With the 2025-26 college football season officially in the books-and what a finish it was, with Indiana capping off a perfect 16-0 run by edging Miami in a 27-21 thriller for the national title-the final US LBM Coaches Poll is out. And for Iowa football, it brings some well-earned recognition after a strong close to the season.
The Hawkeyes, who finished 9-4 overall and 6-3 in Big Ten play, cracked the top 20 in the final rankings, landing at No. 17.
That’s their highest finish since 2020, when they wrapped up the year at No. 15.
The jump comes on the heels of a hard-fought 34-27 win over then-No. 12 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve-a statement victory that clearly resonated with voters.
For a program that prides itself on physicality, discipline, and defense-first football, Iowa’s bowl performance was a reminder of what it looks like when the Hawkeyes are firing on all cylinders. They took down a 10-win SEC opponent with a balanced effort, and that win gave them a solid boost heading into the offseason.
Zooming out, the Big Ten had a strong showing in the final poll, led by none other than the new national champs. Indiana, who ran the table to finish 16-0, sits comfortably at No. 1 with all 62 first-place votes. It’s a historic moment for the Hoosiers, who not only claimed their first national title but also did it in undefeated fashion.
Oregon, the newest addition to the Big Ten, finishes at No. 4, capping off a 13-2 campaign. Ohio State follows at No. 6, solidifying its usual spot among the elite. USC, Michigan, and Illinois round out the Big Ten’s presence in the top 25 at Nos. 21, 22, and 25 respectively, while Washington just missed the cut but did receive 92 votes.
Here’s how the rest of the top 10 shook out: Miami, despite the title game loss, climbs all the way to No. 2-a massive leap from No. 10.
Ole Miss finishes third after a stellar 13-2 season, while Georgia and Ohio State round out the top five. Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame complete the top 10.
A few other notable risers: Virginia jumped five spots to No. 16, Houston surged to No. 19, and Illinois made a late-season push to sneak in at No.
- On the flip side, Vanderbilt dropped three spots to No. 15 after the bowl loss to Iowa, and both USC and Michigan slipped down the rankings following postseason defeats.
And while some familiar names like Arizona and Tennessee dropped out of the top 25, the "receiving votes" category is still packed with programs that made noise this season-North Texas, Washington, SMU, and Duke among them.
But for Iowa, the takeaway is clear: this season ended on a high note. A top-20 finish, a quality bowl win, and momentum heading into 2026.
For a team that faced its share of adversity throughout the year, climbing back into the national conversation is no small feat. Now, the challenge is building on it.