CFP ranking projections

Jonesy5960

Heisman
Feb 1, 2023
7,151
14,869
113
Certainly some of this will clear up this weekend, but coming in at 22 wouldn't be great.
Nothing changes here. Losing to Minnesota put Iowa squarely on a bubble needing to win out to have a shot at the playoffs. It's certainly not inconceivable that a 3 loss SEC team gets in over a 2 loss Iowa team. Iowa, OSU, and USC are all one loss away from being eliminated meaning the BIG10 is at risk of having only Indiana and UCLA in the CFP this year.
 
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BigOHawk1

All-Conference
Oct 27, 2001
599
1,115
93
We will know shortly, it is what it is...merely a projection..not sure that both FL and South Carollina ahead of Iowa with 3 losses. That damn Gopher game is a killer, we'd be in the 17 range with a win but LOTS to play for. Even if we come in at 22, need to make up about 10-12 spots over a month it can be done. Heck, look at the slate of games and ranked vs. ranked matchups this week. Just win and this could take care of itself but as you noted even at 19-20 would be a good sign.

Check out the current SEC standings and games to be played over the next month in conf. Most of that entire conf. could have 3 losses sans UK and Georgia. Will be very interesting to see how the committee handles SEC teams with 3 losses. Let's just go get NW Sat. night first!
 
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Fight4Iowa

Senior
Nov 25, 2025
416
602
93
We seem to always come in higher than I anticipate. We don't have any losses that can be considered really bad losses. I think we'll be at like 19.
 

Palmerhawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,518
4,972
113
We seem to always come in higher than I anticipate. We don't have any losses that can be considered really bad losses. I think we'll be at like 19.
And our loss on walkoff kick at minny with our starting qb out w injury should not kill our shot..but it might.
If Hank plays well and we win out; that case must be made..OSU without sayin the rest of way should be a disqualifier.

Heather dimich on ESPN rated the 2 loss BIG teams( cept OSU) as being listed only as they still are alive to win the BIG....indicating that our only shot is if we secure the automatic BIG berth.

Rated us as 5% chance...." so you're saying we have a shot"... territory.
Not getting my hopes up.
 

Fight4Iowa

Senior
Nov 25, 2025
416
602
93
Ferentz, and his 27 years of running a respectable, clean program + our impressive win last year against Vanderbilt in bowl game will be enough for the playoff committee to give us the nod if we run the table. I don't care what some female ESPN reporter says.
 
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UIAlumFireFighter

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2018
1,543
2,291
113
Ferentz, and his 27 years of running a respectable, clean program + our impressive win last year against Vanderbilt in bowl game will be enough for the playoff committee to give us the nod if we run the table. I don't care what some female ESPN reporter says.
“Clean program” will have something to do with Iowa getting into a playoff bracket?

That’s hilarious.
 

iahawkeyes17

All-Conference
Apr 22, 2014
898
2,264
83
Certainly some of this will clear up this weekend, but coming in at 22 wouldn't be great.
Lot of teams above us play one another which is good. I just have a feeling last team in will be a 3 loss sec team over a 2 loss team from another P4.
 

OnlyTheObscure

All-American
Jul 3, 2025
3,645
5,195
113
Will big ten get 4 teams? If not Iowa will need UCLA to lose three games down the stretch.

assuming Ohio state and Indiana get in.
 

squeezebox_1

All-Conference
Mar 6, 2018
1,281
1,844
113
Will big ten get 4 teams? If not Iowa will need UCLA to lose three games down the stretch.

assuming Ohio state and Indiana get in.
I am not sold OSU can run that gauntlet with a backup QB. USC deserves to be in if they can run that table, I don't see it. UCLA is likely in barring any major stumbles. Honestly the team that is getting the shaft is Northwestern, IMO if they ran the table they would probably be left out, and that would be a shame.

OSU: Oregon, NW, Nebraska, Michigan
USC: Indiana, Maryland (win), UCLA
UCLA: Illinois, Michigan, USC
NW: Iowa, OSU, Minnesota, ILL
 

DukeSlater

All-American
Jul 2, 2023
2,378
5,341
113

DukeSlater

All-American
Jul 2, 2023
2,378
5,341
113
Ferentz, and his 27 years of running a respectable, clean program + our impressive win last year against Vanderbilt in bowl game will be enough for the playoff committee to give us the nod if we run the table. I don't care what some female ESPN reporter says.
Male or female matters not--the talking heads are clueless and biased. No one should pay any attention to their predictions. They don't know as much as many of us do about anything.
 

DuddyB

All-Conference
Jul 14, 2022
2,207
3,945
113
If we win out, I think we've got a better than 50% chance of getting into the CFP.
Honestly, I’d put the odds closer to 70% if they were to win out. Everybody wants to act like things are gonna go to chalk, but they are not. There’s an incredible amount of parity amongst these teams this year. I don’t think Iowa is going to win out, but if they did, I would say they’re more than likely in.
 

Hurricane88

Junior
Mar 13, 2024
285
356
63
I don't necessarily think Iowa will win out. But, IF they did. I think they would be in the top 15 by the end of the season.
 

Palmerhawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
2,518
4,972
113
They are speculating that the committee is giving the sec teams with 2 or 3 losses a pass because the prior game to loss was so physical.
BS!
 
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