IOWA to win+124
TLDR: Iowa's defense gets a Washington quarterback who admits he is pressing, a 6 PM local kickoff on the night the Hawkeyes have owned for a decade, and a kicker built for a close finish.
Point
- Williams is pressing
Demond Williams Jr. has 3 turnovers in 2 Big Ten losses and says he is not playing well enough, which suits an Iowa defense allowing 12.6 points a game.
- Friday nights
Iowa has won 13 of its last 15 Friday games since 2015, so the odd night is a routine this program handles well.
- 6 PM local kickoff
Kickoff is 6 PM Pacific, a normal 8 PM on Iowa's body clock, and Ferentz called that easier than a late West Coast start.
- Caden Buhr
Iowa's kicker is 5-of-5 from 40-49 yards and beat Iowa State with 15 seconds left, an edge in a game likely settled late.
Counterpoint
- West Coast record
Iowa is 0-4 in regular-season games in the Mountain and Pacific time zones under Ferentz, including Big Ten losses at UCLA in 2024 and USC in 2025.
- First career start
Jeremy Hecklinski makes his 1st college start on the road, with Hank Brown questionable and expected to be an emergency option at most.
Neutral
- Weather
The National Weather Service gives Friday night a 40% chance of light rain and a low near 49, a slick ball for both quarterbacks.
- Last meetings
Iowa beat Washington 40-16 at Kinnick in 2024 and has not played in Seattle since winning there 17-7 in 1963.