Hoosiers face 0-4 Hawkeyes

There have been classic battles between the two teams in the past and there will be some in the future. But Indiana and Iowa's football programs are only focused on this weekend.\nThe teams open Big Ten play at 6 p.m., Saturday at Memorial Stadium when the Hoosiers and Hawkeyes meet for the 64th time.\nComing into the weekend, IU and Iowa are heading in opposite directions.\nIU (1-2) defeated Cincinnati 42-6 after beginning the season with last-minute losses to North Carolina State and Kentucky. IU dominated all three phases of the game in Saturday's victory. \n"We finally achieved our goal of playing well and we showed other people we can play well," said A.C. Myler, sophomore left tackle. "Now, we just got to play better football and focus every week." \nIowa (0-4) hasn't recorded a victory since defeating Northern Illinois, Sept. 18, 1999, and is struggling in 2000, dropping its first four games to No. 5 Kansas State, Western Michigan, Iowa State and No. 1 Nebraska. The Hawkeyes' schedule is one of the toughest in college football and their four opponents are a combined 13-1. \n"You can build an argument for any type of schedule," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "You can play easy teams, difficult or a mix. A lot of times the schedule is made so far ahead and you can't do much about it. You play the schedule you're given and go back and reflect on it after the season."\nKansas State, Iowa State and Western Michigan are quality opponents, but the Hawkeyes biggest challenge was last weekend at Nebraska. Not only are the Cornhuskers a serious contender for the National Championship, but they also have some of college football's most passionate fans and 78,070 were in attendance to watch the Cornhuskers play the Hawkeyes.\nIowa battled with Nebraska for a half and trailed,14-13, late in the second quarter. But Nebraska's talent and depth were overwhelming and the Cornhuskers won by a 42-13 margin.\n"Obviously we played a good team, but our football team gave us a good effort," Ferentz said. "We did a lot of good things, but unfortunately not enough to win the ball game. We hung and we battled up until the last four minutes, then we got sloppy." \nAlthough Ferentz isn't in panic mode after the four losses, he is making a major personnel change Saturday against IU. Senior quarterback Scott Mullen, who has thrown for 877 yards this season, is being replaced by red-shirt freshman Jon Beutjer. A week ago Beutjer was the Hawkeyes' third-string quarterback. He has never played a down of college football.\n"What it comes down to is like I've said all long," Ferentz said. "Every decision we make, the first and foremost thought is what gives us the best chance to win this week, and that was the core of our decision."\nThe quarterback switch is surprising, considering Mullen's performance against IU last year. Mullen had a solid performance, completing 36-of-60 passes for 426 yards in the Hawkeyes 38-31 loss.\n"We put a lot of thought into it," Ferentz said of the quarterback change. "But the flip side is, anytime when you're talking about switching personnel, there's no guarantees it's going to pan out."\nDespite Iowa's extended losing streak, slow start and inexperience at quarterback, the Hoosiers aren't looking past the Hawkeyes.\n"This is a team that we are going to have to play extremely well against," IU coach Cam Cameron said. "It's the first game of the Big Ten conference and everyone can see that anything can happen in this league this year"