MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota football team is back in action Saturday after a bye week. The Gophers are hoping to bounce back after losing to Illinois on the road two weeks ago to fall to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten. Minnesota's schedule now hits its toughest stretch of the year, and it starts by hosting rival Iowa on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. The Hawkeyes are riding high after a convincing 48-7 win over Northwestern. Both teams are tied with one loss in the Big Ten West, so Saturday's game has some significance for the conference standings. Oh, and they're playing for a pig. Here are five things to watch as Minnesota and Iowa square off Saturday.
1. Will the Illinois loss linger for Minnesota?
In some ways, the Gophers' bye week last weekend was much-needed. Minnesota was able to get a bit healthier, and it also had two weeks to game plan for Iowa. But the Gophers also had to wait longer before they could get back on the field to try and forget about their disappointing loss to Illinois. Minnesota was favored to beat the Illini on the road, but a late fumble proved costly as Illinois escaped with the 28-24 win to give the Gophers their first Big Ten loss. Minnesota has an opportunity to show it can overcome adversity and not lot one loss affect the rest of its season. The Gophers have four tough games remaining on the schedule, including three against other teams with one loss in the Big Ten West. Minnesota's players called the Illinois loss a "huge wake-up call" and reiterated the fact that the Gophers can't come out of the gates slowly like they did against the Illini. If Minnesota can use that loss as motivation, the Gophers could be in good shape. If losing to Illinois deflated the Gophers' confidence in any way, it could spell trouble for Jerry Kill's team.
2. David Cobb's chance at redemption
Cobb has been Minnesota's MVP on offense this year and has played like one of the best running backs in the Big Ten. But nobody took the loss to Illinois harder than Cobb, whose fumble with 6:33 remaining in the fourth quarter of that game was returned for a short Illini go-ahead touchdown. Minnesota never recovered, and that play has surely been eating at the Gophers senior for the better part of two weeks. The Gophers' confidence in Cobb hasn't wavered and he'll no doubt be a feature in Minnesota's offense against Iowa. However, he'll be up against a defense that gives up 137.4 yards per game. A year ago against Iowa, Minnesota finished with a mere 30 rushing yards on 27 carries, including 21 yards for Cobb on eight rushes. The Hawkeyes held Northwestern to just 2.4 yards per carry last weekend despite 96 yards by Wildcats running back Justin Jackson. It will be essential for Cobb to hold onto the ball Saturday. Both teams are in the positive for the season in turnover margin, but Minnesota has made it tough on itself to win when it gives the ball away.
3. Will Mitch Leidner take a step forward after a shaky performance?
Minnesota's passing game hasn't really found a rhythm all year. Leidner, the Gophers' redshirt sophomore quarterback, has started to connect on some deeper passing plays over the last few games. But the short and intermediate routes remain an issue. Entering Saturday's game, Leidner's completion percentage of 51.1 percent this season ranks 120th out of 128 quarterbacks in Division I. Some of that blame falls on his receivers, who have either failed to get open or have dropped passes thrown their way. Regardless, Minnesota is dead last in the Big Ten in passing (140.5 yards per game) and needs to get going through the air. Iowa boasts one of the better pass defenses in the conference as the Hawkeyes have allowed just 185.4 passing yards per game this year. Leidner threw for 240 yards in the loss to Illinois, but he was just 12-for-30 and had an interception. For Minnesota to make some noise in its final four games, Leidner and his receivers will have to continue to make plays through the air. It starts Saturday against a good Hawkeyes secondary.
4. Can the Gophers slow down Mark Weisman?
Iowa's big running back hasn't put up big numbers in terms of yardage this season, racking up 521 yards on 133 carries. But he does have 13 touchdowns, third-most of all Big Ten running backs. He had his best game of the year last weekend when rushed for 94 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Northwestern. Weisman always seems to have big games when he faces the Gophers. A year ago he ran for 147 yards on 24 carries as Iowa topped Minnesota 23-7. Back in 2012, Weisman ran over the Gophers to the tune of 177 yards on 21 carries -- an average of 8.4 yards per run. Iowa's offense is a bit more diversified this year than in past seasons as the Hawkeyes have found success running the ball. But it's still a team built on the run, and Weisman is the main back. Stopping him will be key.
5. Where will Floyd of Rosedale reside next year?
Since 1935, the Gophers and Hawkeyes have battled annually for Floyd of Rosedale, a giant bronze pig given to the winner of the rivalry. Minnesota holds the all-time series lead, 41-36-2, but Iowa has closed that gap in the past few years. The Hawkeyes beat the Gophers in both 2012 in Iowa City and again last year at TCF Bank Stadium to retain possession of Floyd. Many of the players on this year's Minnesota roster have not yet gotten the chance to hoist the heavy bronze pig over their heads after a victory against Iowa. Back when the Gophers did beat the Hawkeyes in head coach Jerry Kill's first season in 2011, it was a big deal. It was also a big deal when Minnesota won another rivalry trophy, the Little Brown Jug, earlier this year with a win over Michigan. Adding another trophy to the trophy case would be a boost of confidence for a Gophers team coming off a tough loss.
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