Defensive Line: A

Syracuse was sitting at the two-yard line with a first down on its home field. All it had to do was move the ball two yards and the game would go into triple overtime.

If that wasn’t enough, on third and goal the team got a new set of downs thanks to an Iowa penalty.

But the Hawkeyes defensive line wouldn’t budge. For seven consecutive plays, Iowa kept Syracuse out of the end zone, winning by a touchdown in double overtime.

The defensive line may be young, as it is comprised of three sophomores and one junior, but none are lacking experience.

Defensive end Bryan Mattison, the lone junior, leads the group. Mattison has four forced fumbles on the year. Not only is he the Big Ten leader, but ranks third in the nation with an average of .5 forced fumbles per game.

The group has also used the devastating weapon of sacking quarterbacks 14.5 times this season for a total loss of 103 yards.

Linebackers: B+

The Iowa linebackers are the triple threat of football, each one with their own specialty.

It’s no wonder, with 80 tackles, that middle line backer Mike Klinkenborg has found his way into the top tiers of national ranking. His average of 10 per game has made him the No. 14 tackler in the nation.

Klinkenborg hasn’t been doing it alone though, as weak side linebacker Edmond Miles is second on the team with 57 tackles. Miles has found tackling behind the offensive line to be more fun, as he leads the team in tackles for a loss with nine on the season. The senior also has one forced fumble.

Mike Humpal rounds out the triple threat. And don’t pay any attention to his last name, as he’s no one’s pal.

The outside linebacker hasn’t brought the same attack to tackling as his counterparts. With only 34 tackles and 3.5 for a loss, the junior has only applied moderate direct pressure on offenses.

But Humpal brings a great indirect threat to quarterbacks, as he has broken up three passes and picked off quarterbacks twice this year.

Secondary: B

Iowa is ranked No. 64 nationally in pass defense as opponents are throwing for 198.5 yards per game.

But the Hawkeyes have had to face some pretty tough passing competition in Ohio State and Purdue this season. Ohio State is ranked the No. 26 passing offense and Purdue is No. 4.

Charles Godfrey and Miguel Merrick have lead the secondary in the attempt to stop these potent offenses. The two have six and four broken-up passes respectively. Both have an interception.

But the Huskies will get a lucky break as junior defensive back Adam Shada is not listed on Iowa’s depth chart. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound back has 37 tackles and six broken-up passes in eight games.

But Shada’s affect on the game doesn’t stop there. The junior has not one, not two, but three interceptions on the year.

And the defensive back has speed. He has returned those three interceptions for 113 yards this season, including a 98-yard return for a touchdown.