College Football Playoff Rankings 2019: Projected Top 25, Week 12
By Zach Bigalke
11/16 vs. Minnesota. Iowa Hawkeyes. 25. player. 878. Pick Analysis. lost 24-22 at No. 13 Wisconsin. Scouting Report
Iowa is going to fall just to the edge of the College Football Playoff rankings, but the selection committee isn’t going to scratch the Hawkeyes completely off the list after such a narrow defeat against a higher-ranked opponent on the road. It was a painful defeat, but not one that is going to substantively change the situation for the Hawkeyes aside from killing any hopes of a longshot big to the Big Ten championship game.
Nate Stanley was a solid enough 17-of-28 for 208 yards and two touchdowns, but he had no support whatsoever from a running game that finished with only 87 yards on 23 carries. The Hawkeyes defense coughed up 473 yards to the Badgers by comparison, making it all the more impressive that they still had a chance to win at the end.
Next week offers a huge test at home, as a fast-rising undefeated Minnesota side comes to Iowa City to take on the Hawkeyes for the Floyd of Rosedale. The Hawkeyes can rewrite the narrative in the Big Ten West race (and reestablish hopes in Madison) if they take down the Golden Gophers. Illinois also comes to Kinnick Stadium before Kirk Ferentz’s team closes out the regular season on Black Friday at Nebraska.