Best teams to never make College Football Playoffs

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: A general view of the CPF National Championship midfield logo before the College Football Playoff National Championship football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

13 of 16

C.J. Beathard (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images). /

Best teams to never make CFB Playoffs: 4. Iowa, 2015

The finish line was staring at Iowa right in the face. For the majority of the 2015 season, Iowa was a true powerhouse. But unlike many of the names on this list that received at least a little bit of preseason backing, the Hawkeyes weren’t expected to do much of anything.

Once Iowa took down the Wisconsin Badgers and stretched their win streak to five, the eyes of the college football world began to take notice. By the time the end of their season came rolling by, Iowa was in the midst of a 12 game win streak. Their hot run subsequently landed them a top-four spot in the rankings.

Essentially, number 5 Michigan State stood between them and immortality. Though Iowa gave it everything they had, they fell short by a score of 16-13. That loss sent them out of the College Football Playoffs picture

The Hawkeyes would play their next and final game against Stanford in the Rose Bowl. But you could just tell by their effort that they weren’t interested in the game, losing by 29 points as a result.

Home/College Football News