Iowa football: Big Ten West title is still technically up for grabs

Despite dropping their second straight conference game, the Iowa football team still could win the Big Ten West without much assistance.

At this point, if you are as frustated by the Iowa football team as a majority of fans are, you’re probably reading this thinking, “yeah right”, but hear me out.

I know the last two games have zapped whatever confidence you have had in this team out of the window because I feel the same way.

But the fact of the matter is, dropping the game to Penn State only ruined the Iowa football team’s outside shot of making the College Football Playoffs. The opportunity to win the Big Ten West is there for the taking. It won’t be easy but it’s possible.

I’ll start with what needs to happen before explaining why I do think there is an off-chance that it could happen.

First, and most obviously, the Iowa football team needs to win out the rest of the way. This would include defeating the currently undefeated and overranked Minnesota Gophers, the undefeated and appropriately ranked Badgers on their home field, and the pathetic attempt at a team in Nebraska. The Hawks would also need to survive spoiler games against Purdue and Northwestern. I am going to now mention Illinois simply so you know I didn’t forget them, they just don’t fall into either category of a team that matters.

Second, the Iowa football team needs Minnesota and Wisconsin to lose at least one more game outside of their own matchup. Getting Minnesota another loss or two shouldn’t be too difficult. They’ve got #7 Penn State next week and #6 Wisconsin at the end of November.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, should be handidly favored in all remaining games besides their away game to Ohio State, which is why Ohio State is the most important team to the Iowa football team right now. If Wisconsin loses to Ohio State, as I expect them too considering the Buckeyes look like the best team in the nation right now, then that would set up a key matchup in Madison with the Hawks. The winner wins the West.

Now on to why I think it’s possible after the last two terrible games.

Just look back at last year. The Hawks dropped a close one to Wisconsin, won their next three against some pretty weak teams, dropped their next three starting with a tough loss to Penn State in Happy Valley, and then went on a four-game winning streak that included a win over a ranked SEC opponent in the Outback Bowl.

My point is, as long as the Iowa football team can get their team back on track starting with Purdue this week, they have three more weeks (including a bye week right before) until they face Wisconsin. This team has shown they can turn things around in the past, and I would like to trust in Kirk Ferentz and the process (as much as it pains me to do so right now).

So, it’s possible. The Iowa football team could win the Big Ten West still, and they wouldn’t even need that many miracles that they don’t control.