No. 9 Oregon Ducks will face number 20 Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. This is shaping up to be a big game with a College Football Playoff appearance on the line. To add to the anticipation in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes are hosting a blackout theme to add to the already intense atmosphere.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz revealed on “Hawk Talk” that the team would wear all-black uniforms for the game. After the news regarding Iowa’s uniforms was released, David Eickholt of 247Sports revealed that a few players “let it slip” that it would be a blackout against Oregon.
The breakdown will set the tone for this highly anticipated match. On Tuesday before the game, it was announced that Kinnick Stadium would be sold out. The stadium is a 69,250 seat venue, creating a hostile environment for the Oregon Ducks.
While the Hawkeyes will wear black, the Oregon Ducks revealed they will wear black. white and green on the road against Iowa. The jersey will be white with green letters, with green pants and a green helmet. The helmet will also feature white wings for the first time in program history.
The Oregon Ducks enter the game against Iowa with a 7-1 record, with a 4-1 record in the Big Ten. While the Hawkeyes have two losses, Iowa also holds a 4-1 record in the Big Ten.
One of the reasons the Oregon Ducks are in 9th place in the top CFP rankings is due to the strength of their schedule. Although their only loss was to the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers, a second loss could greatly hurt the Ducks’ chances of making the playoffs.
The Iowa Hawkeyes could take two losses, but eliminating the No. 9 team would significantly increase their chances of qualifying for the CFP. While it might take more than just a win against Oregon, defeating the Ducks would keep Iowa’s playoff hopes alive, and the Hawkeyes hope to use the crowd to their advantage.
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Playing in a sold-out Kinnick Stadium during a Black Out won’t be easy for the Ducks, but Oregon has proven this season that the team can win in hostile environments, and the program could do it again.
In Week 5, the Oregon Ducks traveled to University Park to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions. While the Nittany Lions have since struggled this season, Oregon faced Penn State when the program was undefeated, and it was their annual White Out.
The Penn State White Out is known as one of the most hostile environments in college sports, but the Oregon Ducks won the game 30-24, toppling the then No. 3 team in the nation.
Beaver Stadium is also much larger than Kinnick Stadium, with a standard capacity of 106,572. If the Ducks were able to defeat Penn State on the road during the White Out, Oregon can do it again against Iowa.
The Oregon Ducks have been one of the most balanced teams in college football, but the game could come down to defensive performance of both teams in Week 10. Oregon and Iowa both have top-notch defenses, and the game could come down to who wins in the trenches.
According to ESPN, Oregon has a 78.2 percent save rate. Iowa’s shutdown rate is just below Oregon’s, at 77.6 percent. Oregon’s offense will need to find a way to get past the Hawkeyes’ tough defense and look to get on the board quickly.
The Ducks rank 7th in the Big Ten and 30th in the nation in rushing yards per game (114.75). The team has only allowed 12 total touchdowns this season. Oregon will need to continue playing at a high level to beat Iowa on the road.
The No. 9 Oregon Ducks and No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes kick off on Saturday, November 8 at 12:30 p.m. PT.
