(CSTV U-WIRE) IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa will open Big Ten play against eighth-ranked Ohio State in the Horseshoe, a labyrinth of silver and red the Hawkeyes have successfully navigated just twice since 1960. Still, it’s 2005 – history will not win the Buckeyes an inch, much less a game.

If they’re prepared, the Hawkeyes will have a shot at an upset in Columbus, Ohio.

“I don’t know if you ever feel ready, but I think we’re all excited about it,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “It’s just a little different feeling. But are we ready for it? No, not yet.”

To change that, he will have to unite the two different teams on his campus. The first team, which walloped Ball State and made appearances against Northern Iowa, has unmercifully stampeded opponents with a mixture of heart-stopping runs, precision passes, and smothering speed on defense.

The other, which appeared against Iowa State and occasionally showed up in the game against the Panthers, has generated zero pass rush, turned the ball over, and failed to protect its quarterbacks.

Ferentz knows he can’t win with the second squad.

“I think we’ve done some things very, very well and, at times, we haven’t looked so good,” he said. “We’re going to have that get cleaned up real quickly, because we’re headed to conference play, and I think we’re playing a pretty good team next week, if I remember correctly.”

The Buckeyes’ victories over Miami of Ohio and San Diego State have come by 20 and 21 points, respectively, and their lone blemish was a three-point loss to Texas, a team some consider the best in the land.

Of course, Iowa, when its better half shows up, anyway, is no slouch, either.

Despite stumbling at Iowa State, the Hawkeyes are still ranked 21st in both polls, and they showed considerable improvement in the contest against UNI. The Hawkeyes tallied 45 points and almost 500 yards, and it may have helped in more than just beating the Panthers.

“We made quite a few strides,” said Clinton Solomon, who caught a pair of touchdowns against Northern Iowa.

“Not big strides, but we’re taking our time with the baby steps. We’re coming along.”

Progress was indeed made. In Ames, Iowa, the Hawkeyes turned the ball over five times. Against the Panthers, that number was reduced to none. Iowa State harassed Iowa quarterbacks at will, yet Northern Iowa rarely penetrated the Hawkeye offensive line.

All-Big Ten performer Drew Tate struggled before exiting with an early concussion against the Cyclones.

Last weekend, Tate fired 15-of-18 for 247 yards.

“It gives us a little bit of confidence heading into Columbus,” Solomon said.

“But we need to improve every day of practice next week and get ready for the big game. The real season’s about to start, and we’ve got no choice but to get ready.”

-Tyson Wirth