Preseason rankings only carry so much weight as there are hundreds of unknowns about every team that finds themselves ranked. Some teams disappoint, some teams take time to gel, and other teams hit the ground running.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have been floating around the cut line in most top 25 rankings heading into the 2024 college football season and that holds true in CBS Sports’ preseason rankings of all 134 teams.
The Hawkeyes just made the cut and came in as the No. 23 team in America per CBS Sports after finishing 2023 with a final ranking of No. 27 after finishing 10-4.
The Big Ten is well-represented throughout the entirety of the top 25. Ohio State is No. 2, Oregon No. 3, Penn State No. 7, Michigan No. 9, and USC No. 21.
Coming in at No. 1 are the Georgia Bulldogs while other SEC members, the Texas Longhorns, the Alabama Crimson Tide, and the Ole Miss Rebels are coming in at No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 respectively.
With fall camp underway, the Hawkeyes are a trendy pick to contend this year in the newly expanded College Football Playoff that will now feature 12 teams.
That success relies upon the offensive success the Hawkeyes are hoping for under Tim Lester, the new offensive coordinator. Lester does have the luxury of getting a healthy roster.
Quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Luke Lachey are both healthy after missing the majority of last year and should provide a much-needed boost to an offense looking for any sort of life.
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