Iowa fans aren't the only ones questioning the Hawkeyes' final ranking of the 2025-2026 college football season.
The Hawkeyes finished the season with a 9-4 (6-3 Big Ten) record, including a win in the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl over No. 14 Vanderbilt to close out the season.
After closing out the season with a 34-27 win over Vanderbilt, the Hawkeyes still find themselves below the Commodores, and a rival Big Ten coach took notice.
Illinois HC Bret Bielema calls out the AP voters following the final rankings
It is not often that one Big Ten coach defends a program that he isn't coaching, but that is exactly what is happening with Bret Bielema and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
I know that me/we are in control of our work ahead for 2026 season. I’m sure all voters knew that Iowa beat Vandy even though ranking is opposite…. TCU beat USC and again rankings are opposite. Maybe all these AP voters should do a story on each others voting logic 😂👀😂 #ILL https://t.co/Nh3j1s6gbe
— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) January 20, 2026
The longtime head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini seemingly called out the AP voters after some discrepancies following Bowl season.
Bielema noted that Iowa beat Vanderbilt and is ranked lower, and TCU beat USC and is ranked lower, pointing out some potential errors in how the AP voters determined their final top 25.
To cap off his extremely sarcastic post, Bielema suggested that the AP voters should write a story explaining why they voted the way they did.
Bielema is an Iowa graduate and played on the football team, which may have contributed to his statement. Regardless, he has a point.
Iowa isn't worried about the final rankings this season, only about the future, and finishing ranked No. 17 is about right for how its season ended.
The Hawkeyes are getting some love in some "way too early" rankings for next season, and have the potential to be one of the top teams in the Big Ten after some great additions through the transfer portal and their 2026 recruiting class.