The need to know
What: Iowa vs. Eastern Illinois
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City
When: 11:00 AM
TV: BTN

Injury report
Out: Adam Gettis (sprained ankle), Daniel Murray (hip flexor), Shaun Prater (hamstring), Josh Koeppel (hit by a freaking truck), Marcus Coker (colar bone)
Questionable: Jeff Tarpinian (broken hand)

Suspension
Out: Jewel Hampton and Broderick Binns

Other tidbits
  • Colin Sandeman is going to be the starter today over DJK. I'm not reading much into this. DJK missed a little bit of time during camp due to a minor, undisclosed injury, so he's probably just getting up to speed a little bit and the coaches are probably just rewarding the guy who has been performing all camp long. I still expect DJK to play early and often.
  • With Gettis out and his listed back up, Cody Hundertmark, leaving the team, there is a hole in the line at starting right guard. My guess is that Nolan MacMillan will get the start there, but there could be a couple of other guys in the mix.
  • With Binns' suspension, Iowa is mixing up the defensive line a little. Christian Ballard will slide back to defensive end and Mike Daniels will replace Ballard as the starting tackle.

Notes on Eastern Illinois
Pistol: EIU has been working on installing the semi-hip pistol offense this off-season. Made famous by Nevada, Iowa saw this offense (and kind of struggled defending it) last year against Indiana.

Missing starters: On offense, the Panthers will be seriously lacking in experience. Mon Williams, who led the team in rushing last year, is missing at least game today with a knee injury. They are also probably missing 3 starters along the offensive line (it's the whole left half of the line...Clayborn and Co. are licking their chops).

Like Iowa, Jake Christensen is gone: Christensen led EIU to the FCS playoffs last year, but has since graduated. The Panthers projected starter at QB is a transfer from a community college, who will be playing in his first Division 1 game, playing in a new offense, playing in Kinnick against Iowa's defense...advantage Iowa.

The defense may be okay: EIU returns 8 starters on defense. The linebackers are the star of his group with all 3 starters from last year back. The SAM backer, Nick Nasti (love that name) led the team in tackles last year and will once again be te leader of the defense. They should be a decent test for Iowa's offense.

Prediction
Iowa 34 - Eastern Illinois 3