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Iowa Football: If Playoff Ranking reflected resume through Week 10

By Matt Opad

TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: (L-R) De'Andre Johnson #30, Ricky Stanzi #12, Marvin McNutt #7, Adrian Clayborn #94 and Jeremiha Hunter #42 of the Iowa Hawkeyes prepare to take the field for the Insight Bowl against the Missouri Tigers at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: (L-R) De'Andre Johnson #30, Ricky Stanzi #12, Marvin McNutt #7, Adrian Clayborn #94 and Jeremiha Hunter #42 of the Iowa Hawkeyes prepare to take the field for the Insight Bowl against the Missouri Tigers at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 05: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes is sacked by Jordan Glasgow #29 of the Michigan Wolverines in the fourth quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 10-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 05: Nate Stanley #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes is sacked by Jordan Glasgow #29 of the Michigan Wolverines in the fourth quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 10-3. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Iowa’s Resume and other teams the Hawks play

Previous: 17th. Badgers . 20. team. 809. . (6-2)

Wisconsin dropped a bit this week, but only because they were on a bye week. They have a lot of upside, as they still play Minnesota and Iowa football. A 10-2 Wisconsin likely finds themselves with a New Year’s Six resume.

878. . (6-2). Previous: 18th. Hawkeyes . 23. team

Iowa football has a low strength of wins at the moment. With wins over their next two opponents, that number is literally doubled. Games against a suddenly decent Illinois and a much less decent Nebraska is probably enough, with wins over Minnesota and Wisconsin, to push Iowa football’s resume into the top 15.

Interestingly enough, Iowa football may actually have the resume for the Rose Bowl if Minnesota wins the West, but loses to Iowa and to the winner of the Big Ten East. Either way, there is still enough upside to push Iowa football into New Year’s Six Bowl consideration.

40. team. 837. . (4-3). Previous: 37th. Cyclones

Our friends in Ames still have a legitimate chance at winning their conference, yet their resume to this point is the 40th out of 130 teams. Compare them to Iowa (#23), Wisconsin (#20), or Minnesota (#5), the teams contending for the weaker division of the Big Ten. I imagine that is why Nebraska can dominate the Big 12 North and struggle in the Big Ten West.

. (5-4). Previous: 59th. Fighting Illini . 53. team. 807

Illinois has followed up their win over Wisconsin with a win over Purdue then a win over Rutgers. Illinois is having the season that I thought Nebraska would have. Either way, the five wins they currently have can boost Iowa football’s strength of wins more than expected.

810. . (4-5). Previous: 60th. Cornhuskers . 80. team

Nebraska is the last team on the schedule for Iowa football. The game is not a de facto Big Ten West championship game. The game may not determine bowl eligibility for Nebraska. The four wins they currently have could be all that a win over Nebraska adds to our strength of wins. The Huskers have three games left, but only Maryland looks winnable right now, and I wouldn’t bet on that.

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