Rose Bowl Preview: Iowa vs. Stanford
Friday, Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. ET
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
It might not be the bowl game No. 5 Iowa was hoping for heading in to the Big Ten title game, but the Rose Bowl is a pretty prestigious consolation prize.
Iowa's only loss of the season came in that conference title game on a last-second Michigan State touchdown. No. 6 Stanford will make its third appearance in the last four games in Pasadena for the "Granddaddy of them all."
Iowa was perhaps the most shocking team of the 2015 season, reeling off 12 straight wins and clinching their first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1991. The Hawkeyes are a prototypical "Jack of all trades, master of none" team, as they are spectacularly consistent in all phases of the game.
Stanford is led by Heisman finalist Christian McCaffrey, who is the definition of an "everything back." The sophomore running back broke Barry Sanders' FBS record for all-purpose yards in a season, and as he goes, so does the Cardinal offense.
HOW THEY STACK UP:
Iowa
Record: 12-1
College Football Playoff ranking: No. 5
Points per game: 32.1 (47th)
Points against per game: 18.5 (13th)
Total Offense: 393.8 (70th)
Passing Yards: 201.8 (89th)
Rushing Yards: 192 (40th)
Total Defense: 334.2 (21st)
Passing Yards Allowed: 219.3 (61st)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 114.9 (11th)
Turnover Differential: +12 (8th)
Stanford
Record: 11-2
College Football Playoff ranking: No. 6
Points per game: 37.2 (19th)
Points against per game: 23.1 (38th)
Total Offense: 436 (39th)
Passing Yards: 210.9 (77th)
Rushing Yards: 225.1 (18th)
Total Defense: 374.5 (46th)
Passing Yards Allowed: 227.6 (69th)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 146.9 (40th)
Turnover Differential: 0 (66th)
WHY IOWA COULD WIN: Subtracting a 92-yard drive by Michigan State to score the game-winning touchdown in the Big Ten title game, Iowa has passed every test they were presented with this season. The test in this one is stopping McCaffrey. Iowa's stout run defense should be able to slow the AP player of the year, but it will take a big effort to limit him in the pass game as well. If the Hawkeyes can slow McCaffrey they should experience Rose Bowl glory. Sept. 5 seems like a year ago, but Northwestern beat Stanford 16-6 and held McCaffrey to 171 total yards, his worst game of the season. Iowa routed the Wildcats 40-10 42 days later.
WHY STANFORD COULD WIN: Iowa hasn't faced a talent like McCaffrey yet this season and will likely struggle to contain his speed. Stanford's pass defense has been its Achilles' heel all season, but the Hawkeyes do not possess much of a threat in that area to exploit the Cardinal. Senior quarterback Kevin Hogan likely won't be phased by the environment surrounding the game, and if Stanford ensures McCaffrey gets his touches, a second Rose Bowl win in four years should be in the cards.
IMPACT PLAYER TO WATCH: CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, RB/KR, STANFORD
Statistically speaking McCaffrey's 2015 season is the best of all-time. He capped the campaign with an absurd 461 all-purpose yard performance in the Pac-12 title game and has rushed for 100 yards in 10 of the last 11 games. The Cardinal running back will certainly be looking to atone for a poor performance against Northwestern in the only game against a common opponent this season.