It’s a little tense at the Gophers’ football complex. Must be Iowa week

It s hard to qualify, but an added edge seems to come out the week the Gophers play Iowa for the Floyd of Rosedale trophy. Head coach P.J. Fleck is routinely effusive in his praise of Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz. That, too, shows up during rivalry week. On Monday, Fleck called Ferentz, One of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and noted the 28-year veteran is among coaches who have evolved the most during the game s changing national dynamics. The respect for Iowa comes through, but Fleck s 1-8 record against Ferentz s Hawkeyes since 2017 appears to surface in other ways. Or, perhaps on Monday it was lingering angst from a bye week ushered in with a blowout loss at Purdue. Through the first half of the season, the Gophers running game ranks 117th in the nation (3.66 yards per carry), while Iowa s run defense is fifth (2.5 yards a rush). It s among the reasons the 15th-ranked Hawkeyes (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) are a 5½-point road favorite over Minn