It's a brainteaser, no?
Of course, the correct answer is actual football opponent of Iowa. The Florida International Golden Panthers play at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 6. In a game that counts. Against the Hawkeyes.
FIU was 1-11 last season, 1-6 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Sun Belt is to major-college football what Meadow's boyfriends were to "The Sopranos." Lightweights.
The one good thing about the Florida International-Iowa game is it probably features a better opponent for the Hawkeyes than the one that opens the season. On Aug. 30, the Maine Black Bears come for a nice payday and a presumed beatdown.
There's no hurry for summer to come and go, is there?
The New York Times has a college football blog, and it is ranking the 120 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) teams from the bottom to the top, one day at a time. It got to Florida International on Day 3.
The Golden Panthers are 118th according to the Times, ahead of only Utah State and Western Kentucky. But caution, Hawkeyes, the Times blog notes FIU increased its offense by nearly 100 yards per game in its last six games as opposed to its first six.
Let us not forget Iowa fell last November to a Western Michigan team that arrived in Kinnick with a 3-7 record. Nonetheless, if the Hawkeyes aren't 2-0 heading into their game against Iowa State on Sept. 13, something has gone horribly wrong.
Here's the Hlog linking to the New York Times. When do you suppose the Times will return the favor?
NY Times on Florida International