What did the measuring stick say after winning by 24 last year? Sneaking by UNI would not tell me we suck but it will be worrisome. Winning by a lot won't tell me we are pretty good but it will be promising. Can't make a judgment/prediction after a week1 game vs an FCS opponent. Iowa blocked two potential game winning field goals against them to hold on but had a good year and beat us by 30+ the next week.
How good is UNI this year?
- Thread starter cypher
- Start date
1 game can never be the tell all on how good or bad a team is, especially the 1st one.
I agree. My point in referencing the fans is don't set your expectations too high. If you blindly expect us to win by 50, or even 30, then you haven't been following our recent matchups with UNI.
We should have ended up with a better record than we did last year though. We should have beaten Toledo and K-State IMHO. That sets us up just outside of bowl eligibility.
There's a big difference between expecting to win by 50 and winning comfortably like last season.
I won't argue your logic as we may very well struggle against them, but I am expecting this team, barring significant injuries to improve, as the season progresses, under this staff.
Thanks guys. Until I read this thread I was tooling along fat, dumb, and happy and not worrying about it much.
UNI is well coached and wants to win this game more so than any game all year..they hate ISU and Farely hates ISU. UNI has always had smaller D line but they are strong and always quicker and it's always given our much bigger Oline fits at times. THe goal is to wear them down. This UNI team will be slightly better on offense I prob not as good on Defense especially the back 4. We should always beat UNI but the Top FCS teams are actually well coached good football teams.. It's different today than 30 years ago..Today UNI is an established FCS power similar to NDSU who gets a lot of former FBS transfers. I think last years UNI squad had like 4-5 starters who had been at previous P5 teams. It's kinda like basketball..We should beat UNI each time but that doesn't mean they don't have a good team and would give a lot of teams fits. UNI few years ago nearly won @ Wisconsin.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
Their secondary had a lot of depth last year so they will be decent this year even though they lost some good ones. Hall was drafted by the Bears and another guy is with the Packers. I know some teams were interested in one of UNI's safeties, or maybe both of them, but never saw if either guy signed anywhere.
Teams like UNI have several power 5 transfers every year. There is not much talent difference compared to us on the offensive and defensive lines. We usually have better skill position guys offensively except when they had David Johnson. The difference is they generally lack depth due to limit scholarships, but that doesn't really come in to play the first game of the year.
I doubt if you are going to see much more than the 31-7 score. If ISU gets a lead the coaches will probably work more players in to see what they have - as well they should.
This doesn't help me if they win by 11 or 13.
I'm watching the Bears and Broncos right now and Hall looks really good. If they have somebody to replace him, that's saying something.
QB Bailey and RB Smith both ran for over 1,000 last year, and really played better once Bailey wasn't splitting time w/ Kollmorgen. Bailey is an average at best passer though, hopefully our secondary can take advantage. UNI strength will be running the ball and their front 7 on D. Lost their entire secondary to graduation along with their best linebacker, and brought in a bunch of FBS transfers to fill in this year while they develop a huge DB recruiting class. Lazard should have a huge game. Their front 7 should be solid, always seem to tackel well. ISU should win by two scores, but if we turn it over and have trouble stopping the run it could be a long night.
How'd that work out for us last season? I'd also argue that isu going to a bowl game is pretty good for us historically.
I think UNI is probably a top 5 FCS team this year. They will play ISU tough. I think they will be better than they were last year against ISU.
. I remember the stats being close last year with the exception of score and return yards.
