Iowa gears up to stop Stanford’s McCaffrey in Rose Bowl

Stanford kicker Conrad Ukropina is familiar with the Rose Bowl, and not only because the Cardinal are playing in their third Rose Bowl in the past four years.

But none could top Christian McCaffrey and a Rose Bowl campaign as the top sports story of 2015 for The Daily News. The contest is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN.

The Rose Bowl won’t be a concern, not with Iowa involved. It is not the same for players and coaches, Hart said.

Where Iowa could go, it turns out, is one of college football’s premier postseason games for matchup of two teams that “could be playing for the national championship”, as Hogan said. The Cardinal’s two losses were at Northwestern (16-6) and at home to OR (38-36).

Nate Meier: The senior defensive end leads the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks and will be key in getting pressure on Hogan.

Stanford: LB Blake Martinez. The Cardinal are No. 39 in yards rushing allowed per game (146.9 yards per game).

He’ll be part of a farewell to a senior class that has not only registered so much success on the field, but also one that continues to put up incredible academic achievements. Palma has 42 tackles on the season.

But really, with this game so defined and likely low on possessions, the impact of field position and finishing drives will be substantial. I texted him as soon as the AP (award) came out, and I was like, ‘Well, at least we’ve got one of those things right.’ He fired back with: “‘I guess AP stands for “all objective”, because at least they like my all-purpose yards'”.

STEVE DEACE: This is a good matchup for Iowa. It’s another game. It’s the final game of the season.

Although the Hawkeyes present few of the gimmicky fronts and unorthodox blitzes encountered in the Pac-12 and elsewhere, their fundamental toughness – particularly against the run game – is a daunting obstacle for Stanford. “Parker’s played great all year long”. I just do. Also, a tree is the dumbest unofficial mascot ever.

Iowa went 8-0 in the Big Ten and 12-1 overall. There were bigger aspirations during the season, yet David Shaw continues to say all the right things about his team’s trip to Pasadena after falling short. Palma promptly gave Shaw his verbal pledge and signed his letter of intent four months later.

Palma was a decorated honor student in high school at Mission Oak, and he’s doing well at Stanford. Stanford is a six-point favorite, but the Hawkeyes are a load.

“(School is) going really good.

The Iowa Hawkeyes’ 12 wins are already a school record, and the Big Ten runners-up will hope to close out their historic season in style when they take on the Stanford Cardinal in the 2016 Rose Bowl. Stanford, with ultraconservative play-calling, converted three of 15 third downs.

Stanford ranks third in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (23.1) and total yards allowed (374.5), as well as fourth against the run (146.9) and fifth in defending the pass (227.6).

“We think (the Heisman voters) got it wrong”, Bloomgren said. “He can make plays on his feet”.

The bowl appearance is the 27th all-time for the Cardinal, which is 12-13-1 in bowl games. “We’re flying the Iowa state flag”. Now, Daniels, Canzeri and Wadley are all in the lineup, ready to show Stanford a multifaceted look in the run game wherein any of the three can explode for a huge game. He finished up that 2012 season with a Rose Bowl win and led the Cardinal back to Pasadena the next season, where they fell to Michigan State. He was asked this week about the long drought since the Hawkeyes have played in this game.

“Not quite yet”, Palma said. And if you have cable, I think there’s a football game in Pasadena. “If we didn’t keep challenging Kevin and putting more on his plate, he’d get bored with it because he’s so smart. But once the game starts, I have to be focused on the task at hand, and that’s to beat Iowa”.