Iowa Looking For Redemption, Upset Against Penn State

 Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been in the game long enough to know that sometimes you just can't get anything positive out of a loss.

 Some coaches will spin it and say this unit was solid, that the offense was just a couple of plays away -- but not Ferentz. He knows that last year's 41-14 annihilation at the hands of Penn State was one for the trash heap as the Nittany Lions outgained the Hawkeyes by 365 yards, amassing 599 yards of offense and averaging nearly seven yards per carry.

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is an explosive weapon (Getty Images)

"The only thing we might have been all right with was the coin toss, and I'd have to look it up -- we probably lost that, too," Ferentz said. "There wasn't much out of that tape that we can take, and that's one of the tricks right now. We're looking at it, but there's just not a lot there. All I know for sure is that we're playing a team that's really good and we're going to have to play better than we did last year."

 Penn State (3-0) is ranked fourth in the country on the heels of three impressive non-league victories, while Iowa has had to work a bit harder for its success -- including an overtime 44-41 road victory against in-state foe Iowa State.

 Iowa is just 4-8 against ranked teams since 2012, but did upset second-ranked Michigan at home last season.

 So the Nittany Lions know they aren't going to just waltz in and take over the Hawkeyes territory without a fight.

 "We have tremendous respect for their program," PSU coach James Franklin said. "When you look at coach Ferentz, their record against top 10 opponents at home, especially playing at night, you know this is going to be a challenge.

 "You look at what they've been able to do, not only against Penn State in our last 10 games, but against ranked opponents. You're talking about a blue collar team that takes pride in their fundamentals, their techniques, being sound and playing hard. Really, in some ways, similar to our tradition and history."

 Penn State has won the last three in the series, and holds a 14-12 edge. But the Hawkeyes have won eight of the last 12, and PSU has taken just one game in Iowa City since 2000.

 Franklin, in his fourth year on the Penn State sidelines, said that traveling to Kinnick Stadium will be a first for many players on his team, and for him, as well.

 "I've never been there," he said. "I want to educate myself on what to expect. That place is going to be rocking Saturday night. Their sidelines are very tight. Their fans are going to be right up against you. We want to get our players prepared for that. We've got to get ready for the noise."

 It all starts for Penn State with junior running back Saquon Barkley, an explosive, track-fast runner with the ability to cut on a dime. He rushed for 1,496 yards and 18 scores a year ago, and has over 300 yards and three scores this season, averaging a hefty 8.1 yards per carry.

 Barkley was limited to just 47 rushing yards last week against Georgia State, so Penn State got him the ball in the passing game. Barkley had four catches for 142 yards and a touchdown, so it's easy to see why the Hawkeyes want to focus their attention on stopping him.

 "Everybody has to be on the same page," Ferentz said. "All that being said, when you play a guy like (Barkley), he's going to make some plays on his own because he's not your average back. So if it happens, it happens. You've got to keep playing. What we can't do is give him yards that are uncontested. If we do that, I can tell you what the result is going to be. It's easy to predict."

 While Barkley is the engine, Penn State has a lot of other moving parts that are dangerous, including quarterback Trace McSorley. A dual threat, McSorley went 18-of-23 with five touchdowns through the air, and averages nearly six yards per carry on the ground. McSorley is completing 67 percent of his passes and isn't afraid to go deep, averaging 9.9 yards per attempt.

 McSorley has myriad weapons, including All-America candidate tight end Mike Gesicki (four TDs) and receivers DaeSean Hamilton (18.1 ypc) and DeAndre Thompkins (6 catches, 66 yards).

 "We realize we have to play our best and at our highest level possible if we're going to be competitive in this game," Ferentz said. "That's where we're focused right now."

Linebacker Josey Jewell is the heart of Iowa's defense

 Iowa (3-0) has a bit of its own juice in the form of running back Akrum Wadley, who has 258 yards and a score in three contests. Understudy James Butler won't be available for this game, so Ferentz will spell Wadley, who left last week's game early, with freshmen Toren Young and Ivory Kelly-Martin.

 Nathan Stanley hasn't been spectacular at quarterback (61.4 percent, 10 touchdowns), but hasn't made mistakes, either. Stanley has just one interception, but will face his toughest challenge to date against a Nittany Lions defense that has already picked off nine passes. PSU has scored 49 points off of turnovers, so Iowa will need to be sound at hanging on to the football and grinding out possessions.

 Iowa loves to run the inside zone with Wadley, and have for years been one of the best at running the stretch play. An experienced offensive line is the key, so Penn State will need to have linebackers Manny Bowen and Jason Cabinda played disciplined, sound football, and not go for Iowa's heavy play-action.

 The Hawkeyes hang their hat on defense, ranking in the top 25 nationally against the run and allowing just two touchdowns. If they are to stop Barkley, it will be because linebacker Josey Jewell, who has 28 tackles and a pair of sacks in three games, was his usual self.

 Franklin knows that his team will have to account for Jewell on every play.

 "Josey Jewell is their bellcow and the leader of their defense," Franklin said. "A very instinctive player, a very physical player, a very productive player. I don't think there's any doubt about it, he makes their defense go from a leadership and playmaking perspective."

 Penn State is just 8-5 on the road against unranked Big Ten foes since 2012, and Ferentz likes the fact that Hawkeyes fans will have the entire day to get ready for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

 "You can't help but be excited," he said. "There's something about night games. I don't know if it takes you back to when you were in high school playing, but I think it's a lot of fun for everybody to be involved in."

 While some might say that all of the pressure is on Penn State, Franklin disagrees. He believes in putting it out there, warts and all, and gravitating toward people who aren't afraid to be themselves -- much as his Nittany Lions aren't afraid to be what they are.

 "One of the things I love about being a head football coach is all of the different personalities that I get to deal with every single day," Franklin said. "One of the things I've always been attracted to is people that own who they are. They're either really cool or really weird, and I love those people. I love the people on the extremes that kind of own who they are and are very comfortable in their own skin. I think that's what we have to do on offense, on defense and on special teams."