As with all 2017 opponents, this isn't the first Iowa's played Michigan State, and it wouldn't be the first time we've beaten them. Here's a look back as we turn yesterday's victories into today's lessons.
Most of Iowa's victories over Michigan State — indeed, most of the games the two teams have played here in the Kirk Ferentz era — were wretched slogs of some sort, with incremental variations. Sure there was the 1999 reminder of how far Iowa had to go and 2010's hilarious beatdown, but this doesn't feel like either of those games.
What it does feel like: 2002, with Iowa ascendant but still finding its identity, and Michigan State approaching an uh-oh moment in its program. Remember that game? Here, let us remind you:
Some keys to the victory:
The great teams improve EVERY week. The prior week, Iowa had achieved a 31-28 victory over Purdue that stands to this day as one of the most entertaining games of Ferentz's tenure. The 60-minute slugfest left Iowa absolutely ripe for a letdown game, and MSU was the type of team to do it; coming into the week, Iowa's pass defense was one of the worst in the nation, and QB Jeff Smoker and WR Charles Rogers had connected on touchdowns in 14 straight games, an NCAA record.
Instead, Iowa doubled down on preparation, even in the glow of victory, because great teams know the historical value of the prior game doesn't affect your need to beat the cosmic shit out of the next team that's unlucky enough to line up against you the next day. Bob Sanders specifically cited the team's film study in gearing up to stop Smoker-to-Rogers, and lo and behold, that 14-game streak died that day. You can see D.J. Johnson pushing Rogers around at 5:47 on the video above; it's a point of pride.
Stress kills. Even in a game where Iowa ran off 44 straight points, the real key was its defense totally dismantling MSU's passing game. That all started with pressure — not excessive blitzing, just enough pressure to force Jeff Smoker into stressful decisions. Smoker was miserable, throwing three picks, fumbling twice and eating four sacks in the loss. Having a large, athletic front four allows this aggression without sacrificing downfield coverage, and lo and behold. Michigan State only managed 244 yards of total offense, and much of that came in garbage time.
Take what the other team gives you, especially if what they give you is an opportunity to drop bombs. Iowa's first three touchdowns came on a 94-yard kickoff return, a 62-yard pick-six and a 62-yard touchdown pass from Brad Banks to C.J. Jones. Those big plays were all predicated on opportunities afforded to the Hawkeyes by MSU's game-planning, and Iowa was able to judo-flip them into back-breaking scores and a further ascension with the AP Poll voters.
NOTE: the title of this feature, uh, "borrows heavily" from The Memory Palace, a truly world-expanding podcast by Nate DiMeo. Add it to your podcasts and to your life, if you haven't already; you'll be better for it. We imitate because we admire, and because it's not plagiarism if you link to it.
