Following Big Ten Media Days, the media have made their decision on what their preseason is. Before the polls came out, we predicted that Iowa would come in at No. 7, slightly middle of the pack, but to the surprise of probably a few Iowa fans, the Hawkeyes came in higher than that.
The media predicted that Iowa would finish the season ranked fifth in the conference, a conference that is ever-changing this season with the addition of Washington, USC, UCLA, and Oregon.
NEW: Big Ten Preseason Media Poll via @clevelanddotcom
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This will be the first season that the Big Ten will no longer have two divisions with the expansion. Where Iowa has been able to win their division in years past like last season when they booked their ticket to the Big Ten Championship by being at the top of their division, now they will have to be one of the top two teams in the conference.
The Hawkeyes came in behind the team they lost in the championship last season in Michigan. Oregon is the only newcomer to be ranked in the top five with the familiar faces of Ohio State and Penn State rounding out the top.
The Hawkeyes are hoping to improve on the offensive side of the ball this next season after having a top defense that carried their offense. The transfer of Cade McNamara at the quarterback position brought some hope, but unless he can perform as he did in his early years at Michigan, the Hawkeyes could be right back where they were last season with a struggling offense.
The defense may have to work a little harder again this season to be a top team in the conference, but clearly, the media has some faith in the Hawkeyes putting them in the top five.