No. 11/13 Iowa (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) vs. No. 12/11 LSU (9-2, 6-2 SEC West)
Orlando, Florida - Capital One Bowl
Saturday, January 1, 2005 - 1:00 pm ET - ABC
Coaches: Iowa - Kirk Ferentz, LSU - Nick Saban
Series Record: First Meeting

The 2005 edition of the Capital One Bowl pits the 2003-2004 co-national champion LSU Tigers against the Co-Big Ten champion Iowa Hawkeyes. The teams, which are defensively-oriented, mirror each other both statistically and in personnel. The head coaches in this game are very familiar with each other having coached together as assistants for the NFL's Cleveland Browns. The New Year's Day meeting will be the first ever for Iowa and LSU.

In his sixth season in Iowa City, Kirk Ferentz has amassed a record of 41-31 and is looking to secure his third straight 10-win season with a victory over LSU. After going 2-2 to start the year, the Hawkeyes won their final seven games to finish the season 9-2 and earn a share of the Big Ten crown. In their 20 th bowl appearance, the Iowa Hawkeyes will play in their first Capital One bowl. The trip to Orlando will mark Ferentz's fourth straight bowl appearance, having won two of the first three. The Big Ten is 6-9 in the Capital One Bowl's history.

Former Michigan State coach Nick Saban leads the LSU Tigers into their first Capital One Bowl since 1979 when it was called the Florida Citrus Bowl. In his five years as the coach of LSU, Saban has a record of 48-15 and is looking for his third 10-win season at LSU. After losing to Georgia 45-16 in the season's fifth week, the Tigers have put together six straight wins to also finish 9-2.

Iowa on Offense
Coming into the 2004 season, sophomore quarterback Drew Tate was an unknown commodity. As the fifth opening day starter for the Hawkeyes in as many years, Kirk Ferentz's tendency might have been to slowly ease his young signal caller into his new role, however, that was not meant to be. The Iowa offense lost not only their senior starting running back Jermelle Lewis for the season, but the Hawks lost four running backs for the season and two others missed a combined six games late in the season. Tate was forced to step up early and lead an offense that had little to no running game. Tate not only took control of his offense, but he led them to the school's 11 th Big Ten Championship and their third straight January bowl game. The Iowa offense was the third most productive through the air in 2004, averaging nearly 236 yards per game and 18 touchdowns. However, Tate was most impressive during conference games, throwing for over 262 yards per game and 15 scores, en route to being named team MVP and earning first and second team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media respectively.

With the injuries sustained at the running back position, the Iowa receivers have become a more instrumental part to the offense this year. Clinton Solomon earned All-Big Ten honors after catching five touchdown passes and averaging 74.9 yards per game. The sophomore was not listed on the preseason depth chart, but like his quarterback, came on during the conference schedule, recording all of his touchdown catches and averaging over 90 yards receiving per game. Along with Solomon, junior Ed Hinkel has been a consistent producer for Iowa. Hinkel has seven touchdown catches and is gaining over 59 yards receiving per game.

The running game of the Hawkeyes, significantly hampered by the early season injuries, will most likely be in the hands of Sam Brownlee and Marques Simmons. Both missed time late in the season due to injury, but are expected to be ready to go for the Capital One Bowl. Brownlee, who missed the last two games of the season with an ankle injury led the Hawkeyes with 214 yards rushing this year and Simmons, who missed four games with a sprained ankle before returning for the season finale against Wisconsin, recorded two scores and nearly 32 yards per contest in the five games he played in.

Sophomore kicker Kyle Schlicher has also been an offensive weapon for the Hawkeyes. Having connected on 90 percent of his field goal attempts, Schlicher has fit in perfectly to the spot vacated by last year's graduation of All-American Nate Keading. Schlicher averages 7.8 points per game, third most of any kicker in the Big Ten.

LSU on Offense
While much of LSU's game plan seems to mirror Iowa's, the one difference this season has been LSU's focus on running the football. Led by a pair of backs, the Tigers have garnered the best rushing attack in the SEC with 200.7 yards per game coming on the ground. Sophomore Alley Broussard leads the team with nine touchdowns and 68.9 yards rushing per game. However, junior Joseph Addai has contributed significantly with seven total touchdowns, three rushing and four receiving, and 84.9 yards from scrimmage per game. Saban has been able to vary his play calling by using Addai in various sets and alignments without losing production.

