Oh baby.
College football doesn't get much better than the showdown we have on Saturday. Iowa, the nation's No. 3 team, will play host to the fourth-ranked team in the country, Penn State.
Both squads are undefeated, and the matchup has massive implications on the Big Ten and College Football Playoff spectrums.
Here's how to watch the top-5 Big Ten battle.
Iowa-Penn State Start Time
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 9
- Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
The Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions will serve as the afternoon matchup on FOX, as the broadcasting giant has Ohio State and Maryland in its "Big Noon" slot and Utah-USC in the evening slot.
Interestingly, the "Big Noon" pregame show will be making its way to Iowa City for the contest, but the game won't be held in that TV position.
Both teams are coming off of primetime outings last week with dominant showings in each. Iowa steamrolled Maryland in College Park on Friday before Penn State blanked Indiana on Saturday.
How Can I Watch Iowa-Penn State?
- TV: FOX
- Stream: FOXSports.com/live or the FOX Sports app
This game can be streamed on the FOX Sports app, which can be downloaded through services such as Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV and the Xbox One. You need a cable subscription after the first hour of free streaming.
Without a cable subscription, you can use a free trial of streaming services like Sling TV or Fubo TV to get the game.
Iowa-Penn State Odds
- Iowa: -1.5
- Penn State: +1.5
- Total: 40.5
The line opened at DraftKings with Iowa favored by 2.5 points and the total listed at 42.5, but both numbers have been bet down since then. Iowa is now a smaller favorite at -1.5 with the line trending towards a pick 'em and the total has reached an anemic number of 40.5.
Iowa News
Much was said about the concerns that existed regarding the Hawkeyes after they were only able to beat Colorado State at home by 10, but Iowa rebounded with a dominant performance in College Park.
If Kirk Ferentz's team is able to get through Penn State without a loss, the path to a Big Ten championship game and a shot at a playoff berth becomes very clear-cut. The most difficult game remaining would likely be at Wisconsin, but Iowa would be hefty favorites in Madison as well.
A loss wouldn't doom the Hawkeyes' hopes at a Big Ten title or a playoff spot, but there will be significant ramifications based on the outcome.
Penn State News
Speaking of playoff aspirations, this game has interesting implications for Penn State. Playing in the much tougher Big Ten East makes things trickier for the Nittany Lions, who have to play in-division games against Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan after this one.
Given the circumstances, it's hard to understand how their strength of schedule is only 22nd in the country, but if Penn State loses this contest, it can still rebound and win out to almost certainly make the playoff. But a win doesn't guarantee them anything — they'll need to win four more tough games.
