The Iowa Hawkeyes faced a new challenge in week four as they opened Big Ten play with a road trip to Happy Valley and the Penn State Nittany Lions. They did not rise to the occasion. Instead, the Hawkeyes seemed to sleepwalk their way right through the buzzsaw. They came out of Happy Valley a splattering of remains against a wall.
Now the coaching staff looks to pick up the pieces and try to put something back together as the Hawkeyes play host to the Michigan State Spartans in week five. The Spartans come into the week riding a two-game losing streak after starting the year with a pair of wins against Central Michigan and FCS Richmond.