Iowa Football: Scheduling game vs. Georgia makes sense, but isn’t likely

With Iowa football’s latest game against Michigan being canceled, a matchup with Georgia makes sense. Unfortunately, it probably won’t be happening.

Iowa football‘s 2020 regular season officially came to an end after it was announced on Tuesday that the Hawkeyes’ game on Saturday against Michigan would be canceled due to coronavirus concerns within the Wolverines’ program.

With the Hawkeyes’ cancellation comes great disappointment, especially for a team that has won six consecutive games and appeared to be building momentum.

If only their were an opponent that had an open week, similar to Iowa, and needed another win to bolster their resume for a potential New Year’s Six bowl game. Oh wait, there is: Georgia.

Just picture it, the No. 8 Bulldogs (7-2) against the No. 16 Hawkeyes (6-2) in a pre-bowl game, of sorts.

A matchup with Georgia would afford Iowa the opportunity to state their final case for being worthy of the Orange, Fiesta, Peach or Cotton Bowl. Even if the Hawkeyes’ matchup against Michigan (2-4) were to have played as scheduled, a win probably wouldn’t have enough to propel them into consideration for a NY6 bowl game.

A matchup (and potential win) against a top 10 team like Georgia would have solidified the Hawkeyes as one of the best teams in college football, likely launching them into the conversation for a game like the Orange Bowl.

Even if it sounds great in principal, though, don’t count on it actually happening. Head coach Kirk Ferentz shot down the possibility of Iowa scheduling a new opponent during his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

“Our staff has been working hard since Sunday morning getting ready for this ballgame (against Michigan),” Ferentz said. “To try to flip it over and play somebody else this weekend, it wouldn’t be fair to the sport. Most of all, it wouldn’t be fair to our players.”

“I know it’s been done. Someone did one earlier in the year. We have late games, so I think that would be a really regrettable thing. For all I know, [rescheduling] may still happen. I don’t know. If it does, I won’t be real pleased about it.”

While Ferentz may not be pleased if the Hawkeyes do in fact have a new opponent scheduled for this Saturday, fans would almost certainly be delighted. In the .001 percent possibility that the Hawkeyes do schedule a new opponent, Georgia should be the pick.