Iowa Hawkeyes prepare for matchup against Northwestern

The No. 19 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes are set to face the Northwestern Wildcats in a significant matchup. A victory for Iowa would place them three wins away from a potential 10-2 record and a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Key players to watch for Iowa include linebacker Cam Buffington, who leads the team in tackles, defensive back Zach Lutmer, and wide receiver Tony Diaz. Defensively, Iowa aims to neutralize Northwestern's ground game to force the Wildcats into passing situations.

Northwestern's offense, coordinated by Chip Kelly, features quarterback Aidan Chiles, who is currently listed as questionable. Iowa faces challenges regarding offensive line depth following recent injury reports. The game is scheduled to take place in Evanston with weather forecasts predicting partly sunny skies and temperatures in the 40s to low 50s.