65th Big Ten contest is anyone's game

Sometimes, 65th anniversaries are overlooked. They're not considered the milestones that 75th and 100th anniversaries are. But if IU defeats Iowa Saturday, the Hoosiers will return from their 65th match-up against the Hawkeyes with a big gift.\nA 2-2 record in an uncertain Big Ten where it is anyone's game.\nBoth the Hoosiers and the Hawkeyes are 1-2 in the conference, but with five teams ahead of them at 2-1, the standings in the Big Ten are all up in the air.\n"I think (a win is) pivotal," coach Cam Cameron said. "I've said that all year and this one has a capital 'P.' This is a pivotal, pivotal football game for this football team. \n"That is what makes this week so much fun. Going into a bye week, you have a chance to go in and play a very good football team in their own stadium...keep yourself in the thing. It won't be easy, I can guarantee you that."\nAside from the fact that the game is at Iowa's Kinnick Stadium, where the fans sit almost right on top of the players, Iowa is coming off two close road losses. \nLast Saturday, the Hawkeyes drew within three, but were defeated by Michigan State, and they lost to Purdue the week before. The Boilermakers won 23-14, but Iowa's defense allowed only one touchdown, two fieldgoals and a mere 217 yards total offense. \n"They'll come up and hit you," senior running back Levron Williams said. "They have veteran guys that are determined to make plays. Their defense is like number one in the Big Ten, but Wisconsin's defense was ranked high, too. We're just going to go all out and throw our bodies around." \nBut the the Hoosiers (1-4) do not face an ideal situation going into this game. Iowa (3-2) may have had two straight losses, but its defense continues to put up big numbers. On the ground, the Hawkeyes have given up only 64.3 yards per game.\nIU is coming off a heart-breaking loss after a heart-pounding win, and its offense was held to 194 yards on the ground.\n"They've improved defensively across the board," Cameron said. "I think (Penn State coach) Joe Paterno said it's probably the best defensive line they'll face all year long. They are solid across the defensive front and their secondary is better. I'm really impressed with their defense...the physicalness and the effort that they play with."\nIowa is also going to be attacking with a powerful offense. The Hawkeye quarterback, senior Kyle McCann, has completed 84 passes for 978 yards with eight touchdowns. Senior quarterback Antwaan Randle El, in five games, passed 54 times for 692 yards. But Randle El has also made less attempts than McCann.\nBoth Iowa and the Hoosiers have strong offensive threats. Williams had 133 yards against a similar Hawkeye defense last year, and this year has 981 all-purpose yards. The Hawkeyes will be unleashing senior wide receiver Kahlil Hill, who in the win against Penn State had a 76-yard kick return.\n "...Guys we are familiar with like Hill and (Ladell) Betts on the offensive side of the ball are dangerous, especially with Hill in the return game," Cameron said. "They're probably as good as a return team as we'll face."\n But starting out strong and keeping up intensity will be the main focus for the IU squad that lost to Illinois. But the playing conditions will be similar to what the Hoosiers faced in the blowout against Wisconsin.\nBitter cold, loud fans and a desperation for a win.\n"The feeling right now is that we are in a critical situation," senior wide receiver Henry Frazier said. "We must win against Iowa and come back 2-2 for the bye week. If you look at the Big Ten, everyone is good and everyone is still in it. We have to come out and play on the edge and we have to come out positive. I'm excited to go"