Kirk Ferentz has been doing this a long time. He understands what it takes to have his team regroup and be prepared for the next game after a disappointing loss. With a big matchup against No. 10 Penn State this weekend, the Hawkeyes can’t afford to pout.

Iowa fell 10-3 to Michigan on Saturday in Ann Arbor, a disappointing outcome for an offense that had looked pretty dynamic through the first four games of the season. But with seven B1G games still on the schedule, the potential to win a division title is still within reach. it starts this weekend.

“You play out the full season. Don’t panic after one game or throw a party,” Ferentz said on Tuesday during his press conference, talking about the loss to Michigan. “We just need to worry about this Saturday.”

This Saturday does present quite the challenge for Iowa. Penn State is off to a 5-0 start and owns one of the best defenses in college football. The Nittany Lions are the only FBS team that has not yet surrendered multiple touchdowns in a game this season.

Penn State is allowing a stifling 7.4 points per game and have given up only four touchdowns on the year.

It’s the offense, though, that Ferentz is most worried about. As good as the Hawkeyes have been defensively in their own right, they have yet to see an offensive team this explosive in 2019.

“This is the best offensive football team we’ve faced,” Ferentz said.

Penn State leads the B1G in passing offense (305.6 yards per game) and ranks second in total offense (499.6) and scoring offense (47). First-year starting quarterback Sean Clifford has completed over 66 percent of his passes and has just two interceptions with 12 touchdown passes.

Saturday will be a challenge for Iowa, much like last weekend’s trip to Michigan.

The good news is that Iowa gets the game on its home field under the lights, where its had some success against highly-ranked B1G East teams in recent years. In 2016, it knocked off undefeated Michigan on a Keith Duncan field goal. In 2017, the Hawkeyes beat down Ohio State to keep the Buckeyes out of the College Football Playoff.

Things get a little weird under the lights at Kinnick Stadium. But the Hawkeyes have to play much better than last Saturday to have a shot at the upset.