#Phil Parker

And just like that, the Iowa football season is coming to a close. In typical Hawkeye fashion, Iowa gave fans a reason for optimism. Heading into a Black Friday showdown with a reeling Nebraska team, the Hawkeyes needed to just not completely trip all over themselves to return to Indianapolis as Big Ten West Champions for the second straight…

My phone reminded me, this morning, of what I was doing five years ago today. I had flown from Boston-a two-week research trip wherein I also flew to Maryland to watch the'Cats beat the Terps-to Evanston, where I saw one of my favorite sights: Iowa fans leaving Ryan Field. Just look at that. All those yokels, having congratulated themselves on…

If you're the glass half-full type, it was another season of stellar defense in the Big Ten. Of the top 10 teams nationally in scoring defense, 5 were from the B1G. Glass half-empty types will point out that the ineptitude of Big Ten offenses could be a factor in this. But it's more of a chicken-and-egg scenario. Do Big Ten offenses struggle…

This Big Ten game has a projected over/under of 32 points, and when you look at the weather, it'll be the coldest game at Huntington Bank Stadium in years, with a projected high temperature of 17 degrees. The "real feel" in the stadium will likely be in the single digits for the game's duration as well. But even with the cold temperatures and…

COLUMBUS, Ohio - COLUMBUS, Ohio - We invited our Buckeye Talk Subtext subscribers to send their questions about Ohio State football. After a two-week FREE trial it's only $3.99 per month. or text to 614-350-3315. Hey Nathan: "How does the Iowa defense compare to Michigan? Are there direct correlations we can take from our performance against Iowa…

College football is a window into America. In some ways, it's an ugly view. The sport thrives on the strength of an unpaid and largely nonwhite labor force, with fans buying tickets and media companies paying billions of dollars that get funneled toward lavish practice facilities and salaries for mostly white coaches and administrators. In other…

Tough one for my Buccaneers last night after a 28-14 loss to hated UMass-Dartmouth. If you watched the 12-9 Colts-Broncos win last night and thought "That's the pinnacle of football," well...boy, we've got a few games for you this week in the Big Ten. HIT IT, RockyMtnBlue! (all times CT) Straight-Up: jNebby 10-4 Against the Spread:…

Can Iowa close a 39-point gap with Michigan from last December? That is the question Saturday's Big Ten championship game rematch at Kinnick Stadium boils down to. The Wolverines pounded the Hawkeyes 42-3 to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff. Yes, teams change from year to year. But in the case of these 2 rosters, there's a surprising…