Maine at Iowa, 11 a.m. (Big Ten Network)

Series Record: First meeting

What’s at Stake

After a tumultuous offseason, Iowa fans just want a chance to sing their victory song, “In Heaven, There Is No Beer.” The Hawkeyes have seen their home-field invincibility vanish in losses to Indiana and Western Michigan, and they need to re-establish their dominance at Kinnick Stadium. For Maine, hanging with Iowa would be a positive first step heading into CAA play.

Key Matchup

Maine defensive lineman Jovan Belcher against Iowa’s rebuilt offensive line. The Hawkeyes must keep Belcher, the preseason CAA preseason Defensive Player of the Year, from pressuring QB Jake Christensen.

Players to watch

Maine: QB Adam Farkes, who will be looking to get the CAA’s second-lowest scoring offense going in 2008.

Iowa: RB Shonn Greene. He’ll be playing his first collegiate game since 2006, and the Hawkeyes need him to shake off the rust quickly and help establish Iowa’s ground attack.

Facts & Figures

Iowa said Tuesday they had 2,600 tickets left for game. The Hawkeyes have sold out their last 30 home games…Maine defensive coordinator Robb Smith was a graduate assistant under Kirk Ferentz from 1999-2001…The Black Bears’ only other trip to the state of Iowa came in 2001, when they lost to Northern Iowa 56-28 in the FCS playoffs.

AP-ES-08-29-08 1142EDT