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98 ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 f A Lot Coming Back O n the eve of the 2014 season, Iowa has reason to be optimistic. The Hawkeyes are coming off a re- bound year in 2013, in which their eight wins were double from the year prior. And they're encouraged by the return of quarterback Jake Rudock, a deep stable of running backs and solid lines on offense and defense, as is typ- ical for Iowa. But even more than that, it's the schedule that has Kirk Ferentz and Co. thinking the program could make noise in the Big Ten this fall. Iowa plays its West Division opponents, getting per- ceived powers Wisconsin and Nebras- ka at home to end the season, plus it plays only East opponents Maryland and Indiana while missing Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. Arguably, the Hawkeyes could be favored in each of their first 10 games. "That's probably a major reason why expectations are high," said Tom Kak- ert, the publisher of HawkeyeReport. com, the Rivals.com site that covers Iowa. "You look at that schedule and think, 'You know what? There are win- nable games here.'" The Hawkeyes' hopes also rest on offense, one that could be more dynam- ic than the Ferentz-led units in recent (8-5 overall. 5-3 Big Ten, 2nd Legends) Date Opponent . . . . . . . . . Results 8/31 NORTHERN ILLINOIS. L, 27-30 9/7 MISSOURI STATE. . . . W, 28-14 9/14 at Iowa State . . . . . . . W, 27-21 9/21 WESTERN MICHIGAN . W, 59-3 9/28 at Minnesota . . . . . . . . W, 23-7 10/5 MICHIGAN STATE. . . . L, 14-26 10/19 at Ohio State . . . . . . . L, 24-34 10/26 N'WESTERN . . . . W, 17-10 (OT) 11/2 WISCONSIN . . . . . . . . . L, 9-28 11/9 at Purdue . . . . . . . . . . W, 38-14 11/23 MICHIGAN . . . . . . . . . W, 24-21 11/29 at Nebraska . . . . . . . . W, 38-17 1/1 LSU^ . . . . . . . . . . . . . L, 14-21 ^ Outback Bowl Who's in Charge? COACH KIRK FERENTZ Record at Iowa: 108-79 (15 seasons) Record vs. Purdue: 7-4 Iowa Mark Weisman, a 240-pound senior, leads a deep stable of running backs, after gaining nearly 1,000 yards last season. Iowa Hawkeyes 2014 OPPONENT PREVIEW • SEPT. 27 • ROSS-ADE STADIUM • TIME: NOON • TV: TBD Date Opponent 8/30 NORTHERN IOWA 9/6 BALL STATE 9/13 IOWA STATE 9/20 at Pittsburgh 9/27 at Purdue 10/11 INDIANA 10/18 at Maryland 11/1 NORTHWESTERN 11/8 at Minnesota 11/15 at Illinois 11/22 WISCONSIN 11/28 NEBRASKA 2013 RESULTS 2014 SCHEDULE EARLY LINE: IOWA -12 The Hawkeyes return their five most productive offensive players for the 2014 season. Jake Rudock: 2,383 passing yards Mark Weisman: 975 rushing yards Jordan Canzeri: 481 rushing yards Damon Bullock: 467 rushing yards Kevonte Martin-Manley: 388 receiving yards "It's starting to look again like Iowa football. Running back depth is outstanding. It used to be a sore spot three years ago but no more. Couple that with emerging quarterback Jake Rudock, a strong offensive line and some field stretchers at receiver and this team should be able to score. Defensively, it's going to be an upper-level Big Ten defense and it all starts front with one of the conference's best lines." — Tom Dienhart, Big Ten Network TOM'S TAKE