Sigh. What a season it was, huh? And it still happens. Or some semblance thereof still happens.

After looking like an offensive juggernaut at home against Wisconsin (and Northwestern and Washington), the Hawkeyes failed to mount any offense when they headed to Pasadena. They also forgot how to tackle for the second game in a row. And then the wheels really fell off when Brendan Sullivan went down.

Luckily, the Hawkeyes had a bye week. Unfortunately, not only have we learned that Brendan Sullivan is out for the year, but we now know that Cade McNamara won’t be playing on Saturday (or this year if you believe the reports, who knows when if you believe him).

So it will be Jackson Stratton under center for the Hawkeyes as they hit the road today and travel to the East Coast for a matchup against the Maryland Terrapins. Iowa hasn’t scored 20 points this year playing outside the central time zone, and that was with the scholarship of QB play.

Oh, and starting cornerback Jermari Harris did not travel with the team as he now looks ahead to the NFL draft. Perhaps the return of Jay Higgins to the middle of the linebacking group will help offset that, but it feels like a huge blow to a defense that has been wresting away from Kinnick all year and now faces a passing Terrapin attack that can be powerful despite the team’s overall record.

The question of the day, aside from who is still watching Hawkeye football at this point, will be how this group responds to the latest round of upsets. With the rumor mill buzzing and speculation about McNamara running rampant, as well as Harris’ decision and the rumblings of others considering a similar move, this is a time when the roster could crumble or rebound.

Historically, Kirk Ferentz has found a way to use situations like this to bring his team closer together and get the most out of it. But something about this season feels different than what we’ve become accustomed to. Maybe it’s the offensive outbursts combined with complete inconsistency, or maybe it’s the notable drop in the defense’s solidity in terms of assignments and execution.

Whatever it is, if Hawkeye fans want to stay engaged and show up loud and proud on Black Friday, it’s time for this group to come together and get a road win in College Park.

As we count down to kick-off, here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s match.

Date: Saturday November 23
Time: 11am CT
Matchup: Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3) at Maryland Terrapins (4-6, 1-6)
Location: SECU Stadium, College Park, MD
TV: BTN
Updated weather forecast: cloudy with temperatures in the low 50s
Updated DraftKings line: Iowa -4, O/U 43.5

Odds/lines are subject to change. General terms and conditions apply. To see draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Stay tuned for the availability report, which is expected to be released around 9am CT.

Go Hawks!