ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime Season 15 Episode 77 Iowa at Northwestern

ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime season 15 episode 77 features a highly-anticipated matchup between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Northwestern Wildcats. With both teams coming off impressive wins in their last games, the stage is set for a thrilling contest between two Big Ten rivals.

The Iowa Hawkeyes come into this game after a convincing victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Iowa's defense was the star of the show, as they held Minnesota to just 7 points and picked off the quarterback twice. Iowa's offense was also efficient, with quarterback Spencer Petras leading the way with 211 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. The Hawkeyes will rely on their defense to shut down Northwestern's offense, which has struggled at times this season.

Northwestern, on the other hand, is coming off a dominant win over the Maryland Terrapins. The Wildcats also relied on their defense, holding Maryland to just 3 points and forcing 3 turnovers. Northwestern's offense was balanced, with quarterback Peyton Ramsey throwing for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns and running back Cam Porter rushing for 72 yards and a touchdown. The Wildcats will need their offense to continue to click in order to keep pace with Iowa's potent attack.

One key matchup to watch in this game will be Iowa's offensive line against Northwestern's defensive front. The Hawkeyes have one of the best offensive lines in the country, led by center Tyler Linderbaum and tackle Alaric Jackson. Northwestern's defense, however, has been stout all season, with defensive ends Earnest Brown IV and Samdup Miller wreaking havoc in the backfield. If Iowa can control the line of scrimmage, they should have success on offense. If Northwestern's defense can disrupt Iowa's rhythm, it could be a long night for the Hawkeyes.

Another key factor to watch will be turnovers. Both teams have been opportunistic on defense this season, with Iowa forcing 11 turnovers and Northwestern forcing 9. Whichever team can win the turnover battle will have a significant advantage in this game.

Overall, this game has all the makings of a classic Big Ten matchup. Both teams are evenly matched and have strong defenses, so it may come down to which offense can make more big plays. With both teams looking to stay in the race for the Big Ten championship, this game will have plenty of drama and excitement.