Preview: The 2017 New Era Pinstripe Bowl

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On Wednesday afternoon, two programs will meet for the first time on a football field. What a place they picked for there first ever meeting. The Boston College Eagles and the Iowa Hawkeyes will do battle at Yankee Stadium in the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl.

When the season began for both of these teams, not much was known. For Boston College, navigating in the always tough Atlantic Coast Conference can always be a chore. For Iowa, getting through a schedule that when it was all said and done would feature eight bowl-eligible teams, had its challenges. Both teams would get themselves signature wins. For the Eagles, it was on the road at Lousiville, and for Iowa, it was at home vs Ohio State. In the process, they knocked them out of the college football playoff.

After all of that here they are, ready to do battle in one of America’s most famous venues. Let’s see how they both got here. For Boston College, it was on the strength of a running game that got better as the year went along. The attack was led by the Freshman of the Year in the ACC and first team all-offensive player A.J. Dillon. He would finish his freshman season with a school record 1,432 yards and 13 touchdowns. Dillon was terrific down the stench, producing two 200-yard games (Louisville, Connecticut). He had the luxury of running behind an offensive line that for the most part, was able to stay together, and when it was done produced the 24th best rush offense in the country. Dillon received help in the backfield from red-shirt senior Jon Hilliman who ran for 670 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The quarterback position started with a freshman in Anthony Brown, who at times played well for the Eagles. But an injury forced him to the sidelines late in the year. A torn up knee vs North Carolina State, brought on red-shirt senior Darius Wade. Wade saved his best for the season finale vs Syracuse throwing for over 250 yards on 16 of 20 passing. The throwing game, as Head Coach Steve Addazio likes to call it, has been a work in progress all season. This is a ground and pound team just the way the coach likes it.

On defense, the Eagles were missing key players, most notably Senior Defense End Harold Laundry who suffered an ankle injury halfway through the year. His availability for the bowl game is unknown. This unit is led by Lukas Denis who led the conference in interceptions with seven. Up front, Ty Schwab led in tackles with 101 (46 solos, 56 assists, with four sacks), and Zack Allen with 93 tackles (46 solo, 47 assists with five sacks).

Iowa also likes to runs. Akrum Wadley is his name and he got 956 yards on the ground with eight touchdowns. He needs 193 on Wednesday to tie Tavian Banks as the team fourth all-time leading rusher. This is an offense that averages 30 points a game while giving up only 20 a contest. They are good in the red-zone going 32-42 with 27 touchdowns. They also like to take some chances as they are 60% on fourth down tries, 12-20.

The whole nation needs to know his name.

It's @HawkeyeFootball's Akrum Wadley, and he showed out in prime time: pic.twitter.com/0nCqzJTX0W

— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) September 24, 2017

At quarterback, Nate Stanley runs the show. He threw for 2,162 yards on 172-303, good for 56%. He passed for 24 touchdowns and was only picked off five times. His favorite targets are wideouts Nick Easley with 45 catches, 436 yards, four touchdowns, then Noah Fant who had 26 reception for 469 yards and nine touchdowns.

On defense, the Hawkeyes are led by Josey Jewel and his 110 tackles, 59 solo, 51 assists, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. Anthony Nelson led the unit with six sacks on 35 total tackles.

This game will be won or lost at the line of scrimmage, whoever wins that battle should win the game.