The Walk Through

The Gophers are now down 21-7 after that blocked FG. It the Cornhuskers hold, Wisconsin can flat out win the Big Ten West with a victory over Iowa today.

It is rainy, cloudy, foggy here. Temp is high 40s.

The Music City canceled, so there are no bowls here today. I saw a little of the show 'Nashville” this week. I expect the bowl experience to be full of back-biting and jealousy, just as the show is.

Bad jokes on Twitter are bad jokes here, too.

- It's a pretty gigantic recruiting weekend for the Hawkeyes. DE Christopher Hart (2015) is on an official visit. He's got a million offers, including Michigan State.

Some of the unofficial visitors, according to HawkeyeReport.com, include: Dowling QB Ryan Boyle, who's committed to Iowa and guided Dowling to the Class 4A state title last night, big OL/DL Juan Harris (2017 OL/DL from North Fayette), who also helped his team to a state title yesterday in the UNI-Dome and Austin Kluver (2015 K from Iowa), who's the No. 93 kicker in the country ranked by Kohl's National Kicking ratings system.

There are like 50 kids listed as visitors.

- QBs are out and tossing. There was a crazy rumor that QB Jake Rudock was hurt at Illinois last week. All systems go, it looks like.

Since this is the time to do this sort of thing, I we're reading into pregame body language, WR Tevaun Smith is out there just kind of hanging around and not catching passes. Again, this is from a mile in the sky and I've heard nothing on him this week as far as health.

- We're still a ways from kickoff.

Posted above are the scenarios for the B1G West Division titles.

- Minnesota is hanging in 21-14 with 11:14 left in the third. RB David Cobb is on the bike, came off limping. Gophers need him.

- There's really no wind here today. I think the weather won't be a factor unless it rains or drizzles. Right now, the radar is clear.

- Iowa kicker Marshall Koehn is trying a 58-yarder right now. Way wide right. Again, right through with plenty of leg. I've never seen an Iowa kicker try it from that far in warmup. He's got at least as strong of leg as Nate Kaeding.

- I'm watching all of the kicking going on down there right now, I'm always kind of surprised no one kicks or punts into anyone.

- The Kinnick gates are open and fans aren't exactly thundering in. Iowa said it had 1,600 tickets left early in the week. I expect a sell out.

- Huskers now up 24-14.

- Gophers marching.

- Gophers score on best 4th-and-1 ever. It's 24-21 early in the fourth.

- Connor Kornbrath is announced as the starter at punter.

- Junior TE Henry Krieger-Coble is out today. Injured his shoulder at Illinois. Four TEs dressed as Jake Duzey, George Kittle, Ray Hamilton and No. 92 Peter Pekar.

- C Mark Pelini and WR Kenny Bell were knocked out of the Huskers' game vs. Minnesota, FYI. Iowa hosts the Huskers next weekend in the regular-season finale.

- FWIW, freshman WR Andre Harris is dressed and on the sideline for the first time in a few weeks. Kirk Ferentz said he was injured. He's a scholarship WR from St. Louis. Thought he might do something this year.

- WR Riley McCarron is out for the regular season with mono. Last week, sophomore WR Matt VandeBerg returned punts. I expect him to do that again.

- Current weather conditions in Iowa City - 50 degrees, winds south at 3 MPH. There is a 20% chance of rain, otherwise cloudy, foggy.

- Starters are the same expect freshman Sean Welsh is in for junior Jordan Walsh at right guard. Defensive starters are the same.

- I believe Ike Boettger is the No. 2 left guard. He was wearing a No. 99 jersey with no name on the back. Weird. Maybe he forgot his jersey.

- No. 2 OL was RT Cole Croston, RG Jordan Walsh, C Eric Simmons, LG Ike Boettger and LT Boone Myers. No. 2 D-line was Melvin Spears, Jaleel Johnson, Faith Ekakitie and Riley McMinn.

- And now we sit and wait. Looks like a fun finish in Lincoln coming up.

23 minutes to kick. Thanks for stopping by.

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