It's the opposition research podcast on hawkineation.com.

Welcome to the opposition research podcast here on hawkineation.com. My name is Andrew Downs,

and each week I'll talk to a beat reporter, blogger, or broadcaster that covers Iowa's upcoming opponent.

If you have a suggestion for who I should talk to in a given week, or if you have any questions you'd like me to ask, you can find me on Twitter at Andrew C. Downs.

This week's game, Iowa hits the road, a primetime game on NBC against the Michigan State Spartans, a team that started 3 and O

and has dropped their last three, although to three pretty good teams, Boston College, Ohio

State, and Oregon. They had a buy last week, so coming off the by to host your Iowa Hawkeyes

who looked very good in the win over Washington at home last weekend. At last check, Iowa, about a six and a half

point favorite on the road at Michigan State. And my guest today covers Michigan State for the

Detroit Free Press. It's Chris Salari. Chris, thank you. Welcome back and thanks for the time.

Yeah, glad I can join you guys today. You know, after a three-0 start, the Spartans have hit their gauntlet of a schedule.

Iowa, the only non-ranked opponent in a span of six games.

How much more important does that make Saturday night?

Well, I think it's more important just simply because they've come off two games.

I mean, you talk about a gauntlet.

I mean, it's a two-game gauntlet when you're facing Ohio State and Oregon,

as you've seen from that game that those two teams played.

I mean, those are two elite teams that Michigan State had back-to-back weeks,

but they've got to get half the hump of that three-game skit.

And, you know, I think that's more so than that, and particularly when you've got Michigan

coming up.

I mean, most times you could probably say, okay, you worry about looking ahead to your

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