Iowa’s College Football Playoff case is starting to look real, and the Hawkeyes are about to find out just how much the committee believes in them.
At 7-2, Iowa is three wins from 10-2, a record that would put the selection committee in a tricky spot. It’s not being called a lock, but it’s also hard to picture the Hawkeyes getting squeezed out if they keep moving the way they have been.
The next checkpoint comes when the new CFP rankings are released, and Iowa should rise after its win over Northwestern. The only question is how far.
The Hawkeyes have been climbing in almost every ranking and metric. ESPN FPI, which was slow to warm up to Iowa early in the season, now has the Hawkeyes at No.
- That lines up fairly closely with where the national polls have them.
The AP Top 25 finally gave Iowa a noticeable push this week. After a gradual rise, the Hawkeyes jumped five spots from No. 21 to No.
- The one eyebrow-raiser there is USC being placed ahead of Iowa, especially since Iowa beat Northwestern on the road while USC was idle.
The Coaches Poll was just as kind. Iowa is up to No. 15 there, putting the Hawkeyes inside the top 15 as they head toward a matchup with Purdue.
The committee had Iowa at No. 19 before this past weekend, and that number should not hold after a road win against a 6-2 Northwestern team. That much feels straightforward.
What gets interesting is the group sitting ahead of Iowa. Ole Miss, Ohio State, LSU, and Missouri all lost and now all have three defeats.
BYU has two losses, but one came against undefeated Utah, and the sense here is that the Cougars probably stay ahead of Iowa. That part is easier to accept.
The others? Not so much. Ole Miss, Ohio State, LSU, and Missouri don’t look like teams that should still be ranked ahead of Iowa.
So this week’s reveal becomes a test of what the committee actually values. Does it reward wins, or does it lean harder on the spreadsheet side of the process? The expectation here is that Iowa won’t get quite as much credit as it should.
The prediction: Iowa lands at No. 16.
In Other News...
Iowa Just Got Another Sign Fans Should Believe In This Team
Iowas win over Northwestern did more than keep the momentum rolling, it nudged the Hawkeyes five places up to No. 15 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. The 24-10 result gave the Hawkeyes another resume-building step, and it came with a balanced showing that included Hank Brown accounting for two touchdowns, Braeden Jackson taking a kickoff back for a score and L.J. Phillips Jr. piling up 128 rushing yards.
For a team trying to prove it belongs in the national conversation, the poll movement matters almost as much as the performance itself. Iowa now sits in a crowded top 25 that still leaves plenty of room for movement, and the Big Ten presence around the rankings only adds to the sense that every week can reshape the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Suddenly Has A Playoff Case Fans Can Actually Believe
The win over Northwestern did more than keep Iowa rolling at 7-2. It also reinforced why this team is suddenly being talked about as a legitimate College Football Playoff threat, with the Hawkeyes doing what they usually do best and finding ways to win without needing fireworks on offense. L.J. Phillips Jr. gave them a steady lift with 128 yards on 21 carries, and the result was another reminder that Iowa can still control games with field position, defense and a ground attack that keeps the pressure off everything else.
What has made the conversation feel different is how many dependable layers this team has stacked together. Iowa has now extended its streak of returning interceptions for touchdowns to 18 straight seasons, and the special teams work under new coach Chris Polizzi has only added to the sense that this group has real depth in the hidden phases. With three games left, the Hawkeyes are no longer just hanging around in the background of the playoff race, they are giving fans a reason to wonder how far this version of the team can go. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Defense Just Sent Another Message With Three Games Left
Northwesterns late quarterback switch gave Iowa one more wrinkle to solve, and the Hawkeyes defense handled it the way it has handled so many opponents this season. With Aidan Chiles likely out, backup Nicco Marchiol got the start and moved the ball at times, but Iowa still controlled the game in a 24-10 win, piling up six sacks and keeping Northwestern to just one touchdown.
Marchiol finished with 24 completions on 32 attempts for 181 yards, and he added 52 rushing yards, but the bigger story was how quickly Iowa adjusted once the matchup changed. For a defense already ranked among the nations best, it was another reminder that the Hawkeyes can absorb a surprise, settle in and keep the pressure on, even with three games left to play. [Read more 🡒]