Iowa is 9-0 and ranked in the top 10 nationally. Now the Hawkeyes get the chance to move to 10-0 for the first time ever at home in their first November night game ever, with a stadium blackout and new black alternate uniforms against a team it lost 51-14 to last year. How’s that for a buildup? It’s safe to say Iowa fans are very excited.
How to watch Minnesota vs. Iowa on TV or online, plus 3 things to know
It’s a big matchup under the lights in Iowa City.
And they should be. The Hawkeyes have to win two of their final three games this season to reach the Big Ten title game. Each of those matchups comes against a team with a below-.500 record. Kirk Ferentz's team has somehow managed to stay undefeated despite dealing with a number of injuries. Now they're just starting to get healthy with running back Jordan Canzeri expected back for Iowa's four-back stable of rushers and quarterback C.J. Beathard looking healthier than he has been since early in the season.
Meanwhile, Minnesota is set to end an absolutely brutal stretch of three straight night games against arguably the Big Ten’s three best teams. The Gophers lost a heart-breaker to Michigan at home, then fell at Ohio Stadium to the Buckeyes. Now they get another tough test in Iowa City. The offense has shown signs of life after struggling mightily to start the season. Can it make more strides against Iowa’s tough defense? The Gophers are going to need to pull an upset at some point in order to make a bowl. They’re 4-5 with games at Iowa, vs. Illinois and vs. Wisconsin remaining.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Online streaming: BTN2GO
Spread: Iowa is favored by 11.5 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Black Heart Gold Pants for Iowa fans and The Daily Gopher for Minnesota fans.
Three big things to know
1. The biggest thing to know about this game is the scene around it. This is Iowa’s biggest home game of the season and its biggest in quite awhile. It should be a crazy atmosphere.
2. How healthy is Beathard? He looked better against Indiana, but he’ll need to make some plays.
3. Can Minnesota’s offense get anything going against the Iowa defense? That could decide whether this is a close game.
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