Could the Iowa Hawkeyes once again factor into the Big Ten Championship race in 2024?
Preseason rankings and chatter about Iowa indicates that most view the Hawkeyes as a fringe Big Ten and College Football Playoff threat.
Iowa checks in at No. 25 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll and the Hawkeyes were picked no lower than sixth in the Big Ten standings by CBS Sports’ college football experts.
A pair of CBS Sports reporters, David Cobb and Will Backus, picked the Hawkeyes to finish fourth in the Big Ten standings, but no one was willing to go out on a limb any further than that.
On3’s Andy Staples did include Iowa among his potential College Football Playoff at-large teams.
In order to make that a reality, Iowa will have to navigate through a pair of annual rivalry dates versus Wisconsin and Nebraska. On3’s Andy Backstrom included Iowa’s rivalry dates against Wisconsin and Nebraska among his 10 games that will determine the Big Ten Championship in 2024.
Backstrom broke down why Iowa’s Nov. 9 contest versus Wisconsin fits the bill.
Don’t sleep on Iowa. The Hawkeyes have had a top-five defense in the Big Ten each of the last nine seasons. That should be no different in 2024. How far Iowa goes this season hinges on whether new offensive coordinator Tim Lester can get his unit to pull its weight. To say the Hawkeyes’ schedule is favorable would be an understatement. They have just one preseason AP Top 25 opponent, and that’s Ohio State. The rest of the Hawkeyes’ games are winnable.
Of their games against currently unranked opponents, two stick out, starting with a Nov. 9 showdown against Wisconsin. The Heartland Trophy will be on the line. But, more importantly, this game could have Big Ten Championship implications, perhaps for both parties. The Badgers are a league dark horse. If Miami transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke clicks in offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s “Air Raid” system, and if defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s crew — which ranked 39th nationally in yards per game allowed last season — takes a step forward, Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin could make some noise. Except, those are big “if”s, especially during a season when the Badgers have to play five preseason AP Top 25 opponents, including Alabama, USC, Penn State, Oregon and Iowa. – Backstrom, On3.
Iowa’s regular season finale against Nebraska on Nov. 29 was among Backstrom’s top 10 dates to determine the Big Ten Championship as well.
OK, the second Iowa game against a currently unranked opponent worth noting is a Nov. 29 matchup versus Nebraska. Speaking of Big Ten dark horses, the Cornhuskers fall into that category. Nebraska could start (gulps) … 7-0. Stay with me here: The Huskers open the year with games against UTEP, Colorado, Northern Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Rutgers and Indiana. At quarterback, Nebraska’s starting true freshman Dylan Raiola. On one hand, Raiola’s a unanimous five-star prospect from the 2024 class. On the other hand, he’s a true freshman. Factor in offensive tackle and cornerback depth questions, plus the risk of continued turnover issues, and it’s totally possible the Huskers lose a few games in that span.
Regardless, Nebraska is a sneaky tough opponent for anyone, including Iowa late in the season. At that point in the year, the Hawkeyes could be playing for not only a shot at the Big Ten Championship but also a spot in the CFP. – Backstrom, On3.
Those two contests for Iowa join Texas at Michigan on Sept. 7, USC at Michigan on Sept. 21, Ohio State at Oregon on Oct. 12, Penn State at USC on Oct. 12, Ohio State at Penn State on Nov. 2, Oregon at Michigan on Nov. 2, Michigan at Ohio State on Nov. 30 and Washington at Oregon on Nov. 30 as Backstrom’s 10 games that will determine the Big Ten Championship.
Iowa opens up its 2024 season on Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. from inside Kinnick Stadium versus Illinois State.
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