College Football Playoff Rankings 2019: Projected Top 25, Week 11

The College Football Playoff selection committee is going to have an interesting deliberation over Iowa versus Wisconsin and how to position those two teams relative to one another. With a fresh look over their respective resumes, though, the selectors could put Iowa just ahead of the Buckeyes given the strength of their two losses.

While Wisconsin’s loss to Ohio State can be considered comparable in opponent quality to Iowa’s loss against Penn State, there are mitigating factors. Yes, the Hawkeyes lost at home while the Badgers lost on the road. But Kirk Ferentz’s team also lost by five to the Nittany Lions whereas Wisconsin fell by 31 at the Horseshoe.

Where they really get separation, though is in that second loss. Yes, Iowa lost 10-3 to a Michigan team that lost by three touchdowns at Wisconsin. But that seven-point road loss to a ranked Wolverines side is far better than Wisconsin’s road loss by one point at 4-4 Illinois. And in both of their losses, Wisconsin gave up 24 and 38 points; Iowa has not conceded more than 20 points at any time yet this season.