Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz says the Hawkeyes have the potential to be a good team.CHICAGO, Ill. (KTIV) -
Iowa and Nebraska both had their time in the spotlight at the Big Ten Football Media Day in Chicago.
In a Big Ten media poll, the Hawkeyes are picked to finish fourth in the Legends Division, ahead of only Northwestern and Minnesota. Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska were 1-2 and 3. Iowa has 11 starters back from last year's 7-6 team, which went 4-4 in the Big Ten.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz is the dean of Big Ten coaches, entering his 14th season. He says his team is anxious to start working.
"We've got a really young football team this year," said Ferentz. "A team that's really worked hard, I think since January, has had a really good attitude, and certainly a team I think that has potential to grow into a good football team. But that being said, we know we have a lot of work to do right now. And we're looking forward to getting started with that next week."
The Huskers were 9-4 last year and 5-3 in their first year in the Big Ten. The Big Red does have some big weapons back on offense, including quarterback Taylor Martinez and I-back Rex Burkhead.
Head Coach Bo Pelini says he feels more comfortable in his second year in the conference.
"Going into year two in the league, really looking forward to the challenges that this year is going to bring," said Pelini. "It was exciting, our first year in the Big Ten, you come out of it with a tremendous amount of respect for the league, the depth in the league and the challenges that lie ahead for our program."
Nebraska opens the season on September 1st at home against Southern Mississippi. Iowa's first game is also September 1st against Northern Illinois, at Chicago's Soldier Field.
