Harty: Time to think big with Iowa’s nonconference schedule
IOWA CITY, Iowa – North Dakota State is in the midst of a football dynasty that even Nick Saban would envy.
The Bison will bring a 2-0 record into Saturday’s game against Iowa, along with five consecutive FCS national titles.
They’ll bring a nice contingent of fans to Kinnick Stadium and a reputation for knocking off power five programs.
But they’ll also bring some baggage, at least from Iowa’s point of view.
Saturday’s game will be what some Iowa fans call a no-win situation. It won’t be a big deal if Iowa wins because that is to be expected. It will be huge deal, though, if Iowa loses because it’s always a big deal when an FCS team defeats a team from a power five conference.
These kinds of matchups are on the verge of being eliminated as major conferences, including the Big Ten, will no longer allow schools to schedule FCS opponents.
That seems like an over-reaction, but if the big schools are determined to separate from the FCS schools, then make it worthwhile.
Last week, the debate centered on whether Iowa should keep playing Iowa State in football when the reward for winning is so small in Iowa’s case.
The Hawkeyes pounded Iowa State 42-3 this past Saturday, but still dropped one spot in the Coaches poll to No. 11 nationally.
I personally think that Iowa State should stay on Iowa’s schedule and wrote last week that the game should be played on a Thursday night in late August as a way to kick off the season for both teams and for college football as a whole.
As for the other two nonconference games, here is one suggestion that surfaced during the summer when I was conducting a radio interview with Arkansas head coach and former Iowa defensive lineman and assistant coach Bret Bielema.
Iowa and Arkansas should meet at a neutral site, perhaps Kansas City, Mo., or Chicago in either the first or second game of the season.
I suggested that to Bielama, and not surprisingly, he embraced the idea. Bielema is always looking for ways to promote his cause and to promote college football as a whole.
The game has been good to him and vice versa.
Imagine the hype if Iowa and Arkansas met at Soldier Field in Chicago for a season opener.
There would be enough storylines to create a television series.
Arkansas is just one of many possible opponents that would spice up Iowa’s sometimes bland nonconference schedule.
Oklahoma is another intriguing possibility for lots of reasons, not the least which is the Bob Stoops storyline.
And since we’re really thinking big, isn’t it time that Iowa and Notre Dame resume their football rivalry, which has been dormant since 1968?
The Big Ten’s recent switch to playing nine conference games has taken away some of the flexibility in scheduling three nonconference games.
But you can’t have everything your way when it comes to scheduling. Some Iowa fans want Iowa State removed from the schedule, but they also want Iowa to play seven homes games every season while facing tougher nonconference opponents.
The problem with that is it’s hard to schedule an elite opponent without having to agree to a home-and-away series.
It would seem worth it every now and then to sacrifice a seventh home game if it meant playing another nationally ranked power five program at a neutral site and for some big bucks.
The college landscape is changing to where you now have to think outside the box a little with regard to scheduling.
If the power five conferences feel they are too important to play FCS teams, and if Iowa feels it is too important to face Iowa State on an annual basis, then prove it by scheduling some difficult opponents.
It would make no sense to replace Iowa State or an FCS opponent with bad FBS opponents.
My preference would be for Iowa to play two teams in the nonconference portion of the schedule from power five conferences, with the Cyclones always being one of them.
Some say that isn’t possible with the Big Ten now playing nine conference games. But I say anything is possible if you can make dollars and sense.
It is easier to think big now with Iowa having won 14 of its last 16 games dating back to the start of last season.
Wisconsin’s unexpected victory over Louisiana State in the season opener at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., also has caused speculation about Iowa doing something similar with its schedule.
But for now, the Hawkeyes must tackle a dynasty on Saturday.
The challenge for Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz will be getting his players to have the same focus and determination that fueled their preparation for Iowa State.
Because you know that the Bison will be chomping at the bit to face Iowa.
“Make no mistake, since I’ve been here for five years, this is the most complete team that the Bison will face,” North Dakota State coach Chris Klieman said of Iowa.
That is quite a compliment, but Klieman, who grew up in Iowa and played football at Northern Iowa, also was delivering a message to his players that this is a chance to slay a giant.
And chances like this won’t be around much longer.