Iowa looking forward to physical matchup with Michigan State on Saturday
By Tyler Devine
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The stakes were much higher the last time the Iowa football team faced Michigan State than they'll be on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich., but the feeling of the game and the style of play should be the same.
“It’s going to be a dog fight,” said Iowa senior running back Akrum Wadley. “Every week is a dog fight just like a few games we played were dog fights. Coach Brian Ferentz does a good job with letting us know that we’re not that team that’s going to blow somebody out like 60 to zero. We look forward to dog fights.
“Last game was a dog fight, we just came up short. Michigan State is a really good team, they have a really good defense just like Penn State and we’ve just got to be ready to fight.”
Wadley was referring to Iowa's 21-19 loss to Penn State last Saturday in which the Nittany Lions scored the game-winning touchdown as time expired at Kinnick Stadium.
The ending was similar to the last time Iowa faced Michigan State, which came in the 2015 Big Ten championship game. The Spartans scored a touchdown in the final seconds to escape with a 16-13 victory in Indianapolis.
Michigan State drove 82 yards on 22 plays for the game-winning touchdown, with the final yard gained by running back L.J. Scott, who had to fight through several Iowa defenders, including all-Big Ten linebacker Josey Jewell, to reach the end zone with 27 seconds left to play.
The gritty, physical style of play that Iowa and Michigan State both have relied on for years was on full display that night, and should be on display again Saturday.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio are considered similar in many ways. Each has a cool and calm demeanor, and they both coach a physical style of football.
The similarities are so striking to where both teams are almost mirror images of each other on film.
“Michigan State certainly has an identity,” Ferentz said. “It's worked pretty well for them. My guess is when they threw our stuff on, it probably didn't look a lot different to them and vice versa. The players have changed. There aren't many guys left from the last time we played on either side of the ball for either team. But we kind of look like each other.
“Ever since Coach Dantonio got there, they've had a certain way they do things and it's been really successful for them.”
From a preparation standpoint, Iowa should have no problem replicating Michigan State’s offense in practice.
Junior defensive lineman Parker Hesse thinks the challenge presented by Iowa’s offense in practice goes a long way in helping to prepare for Michigan State.
"A lot of the looks they come out in offensively are similar to our offense and the things that they pride themselves on and the way they go about things, is kind of how our offense tries to be, too,” Hesse said. “So for us defensively, there's going to be a lot of similarities to playing our guys. And it's going to take us being physical.
“Our guys push us everyday. So it's the kind of challenge that we're looking forward to, something we're comfortable with."
Senior offensive lineman Boone Myers expects to take some hits on Saturday, but also plans to dish out a few of his own.
Both teams are looking to rebound after suffering emotional losses. Michigan State lost to Notre Dame 38-18 last Saturday in East Lansing.
“They’re a physical team and we’re a physical team,” Myers said of the 2-1 Spartans. “We both pride ourselves on that and hang our hat on being physical and coming off the ball and attacking so usually this matchup is a pretty physical matchup.
“They’re going to hit you and we’re going to hit them right back. That’s how it’s always really been in this rivalry. They are who they are and we are who we are. It’s going to be a battle.”