Michigan Football: Everything you need to know about Iowa

Veteran leadership

The Badgers missed out on an in-state gem when quarterback Nate Stanley committed to Iowa. Through four years, Stanley has accounted for 6,311 yards, 60 touchdowns, and just 16 interceptions. Although, I don’t think even Iowa knew what they were getting with the Menomonie, WI native. Out of high school, 247 sports gave Nate three-stars and ranked him as the 22nd pro-style quarterback. 247 sports got it wrong.

Stanley will go down in history as one of the greatest quarterbacks in Hawkeye history, alongside Chuck Long, Rickey Stanzi, and C.J. Bethard.

However, the stats Stanley has produced so far came on the backs of great tight ends, and two of the most productive big men in Iowa history departed for the NFL. T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, both first-round picks and both irreplaceable for the Hawkeye offense.

Stanley must now rely on junior Mekhi Sargent, who averages an astonishing 5.5 yards-per-carry on 54 attempts.

For the passing game, wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette is the top target with 15 catches for 254 yards so far this season. The tight ends have largely been left out of the passing game as Shaun Beyer is leading the group, only having caught the ball four times for 57 yards.

Overall, the offense averages 247 yards passing and 217 yards on the ground while only allowing 172 yards passing and 78 rushing yards.

The key to dismantling this offense is to force them to pass the ball and mitigate the damage caused by Sargent.