I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t have at least a tiny bit of doubt in the back of my mind as things kicked off just after 6:30 on Saturday evening. How could I not? I mean, the last time an FCS opponent walked into Kinnick Stadium, they left with a win. And whenever Iowa and Northern Iowa face off, 2009 creeps into the memory of any Hawkeye fan with a recollection that goes back that far.
Those inklings of doubt were amplified just a bit as I watched the early games on Saturday. There were Big Ten teams struggling left and right.