hawkeyes fail to rush for over 100 yards, they are 1-14 with the only win being in the Outback Bowl over Mississippi State. Another issue for Iowa: turnovers. Against Penn State, Hawkeye quarterback Nate Stanley threw another interception, and Iowa fumbled three times, losing one. Iowa committed just one turnover the first four games of 2019, which helped it build a 4-0 mark. But in the last two weeks, Iowa has committed six turnovers and it has resulted in a pair of losses.

"Going and playing at Iowa will be a great challenge for our football team and see kinds of how we stack up.

"I know Iowa has played some very good football. Like always they are well-coached and sound in what they do and do a great job on defense and don't give up points. They don't give up big plays. They make you earn it. They have got some size up front. Really good defensive end that's a projected first-round pick, maybe possibly Top-10 pick, and a lot of good players around him. So it will be another test for us to see how we can manage up front in the trenches.

"On offense, they control the football, run it, mix in the pass. Use the clock and you know, try to really play fundamentally sound football.

"This needs to be a great week of practice for our guys. We need to find a way to go on the road and beat a good opponent. It will be a tough match-up."

Membership Info: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?

Follow GoldandBlack.com: Twitter | Facebook

More: Gold and Black Illustrated/Gold and Black Express | Subscribe to our podcast

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2019. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.