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Iowa football: Hawks start season ranked 20th in first AP Polls

By Andrew Wade

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 27: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes directs the offence against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 27, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 27: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes directs the offence against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 27, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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The Iowa football team is coming into the season with high expectations, and the second most recognized polling system has the Hawks ranked 20th to start.

At the end of the day, the only ranking that matters is the College Football Playoff rankings, but that won’t be released until partway through the college football season. Until then, the most reliable gauge we have for where the Iowa football team sits in the rankings will be the AP Poll. We now know where the Hawks will start.

The Associated Press released their first top-25 of the 2019 college football season today, and the Iowa football team was ranked 20th. This is the seventh time a Kirk Ferentz-led Hawkeye squad was ranked in the AP top-25 to begin the season, and it happens to bee the second-lowest ranking as well, right in front of the Hawks 22nd ranking that kicked off the memorable 2009 season that culminated in an Orange Bowl win.

Oddly enough, starting in the AP top-25 hasn’t always been a good indicator of success for the Hawks. Out of the last six times, they’ve finished the season ranked just twice. For obvious reason, the Hawks hope to buck that trend this season.

Joining the Iowa football team from the Big Ten are Ohio State (#5), Michigan (#7), Penn State (#15), Michigan State (#18), Wisconsin (#19), Nebraska (#24). Also receiving votes in the Big Ten was Northwestern and Minnesota.

If that doesn’t tell you the Big Ten is stacked this year, then I don’t know what does. Seven teams are ranked, two others are on the cusp of being ranked, and just five teams are not found anywhere (Rutgers, Illinois, Maryland, Indiana, and Purdue).

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This initial AP Poll bodes well for the Hawks for two reasons. They aren’t going to have to fight the stigma of not being a talented team. Being ranked out of the gate means there are expectations for them, allowing them to rise easier. Second, the Big Ten is strong and if the Iowa football team can survive the schedule, they are going to look incredible on paper, which again, bodes well for a good bowl game or a possible College Football Playoff inclusion.

The Hawks look to get off to a hot start in under two weeks when they take on Miami of Ohio.

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