Big Ten Preview: Iowa

College football season is approaching and for the next couple of weeks I'll be giving you some quick previews of the Big Ten. All ten....ummm eleven teams will be featured. Today it's Iowa.

Bar none, the most boring team in the Big Ten last season was Iowa. They gave up an average of about 18 points per game and scored an average of about 18 points per game. Thank God they got rid of ties in college football. They lost consecutive games last year by scores of 13-15 and 13-17.

Will the offense be any better this season? The law of averages is the only thing that suggests it. The Hawks lose their two top runners, Albert Young and Damian Sims, who accounted for all but 48 of Iowa's 1,515 rushing yards last season. The Hawkeyes hope juco transfer Nate Guillory will be able to fill in at running back to take some pressure of the passing game. Quarterback Jake Christensen was good at taking care of the football last season (17 TD, 6 INT), but he'll lose the luxury of the running backs carrying the burden and will need to take some more risks.

The defense also has some issues after losing six players from last season's third ranked scoring defense in the Big Ten. Both starting corners are gone and two new linebackers will need to step up. Defensive tackles Matt Kroul and Mitch King will be the bright spots on the defense.

This could be the season that puts Kirk Ferentz on the hot seat, if he isn't already. The man was taking calls from NFL teams just a few years ago, but in the last three years, Iowa is 19-18 overall and 11-13 in Big Ten play.

Maine and Florida International should be easy enough to start the year, but Ferentz probably needs six more wins to quiet the doubters. Missing Ohio State and Michigan will help, but the Wisconsin, Illinois, Penn State gauntlet late in the season will determine the fate of this team and perhaps Ferentz's future.