Iowa's toughest non-conference game on paper just got a little bit less challenging.
Before the season began, the most threatening game on Iowa's non-conference schedule looked like the 9/19 clash with Pitt. Illinois State was a top-notch FCS team... but still an FCS team. Iowa State has had plenty of recent success against Iowa and plays Iowa at home, but has less talent than Pitt at several positions. North Texas is coached by noted Hawkeye upset specialist Dan McCarney, but otherwise has very little else going for them. Pitt, on the other hand, brought all-conference talent at a few positions and narrowly lost to Iowa in Pittsburgh a year ago (a game that required a tremendous second-half comeback by Iowa to win).