Iowa’s run in the AP Top 25 is over, at least for now.
After a wild 13-10 loss at Minnesota, the Hawkeyes slid out of the latest poll released Oct. 25, dropping from ranked status for the first time this season. Iowa had been the top team in the “others receiving votes” section with 76 points, but it was not included in the Top 25 heading into Week 9.
The defeat in Minneapolis was a rough one to unpack. Iowa finished with four turnovers and a pile of penalties, and the missed chances kept adding up in a game that never settled into a normal rhythm. It was the kind of messy performance that leaves Kirk Ferentz and his team with more questions than answers.
Wisconsin took Iowa’s place in the rankings after its lopsided home win over USC. The Badgers are now set to visit Kinnick Stadium this weekend for another rivalry matchup.
At the top of the poll, Miami (FL) stayed at No. 1, while Ohio State moved up to No. 2.
Georgia climbed to No. 3, Indiana rose to No. 4 and Notre Dame slipped to No.
- The only major shakeup in the top 10 came from BYU, which fell to No. 8 after previously sitting at No.
The Big Ten still has a strong presence in the poll, with Ohio State leading the conference and four other league teams also ranked. USC and Minnesota joined Iowa among the teams receiving votes.
Here is the full AP Top 25 poll heading into Week 9:
- Miami (FL) 7-0 1735 59 1 -
- Ohio State 6-1 1681 10 3 +1
- Georgia 6-1 1511 0 5 +2
- Indiana 7-1 1459 0 6 +2
- Notre Dame 6-1 1458 0 4 -1
- Utah 7-0 1413 1 10 +4
- UCLA 7-0 1398 0 9 +2
- BYU 6-1 1325 0 2 -6
- Kentucky 7-1 1185 0 12 +3
- Alabama 6-2 1063 0 13 +3
- Texas 5-2 966 0 19 +8
- Ole Miss 5-2 871 0 7 -5
- Texas Tech 6-1 861 0 8 -5
- Wake Forest 6-1 822 0 17 +3
- LSU 6-2 813 0 18 +3
- Tennessee 6-2 662 0 11 -5
- Florida 5-2 556 0 20 +3
- Houston 6-2 491 0 14 -4
- SMU 6-1 440 0 23 +4
- Boise State 6-1 422 0 21 +1
- Northwestern 6-1 422 0 24 +4
- Arizona 6-1 400 0 25 +3
- Missouri 5-2 329 0 22 -1
- Oklahoma State 5-2 180 0 NR -
- Wisconsin 5-2 125 0 NR -
Others Receiving Votes Iowa 76; New Mexico 41; Cincinnati 11; Oregon State 10; South Carolina 8; Minnesota 7; USC 7; UTSA 1; Virginia Tech 1;
In Other News...
Iowa Just Took Another Painful Late Loss At The Worst Time
Another late-game swing left Iowa staring at a defeat it cant afford to dwell on for long. Minnesota got a 47-yard field goal from Luke Drzewiecki as time expired, and the transfer who arrived as New Mexicos all-time kick-scoring leader delivered the finish in a game that had been tight enough to turn on one final snap. The Hawkeyes had chances, and the rest of the afternoon included plenty of the usual details that come with a rivalry game, from key plays to injury updates, but the ending is what will linger.
Now Iowa has to reset quickly with Wisconsin coming to town next week. There was no shortage of eyes on this one, with bowl and NFL scouts in the building, but the Hawkeyes will care more about how they respond after another painful late loss at a point in the season when every result feels magnified. The margin for error is shrinking, and the home date ahead gives them a chance to steady things before the finish line gets any closer. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Just Handed Minnesota A Loss Hawkeyes Fans Will Hate
Iowa spent much of the afternoon moving the ball well enough to stay in the game, but the miscues kept piling up in a way Hawkeyes fans know all too well. A blocked punt, three interceptions and a lost fumble turned a promising performance into a constant uphill climb, even as the offense outgained Minnesota and kept finding ways to answer enough plays to stay close.
A late scoring drive pulled Iowa even and set up what looked like a tense finish, but the game still slipped away on Minnesotas walk-off field goal. Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown were part of the quarterback rotation, and Kamari Moultons exit because of injury only added to a day that already had too many moving parts for Iowa to survive. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona State Just Got A Fresh Boost In A Tight Bowl Race
ESPNs updated FPI numbers after Week 8 offered another snapshot of the crowded postseason race, and Arizona State was among the teams that picked up a meaningful boost. The ratings shifted several programs around the board, from bowl eligibility to playoff odds, with Iowa also included in the latest round of movement as the model continues to reshape the landscape for the stretch run.
For teams on the fringe, these weekly updates can matter almost as much as the results on the field, because they help show where the path gets easier or harder from here. Arizona States rise stands out in a race that includes several other moving pieces, and Iowa will be watching those same projections closely as the season narrows toward the finish. [Read more 🡒]