Iowa football ‘focused on winning the next game,’ but Indianapolis clearly within its sights

IOWA CITY — Mason Richman spelled out to reporters, literally, what Iowa football is worried about at the moment.

“N. O. V. E. M. B. E. R.”

He did not spell “Indianapolis,” which of course is where Iowa would go if it does well in November and becomes the outright Big Ten West champion (or at least is the co-champion who owns the tiebreakers).

“We’re worried about ourselves,” said Richman, the veteran offensive lineman. “We’re worried about getting better.”

As Iowa worries internally about its immediate future, it is not hard to see externally how its path to Indianapolis has become much more favorable than it was two weeks ago.

Saturday’s win over Rutgers — along with Nebraska and Minnesota’s losses — was enough for the Hawkeyes to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten West title.

“We knew what was at stake obviously,” linebacker Jay Higgins said.

Now, Iowa simply needs a win in either of its next two games — vs. Illinois on Nov. 18 or at Nebraska on Nov. 24 — to go to Indianapolis.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz views these next two games as “two opportunities,” but not necessarily easy opportunities.

“Nothing is going to be easy,” Ferentz said. “You hear the scores from around the country today, nothing is ever easy, nothing is ever predictable. But the good news is once the guys get to taste some success, I think that grows confidence.”

The sweetness of a Big Ten championship berth could be even sweeter if the win comes in front of a home Kinnick crowd next week against Illinois.

The team clinched its 2021 Big Ten championship berth away from any fans as Wisconsin lost to Minnesota the day after Iowa’s win over Nebraska.

Iowa has an especially favorable path to Indianapolis in part because of other Big Ten West teams’ especially unfortunate results in the last two weeks.

Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska — the three Big Ten West teams that were tied with Iowa atop the division to begin the month — have all lost their last two games and now are 3-4 in conference play.

Iowa, meanwhile, has won its last two games and is 5-2 in conference play.

Even in the unlikely scenario that Iowa loses both of its next two games, it still would technically be possible to earn a championship game berth.

As much as Iowa players will not publicly make a big deal about being so close to a division title quite yet, there is no denying the significance of the looming feat.

It is something Iowa has only accomplished twice in the previous 12 years of having a Big Ten championship game.

The goal of going to Indianapolis is visible on a sign above the sliding doors that connect Iowa’s indoor practice field and its weight room.

“The objective is you want to win a championship, you want to win a title, you want to win your division,” linebacker Nick Jackson said.

Still, Iowa remains “focused on winning the next game,” Jackson said.

But unlike other weeks, that next game against Illinois carries a lot more weight and could come with a division title trophy.

“Now, the test is here,” Higgins said. “It’s up to us to have a good week of preparation.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com