3 keys for Iowa football against South Dakota State

For the first time in 287 days, there will be college football at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa will face South Dakota State, which is No. 3 in the American Football Coaches Association’s preseason FCS poll.

Here are three keys for Iowa to avoid an early-season upset and begin the season 1-0.

What happens at wide receiver aside from Arland Bruce IV (and maybe Keagan Johnson)?

Nico Ragaini is out, and Keagan Johnson has “been touch and go,” Kirk Ferentz said this week. That’s not good news for a position that’s already shallow after departures via the transfer portal.

Even if Johnson is available, he and Arland Bruce IV would be the Hawkeyes’ only wide receivers with experience playing on Saturday.

Iowa’s depth at tight end can make up for some of the void in the receiving corps, but not all of it.

Walk-ons Alec Wick and Jack Johnson are the second-teamers on the depth chart, and scholarship players Brody Brecht and Jacob Bostick could also have roles.

If at least two of those four aforementioned options can emerge as capable weapons, that would make life a lot easier for quarterback Spencer Petras and Iowa’s offense both on Saturday and throughout the season.

But that’s not an easy ask for three freshmen and one sophomore.

Does Iowa’s secondary contain South Dakota State’s receiving corps?

South Dakota State’s receiving corps has plenty of talent, including some possible NFL Draft prospects.

Wide receiver Jaxon Janke and tight end Tucker Kraft are on the preseason watch list for the 2022 Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in the FCS.

Jadon Janke, Jaxon’s brother, also is back after leading the Jackrabbits with nine touchdown receptions in fall 2021. Landon Wolf, a former Oklahoma State transfer, could also be a factor after missing almost all of fall 2021 with an injury.

Like Iowa, South Dakota State has more than just one tight end to rely on. Zach Heins was fourth on the team in receiving yards and receptions and tied for second in touchdown receptions.

That level of talent could lead to an interesting matchup against Iowa’s defense, which had an FBS-best 25 interceptions. The Hawkeyes lost three of five starters from last year’s secondary, but they have some key pieces returning, including Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Riley Moss.

Can Iowa establish the run?

Iowa fans already have a taste of what running backs Gavin and Leshon Williams can do from the Citrus Bowl — the duo combined for 142 rushing yards on 26 carries — but this will be the first test with a young 2022 offensive line.

If Monday’s depth chart holds true on Saturday, two offensive linemen will be making their first career starts.

Amid the uncertainty at wide receiver, an effective ground attack would go a long way for the Hawkeyes.

What’s at stake

A definitive win would be an encouraging sign for Iowa after an offseason chock-full of questions about the offense. However, the level of talent on South Dakota State is a far cry from Ohio State or Michigan, so any major declarations from a win Saturday would be premature.

A loss to an FCS school, on the other hand, would dampen expectations for the reigning Big Ten West champions.

Iowa has lost to an FCS team once in the Kirk Ferentz era, in 2016 against North Dakota State. Those Hawkeyes finished 8-5 after suffering a 30-3 loss to then-No. 17 Florida in the Outback Bowl.

Iowa-South Dakota State prediction

The Jackrabbits might hang in there with the Hawkeyes for a while, but FBS-level Iowa clearly is the more talented team.

Iowa 28, South Dakota State 17.

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