IOWA CITY, Iowa (Ticker) -- Iowa enjoyed a dream season last year as the Hawkeyes set a school record for wins with 11, shared the Big Ten Conference title with Ohio State and earned a berth in the Orange Bowl.
But now Iowa has to show its can win without Heisman Trophy runner-up Brad Banks, who led the nation in passing efficiency last season.
The 25th-ranked Hawkeyes open their 2003 season Saturday against Miami of Ohio, a team they cannot afford to take lightly. Iowa posted a 29-24 victory over Miami last season, but RedHawks quarterback Ben Roethlisberger passed for 343 yards and two touchdowns.
Nathan Chandler, a 6-7, 250-pound senior, has been tabbed as Banks' successor. He completed 12-of-20 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown in a backup role last year.
Iowa returns just four starters on offense, but two are among the top weapons in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes offense this season should revolve around 5-8 Fred Russell, a first-team conference pick who ran for 1,264 yards and nine touchdowns. Wide receiver Maurice Brown returns after leading Iowa in receptions last year with 48 for 966 yards and 11 TDs.
The Hawkeyes have another threat in kicker Nate Kaeding, the Lou Groza Award winner. Kaeding has made 47-of-59 field goal attempts in his career, including 20 of 25 from beyond 40 yards.
Miami's kicker is Jared Parseghian, the great grandnephew of former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian.
Miami is inexperienced at wide receiver but with Roethlisberger at the controls, the RedHawks should again challenge Marshall in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. He threw for 3,328 yards and 22 TDs a year ago, becoming the RedHawks' career leader in completions.
Miami suffered a controversial 36-34 loss at Marshall last season that cost it the East Division title. The Thundering Herd scored the winning touchdown with five seconds left after a questionable pass interference penalty in the end zone.
Iowa has won both previous meetings with Miami, also posting a 44-19 victory in 2001.
