Before kickoff, Iowa’s Senior Day game against Michigan State was already expected to be an emotional afternoon at Kinnick Stadium. However, the Hawkeyes received some difficult news that will undoubtedly cause tension on both sides of the ball. Two important senior contributors, tight end Hayden Large and cornerback TJ Hall Jr., will not be able to play against the Spartans, according to the team’s pregame injury report. Wide receiver Jarriett Buie and tight end Addison Ostrenga, who had already been ruled out, are among the increasing number of playmakers Iowa will be without due to their absence.
Hall’s passing is a serious blow to Iowa’s defense. Throughout the season, he has been the Hawkeyes’ most dependable coverage corner. Phil Parker relies on his veteran presence in crucial games, particularly those that feature athletic, physical wide receivers like Michigan State’s Nick Marsh. Iowa will now have to deal with Marsh without its best defensive back because of his size and explosiveness, which can put pressure on a defense even when it is at its strongest.
Junior Deshaun Lee, who has quietly been playing some of the best football of his career over the past month, will bear the majority of that burden. The Hawkeyes will be depending on Lee to step up on Saturday because he has demonstrated that he can do so in critical situations. Jaylen Watson, a sophomore, is anticipated to start behind him. Although Watson hasn’t had many opportunities to play this season, when he has, he has shown the kind of competitive instincts that Iowa coaches adore. He will have the opportunity to demonstrate his ability to manage a more senior role on Saturday.
Although casual fans may not notice the loss of tight end Hayden Large on the offensive end, anyone who has followed the Hawkeyes closely understands how crucial he has been. Large, who switched from fullback to tight end, has established himself as one of Iowa’s most reliable run-blockers. He’s the type of player who regularly opens lanes to help the offense run, but he won’t fill a stat sheet. His absence forces the staff to make more adjustments than they would like because Iowa still relies a lot on its ground game.
The Hawkeyes are fortunate to have depth at the position. The majority of the work is anticipated to be handled by freshman DJ Vonnahme and junior Zach Ortwerth. Over the past two weeks, Vonnahme in particular has become a sneaky-bright spot. In games against Oregon and USC, he has hauled in six passes for 102 yards and a touchdown, demonstrating his soft hands and capacity to create mismatches in space. With Large sidelined, Iowa supporters can anticipate his role expanding even further.
The Hawkeyes may also give true freshman Thomas Meyer, a four-star recruit with a lot of potential, some playing time. Meyer hasn’t contributed much yet, but since Iowa is short-staffed, this might be a chance to give him some real-world experience in a crucial conference match.
However, the injury concerns are not unique to Iowa; in fact, they may be worse on the Michigan State sidelines. One of the Spartans’ most crucial offensive players, starting quarterback Aidan Chiles, is among the 19 players they are missing going into the game. Freshman Alessio Milivojevic, who has been steadily gaining experience and confidence as the season goes on, is once again Michigan State’s go-to option in his absence. Milivojevic has completed 63.4% of his passes for 720 yards and four touchdowns so far this season, which shows both promise and potential for improvement. Given Iowa’s reputation for making young quarterbacks uneasy, Saturday will likely be his hardest test and his third consecutive start.
The game becomes as much about depth and resiliency as it is about game planning when both teams are hurt. On a poignant Senior Day, Iowa will attempt to defend home territory, while Michigan State seeks to rally around a young quarterback and a thin roster. From Kinnick Stadium, it all begins at 2:30 p.m. CST. FS1 will provide coverage. Hawkeyes supporters can follow HawkeyesWire on X and Facebook for continuous updates, analysis, and coverage throughout the weekend, whether they’re following the injury fallout or searching for game-day developments.
