Iowa football returns to action in just two days for a home matchup against Purdue under the lights at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. 

We've provided you with plenty of preview content throughout the week on HawkeyeRoundtable.com, but now that it's Thursday, it's time to enter the fun portion of our football coverage week. 

Here are three reasons why the Hawkeyes will beat the Boilermakers – and three reasons they won't. 

Phillips has another big day on the ground: We've already alluded to this point in our top players to watch, but it just feels like L.J. Phillips is gearing up for another big game on Saturday. Purdue's run defense has been susceptible at times this year, and you know Phillips' confidence is growing by the second. He's been very quick to mention how disappointed he was in his performance earlier in the season and has channeled that frustration into a late-season surge. If he can get things going on the ground again on Saturday, it's extremely tough to see a world where Iowa loses this football game. 

Defense shuts Purdue's passing attack down: The Boilermakers are probably going to have a tough time running the football (every team Iowa faces has struggled to some degree this year), but that's not really a problem for them because they have done most of their damage in the passing game in 2026. Quarterback Ryan Browne has thrown for over 2,200 yards to lead a pretty good offense that scores nearly 30 points per game (29.4), so Purdue always has a threat to beat you through the air. If the Hawkeyes can shut that down, they'll win this game comfortably. 

Hank Brown is on point yet again: The sudden realization that this game is a battle between two quarterbacks named Brown is hitting us, but Iowa's Brown – Hank Brown – is playing his best football of the season right now. The fourth-year has completed 80% of his passes over the last two wins against Wisconsin and Northwestern, and if that accuracy returns on Saturday, the Hawkeyes will be in excellent shape. Iowa will take its fair share of shots down the field, but even the short, medium passes will be very valuable in this game so they can set up the ground game. 

Barry Odom makes magic happen: Purdue has decided not to name its new defensive play caller until after this game (defensive coordinator Kevin Kane was fired last weekend), but one would think the most logical choice for head coach Barry Odom is to call the plays himself. That's where Odom made his money before becoming a head coach, and though the personnel isn't very good in West Lafayette, could his influence be enough to lead a sudden defensive surge? It's certainly possible given the Boilermakers have nothing to lose, so we'll see what Purdue throws at Iowa on Saturday. 

Iowa's offense mimics the weather: Remember when we said Purdue has nothing to lose? Though Iowa shouldn't have much trouble winning this game on paper, this is a natural letdown spot we've seen so many Kirk Ferentz-coached teams succumb to over the years. Think of last year against Michigan State. The Spartans were essentially playing for a lame duck head coach by the time they rolled into Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 22, but the Hawkeyes needed a frantic fourth quarter rally to win that game. The offense really struggled to much of anything until then, but what if it goes cold again on a chilly night at Kinnick? Iowa could be in for a dogfight if that happens. 

Purdue beats Iowa one too many times through the air: This basically goes back to the second point of the article, but what if the Boilermakers make some big plays through the air? Purdue knows its only way to score points is probably in the passing game, and Iowa hasn't exactly managed to shut down explosive plays this year. CASH Jacob Wallace was listed as questionable on the availability report, which wouldn't be a very good sign for the Hawkeyes if he can't go. Phil Parker definitely has a good game plan crafted, but definitely watch out for the Boilers trying to wreak havoc through the air.