College Football Playoff: 5 dark horse teams who can make Playoff

Oct 31, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Tevaun Smith (4) and teammates enter the field before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa hasn’t been getting a lot of love, and for good reason. They’ve played one of the easiest power five schedules in the nation, and might not have any wins against top 25 teams at the end of the season.

Somehow, they managed to avoid Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, but they’ll have to play one in the Big 10 Championship Game. It’s unclear who they’ll play, but that will by far be their toughest test of the season.

It would put them at 13-0, assuming wins over Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Nebraska, a combined 13-20 between the four. They’re already ranked at No. 9, which is fair, but you have to wonder how good this team really is given their schedule.

Sure, they’ve played the schedule their given and done all they could with it. If they make it to the Big Ten Championship Game, and take down one of the heavyweights of the East division, they certainly become heavily in the mix.

Next: Florida State