The Tiger's focus on the run has not significantly hindered the passing game. Like with the running backs, LSU has used two quarterbacks in different situations to maximize their production. Senior signal caller Marcus Randall is the team's leading passer with nine passing touchdowns and over 107 yards through the air per game, but his value is enhanced by an ability to escape pressure and create opportunities with his legs. As the team's fourth leading rusher, Randall has scored three times on the ground, while averaging 23.6 yards per game rushing. The other quarterback, redshirt freshman, JaMarcus Russel is more of a traditional drop back passer. He has completed seven touchdown passes and averages 92.5 yards per game passing.

As expected, LSU has relied on a variety of receivers throughout the year. Seven players have recorded over 100 yards receiving this season, led by sophomore Craig Davis' 58.8 yards per game. Fellow sophomore Dwayne Bowe leads the team in touchdown receptions with five, while averaging 47.5 yards receiving per game. In addition to his four scoring receptions, Addai averages 25.5 yards receiving each game.

Iowa on Defense
Undoubtedly the Iowa defense has been the glue that has held the team together, during a season when the offense has been riddled with injuries. Iowa's pair of junior linebackers, Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge, each recorded over 100 tackles on the season. The two linebackers combined with defensive line standout-seniors Jonathan Babineaux and Matt Roth, to earn Iowa the sixth best rush defense in the country, allowing only 90.2 yards per game. All four earned a first team All-Conference selection from either the coaches or the media. On the strength of a star-studded defense, Iowa has allowed only 289.1 yards per game, the second fewest in the conference and tenth in the nation. One major byproduct of not allowing teams to move the ball, is not giving up many points. The Hawkeyes have allowed only 16.9 points per game in 2004, the fourth lowest total of any Big Ten team, and have held six of their 11 opponents to 10 points or less. In the secondary, junior cornerback Antwan Allen is one of five Big Ten players to have recorded four interceptions this season. The defensive backs for Iowa have also played well, allowing only 198.9 yards passing per game, the third fewest of all Big Ten teams.

The Hawkeyes have been exceedingly impressive in their ability to create turnovers. Iowa has recorded a Big Ten best 31 takeaways on 15 fumble recoveries and 16 interceptions, also league bests. The Iowa ballhawks have earned the Big Ten's best turnover margin of plus 14, six better than the conference's second best team.

LSU of Defense
Like Iowa, much of LSU's 2004 success has been predicated by the staunch play of its defense. The defending Tigers posted the nation's third best yards against total of 249.9 and are led on defense by five players that received All-SEC honors from the conferences coaches. Up front, senior Marcus Spears and junior Claude Wroten combined for 28 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. Their contributions helped LSU to the best rushing defense in the SEC, allowing only 104.5 yards per game. The linebacking corps is led by senior Lionel Turner, who recorded 75 tackles this season. The defensive backfield boasts two All-Conference Team members in senior Corey Webster and sophomore LaRon Landry, who led the team with 86 tackles and three interceptions. The Tigers' pass defense comes into the bowl game as the third best in the country, giving up only 145.5 yards per game.

The LSU special teams should play a part in the field position battle. While the team's average punt travels only 39.1 yards, the Tigers are holding opponents to an SEC-best 1.5 return yards per punt.

Keys to the Game
Throughout the 2004 season, Tate has been impressive leading an offense that has been rendered virtually one-dimensional. However, against LSU the Hawkeyes will have to find a way to get some rushing production from either Brownlee or Simmons to be successful. The Tigers allow only 145.4 yards through the air per game and knowing how little the running back position has been able to contribute this season, LSU's defense will focus on stopping Tate, Solomon, and Hinkel. If Ferentz can find away to force the Tigers to respect the running game, throwing lanes should open for Tate.

The one major problem for the LSU team in 2004 has been its habit of turning the ball over. This season the Tiger offense has given the ball up 24 times, while the defense has only been able to take it away 21. Their turnover ration is at the bottom of the SEC, and with Iowa's being near the top nationally, if LSU can't find a way to minimize the giveaways, it could be difficult to sustain any offensive momentum.