IOWA CITY, Iowa - When Rutgers beat Texas State in the 2018 season opener, I remember shrugging.

The Scarlet Knights were supposed to beat Texas State, and they were supposed to get throttled at Ohio State the next week, which they did. We weren't going to know much about the Scarlet Knights until the following week at Kansas.

Well, we learned what that Rutgers team was. Overmatched, overwhelmed and in for a very long fall as it turned out.

Rutgers heads to Iowa on Saturday afternoon (Noon, FS1). We don't really know what the Scarlet Knights are after a 48-21 come-from-behind win over UMass last week, but this trip to Middle America may help us find out. The Hawkeyes are forever consistent, regularly racking up 8-plus wins and bowl appearances. While they may very well win the Big Ten West, they are not considered among the league's elite programs. They are, at least, not in the same breath as the Big Ten East's best teams.

Rutgers is a three-score underdog, but on the surface, this does feel like it could, could, be closer than that. Have stranger things happened than Rutgers beating Iowa? Yes, Rutgers getting mopped by 41 points at Kansas last season comes to mind.

Josh Newman, Rutgers beat reporter

I can see Rutgers being in this game, down something respectable like 14-10 at the half, and the game heads to the fourth quarter with the outcome still in doubt. The thing I keep coming back to, though, is that Rutgers needs to not get dominated in the trenches. That is a tall order being asked of the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers covers, and isn't that really what we're all here for? Iowa 27, Rutgers 13

Jerry Carino, sports reporter/news columnist

Iowa’s contributions to the world include overhyped caucuses, ethanol and Chris Ash. Much will be made of Ash’s return home, but his big moment is two weeks away when Boston College’s visit becomes a regime referendum. For this week, just keep the score respectable and build more confidence for McLane Carter. Kinnick Stadiumtailgaters will be downing Hawkeye Vodka out of plastic bottles. Proud folk, those Iowans. Do they know it’s made in St. Louis? Iowa 35, Rutgers 13.

Mike Davis, Asbury Park Press reporter/Rutgers alum

Rutgers beat UMass so I guess all of its problems are solved, right? Just kidding. While it’s easy to forget given the final score, this Rutgers team let UMass march down the field and score two touchdowns thanks to a leaky defense and inexcusable penalties. Against a Big Ten side like the Hawkeyes? You’ll be lucky to only be down 14 points. McLane Carter, Bo Melton and the offensive line looked good – and it’s about damn time head coach Chris Ash finally treats Isaiah Pacheco like the starter he should have been last year – but Iowa isn’t UMass. Let’s see how the offensive line – and the aforementioned leaky defense – hold up to not just real competition, but good competition. I think Rutgers will make a game of it, but Iowa pulls away late. Iowa 35, Rutgers 21

Steve Edelson, sports columnist

This really is an incredible early season measuring stick for Rutgers and QB McLane Carter. No one expects a win at Iowa. That would be monumental. But if Rutgers is better this season, then be competitive. Show that the performance over the final three quarters against UMass meant something. Because if they get blown out on Saturday, like they did in Week 2 last year by Ohio State after beating Texas State, it's a sign that very little has changed. Iowa 45, Rutgers 14

Bob Jordan, Asbury Park Press sports editor

Rutgers fans, feeling good about the UMass victory and McLane Carter looking like a competent quarterback? It’s the same feeling you had a year ago after the Texas State victory and Artur Sitkowski (now being sized for an Oxford cloth button-down redshirt) looking like a competent quarterback. Last year’s Game 2 was a 52-3 drubbing at the hands of The Ohio State. This year’s Game 2 opponent is Iowa, which also doesn’t mess around. The Hawkeyes are so deep that 10 different players caught passes last week. Iowa 42, Rutgers 10.

Zach Miller, editor

Rutgers looked very rough in the first quarter of last week’s game, but looked like a team that can win some games in the Big Ten the rest of the game. I do think the Scarlet Knights can win a game or two in the conference this season, but this isn’t the one. In 20 years under coach Kirk Ferentz (the longest-tenured coach in Division I), Iowa has been a team that controls the clock and doesn’t beat itself. Rutgers will make too many mistakes to win this one, but I do think they can cover the 20-point spread. Iowa 27, Rutgers 13

Josh Newman is currently the beat reporter for Rutgers University sports. He's a native of Commack, New York, on the north shore of Long Island, and is almost entirely free of his New York accent. Contact him at jnewman4@gannettnj.com