The Walk Through

Pretty sure I've set a media record for time in Jacksonville cover the bowl game, but, hey, game today.

Let's recap the Big Ten's New Year's Day: Glorious.

Yes, Minnesota was average, but Minnesota is average. Beyond, Wisconsin coach athletics director coach Barry Alvarez had Gatorade dumped on him. He also did some weird old guy dance in the postgame after the Badgers beat Auburn in overtime.

Then, Michigan State outscored Baylor 21-0 in the fourth quarter, blocked a a FG and scored 2ith around 17 seconds left to end Baylor's claim to any whining about not being in the CFP. And then the coup de grace landed when Ohio State upset Alabama in the late CFP semifinal.

So, the Big Ten is feeling pretty, pretty good about its 5-4 bowl effort. The league was an underdog in all 10 of its bowl games.

Now, it's on Iowa to push the B1G to above .500 for the bowl season.

Is it a big deal? Tennessee is SEC and a potential up and comer under Butch Jones. Still, the Vols are 6-6 and so this game lacks the catchet that, say, Ohio State's victory over Bama had.

I mean, right?

- The Iowa QBs and TEs (and some RBs) have been on the field and are off.

Here we go with the QB thing. Of course, you know Jake Rudock will start and then we'll see from there. Success is going to be ruddering who plays and how much. If Rudock leads a scoring drive, he sticks. If he doesn't, it's on to C.J. Beathard.

So, this should be fun for everyone.

Kirk Ferentz and Greg Davis have said that both QBs will play. We have heard that before, so we'll see what happens. I think your skepticism here is well-founded.

We haven't had a chance to talk to the QBs this week. I'm not complaining and you could obviously see that coming. What are they going to say? The coaches are crazy and play me?

Is this a two-year decision? CJB's has already said transfer is a possibility. If he gets a few series or the whole game, could that shape his decision? Or has it already been shaped?

What about Rudock? We all have our perceptions, but the reality is he started 11 games and stands to be the only one who could feel the a threat to his playing time after the Nebraska loss. Ferentz said everything was going to be examined. The only evidence of that so far is Rudock. Again, we'll see. Maybe there's more.

- Did you see Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott last night? Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, but I'm not sure running back wasn't a bigger probably position for the Hawkeyes this season. Ferentz said during bowl prep the O-line wasn't that bad and yards were left on the table (he did add that the O-line wasn't problem-free, either).

Comparatively within the Big Ten, yes, Iowa needs to turn it up at running back.

Today is likely another Mark Weisman day. That can work, but how healthy is Weisman.

Next season? I think Jordan Canzeri becomes the primary, but I'm not sure I can define primary. On paper, Iowa doesn't have the power back that ruled the Big Ten this year. Of course, a lot of teams won't have that next year with Melvin Gordon and Tevin Coleman leaving early for the NFL draft.

- Iowa AD Gary Barta said on the pregame radio that 7-5 is being scrutinized.

He said everything is under examination. Ferentz has said the coaching staff is being evaluated. This is stuck in a holding pattern until after today. We'll see.

- Iowa radio analyst Ed Podolak calls C.J. Beathard a playmaker that Iowa needs. He said the ball needs to go more to Tevaun Smith. He also said coaches need to coach RB Akrum Wadley out of the spin move and coach him into better ball security. Ed was running down the list of potential playmakers and kept that list to speedy players who've flashed this year, which also included RB Jonathan Parker.

- Iowa getting ready to run through its team drill.

Rudock is, indeed, the starter.

Ike Boettger is again wearing No. 99. He'll played the third blocking TE with Henry Krieger-Coble sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Junior Jordan Walsh will start at RG over freshman Sean Welsh.

Rudock is the starter. You already knew that. RB Jordan Canzeri getting some first-team reps.

CJB running the second team. Second team OL is the same: from right to left RT Cole Croston, RG Sean Welsh, C Eric Simmons, LG Boettger and LT Boone Myers

Second DL is strange brew: Bud Spears, Nathan Bazata, Jaleel Johnson and Wil Rathjen.

The No. 2 OL has been like this for awhile, so it looks, at least right now, that Myers is the heir apparent to Brandon Scherff at left tackle. He switched around with Boettger not long after Boettger filled in for Scherff when he was injured against Ball State.

Myers is 6-5, 285. The Webster City native earned a scholarship this summer after initially walking on.

Long way to go, but Myers appears to be the leader in the clubhouse, but the fact that Boettger does play in games probably means more.

Enjoy the game. It's on ESPN.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com