JONESBORO — Arkansas State will get its second shot at a Bowl Championship Series opponent this season when the Red Wolves play Iowa on Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa.
The game, which starts at 11 a.m. Central, also will be Arkansas State's f irst of two consecutive appearances on ESPN2.
"I think it's going to be great if we make it great," Arkansas State Coach Steve Roberts said of playing on national television. "We have to show up, be ready to play and compete. It's going to be great for our university and great for everyone in our program."
Arkansas State (1-2) also will play on ESPN2 on Oct. 13 at Sun Belt Conference rival Louisiana-Monroe.
Big Ten member Iowa (4-0) is coming off a 21-10 roadvictory over then-No. 5 Penn State last Saturday. The victory vaulted the Hawkeyes all the way to No. 13 in The Associated Press Top 25 after they were unranked going into the game.
"They are a sound football team that won't beat themselves," Red Wolves running back Reggie Arnold said. "They are physical and are going do everything correctly. They will ask you and dare you to try to beat them, so we will have our hands full this week."
Arkansas State is coming off Saturday's 30-27 loss to Sun Belt Conference rival Troy. The Red Wolves led 10-0 before falling behind 23-10, then rallied to take a 27-23 lead. Alate fumble on a punt return by Taylor Clements gave Troy the ball on its game-winning drive.
Roberts said that Iowa will run a completely different offense compared to what ASU saw against Troy. The Trojans like to pass. Iowa will try to pound the ball on the ground.
"They are going to line up and play smash-mouth football and run the football downhill with two backs, sometimes two backs and two tight ends at the same time," Roberts said of the Hawkeyes. "It's totally different than what we have seen the last couple of weeks for sure."
Arkansas State will receive $900,000 for playing at Iowa, along with national exposure from playing on ESPN2. The Red Wolves have already played at Nebraska this season, losing 38-9, and they feel that will help prepare them for Iowa's 70,585-seat Kinnick Stadium.
"We have played in some pretty crazy stadiums," Arnold said. "We will be ready to go."
ASU practiced for roughly two hours in shoulder pads and shorts Tuesday. The Red Wolves will practice again today and Thursday before traveling to Iowa on Friday.
"We had a good practice Sunday and got a lot accomplished today with the way the kids responded," Roberts said. "I feel like we can go in, compete and have an opportunity to win. It's going to take a tremendous effort and we will have to cash in on opportunities when they present themselves.
Sports, Pages 23 on 09/30/2009