Iowa football vs. Nevada prediction: What constitutes progress?

Iowa's offense hasn't gained 600-plus yards since it won against Middle Tennessee State in 2019. The team hasn’t topped 450 yards in a game since Spencer Petras” first career start at Purdue. Iowa's 158-yards-per-game offense is not good enough to say it's improving.

Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini are expected to play for Iowa against Nevada. Iowa's offense has been predictable with limited personnel groupings. The return of Johnson, R againi and Arland Bruce IV will change the approach. The ground game needs to be better managed. Brian Ferentz will call more deep shots against the Nevada team. He has already called three deep passes of more than 20 yards.

Iowa football is going to run the football against Nevada. Gavin Williams is fully recovered from an ankle injury and should be able to play. Nevada's defense is good against the run, but Iowa wants to make a statement. Iowa has five costly giveaways this season.

Spencer Petras has nine interceptions and two lost fumbles in his last eight games. He has averaged 9.0 yards per pass attempt in one game in which he played well. Iowa's offense needs to improve to be competitive against Nevada. Nevada was lit up by an FCS opponent last week.

Iowa football team is playing Nevada at 6:40 p.m. on Saturday. Iowa is favored by 23 points.

Nevada's No. 20, Bentlee Sanders, has already had four interceptions. Nevada's best strategy is to create turnovers against Iowa's mistake-prone offense.

Iowa's defensive line should be able to feast on Nevada's offensive line. Nevada has already yielded nine sacks against poor competition. Oddsmakers expect another low-scoring game.

Western Kentucky is rested after a bye week and can sling it around behind Division II transfer Austin Reed. The Hoosiers have gotten off to slow starts in their first two games and have been susceptible in the secondary. Western Kentucky will win 31-27.

J.J McCarthy has won the Michigan quarterback job over Cade McNamara. Michigan plays UConn in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

Mickey Joseph became the first Black head coach at Nebraska in any sport. Scott Frost was fired after a three-point home loss to Georgia Southern.

The Wildcats lost to Duke. Northwestern has allowed 5.0 yards per carry in two games. Evan Hull has 459 yards from scrimmage.

Charlie Jones has 286 yards receiving this season. He has four touchdowns this year.

Iowa football team plays Nevada at 1 p.m. on ESPN Plus.

Greg Schiano's Rutgers team is ranked second in rushing defense and seventh in running offense. Rutgers plays its Big Ten opener against Iowa.

Minnesota is the only unbeaten team in the Big Ten West. The Gophers have the No. 1 total offense in country at 582 yards per game and the top total defense (142.5). Minnesota has a big game at Michigan State coming up.

Penn State will have to win this game through the air. Drew Allar is a freshman backup for Sean Clifford.

Wisconsin's offense committed 11 penalties in last week's home loss to Washington State. Wisconsin has a trip to Ohio State next week.

Ohio State is favored by 31½ against Nevada.

Ohio State's offense hasn't clicked yet, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba's return from injury should help. Toledo is one of the best teams in the MAC and won't go away easily.

Maryland leads all FBS teams in yards per play (8.64) and SMU is seventh (7.80). The over/under point total is 73½.

Washington's defense forced seven fumbles and recovered six of them. Michigan State has feasted on MAC competition so far. Washington's new quarterback Michael Penix Jr. leads the Pac-12 in passing.