Iowa football cracks top 20 in preseason AP Poll

In the first AP Poll of the new season, the Hawkeyes found themselves ranked at No. 20.

Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa celebrates after making a play during an NCAA football game between Iowa and Wyoming in Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. (Joseph Cress/The Daily Iowan)

Pete Ruden, Sports Editor
August 19, 2019

Iowa football enters the 2019 season ranked No. 20 in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll.

Iowa plays five teams listed in the poll this season: Michigan (No. 7), Penn State (No. 15), Wisconsin (No. 19), Iowa State (No. 21), and Nebraska (No. 24). Seven Big Ten teams made the cut, which is the most of any conference. Ohio State (No. 5) and Michigan State (No. 18) round out the ranked Big Ten squads.

The three Big Ten West teams that enter the season ranked are within six spots of each other. Additionally, Northwestern earned 63 votes to be ranked, while Minnesota picked up seven, showing how open the West division is.

Clemson (52 first-place votes), last season’s national champion, tops the list with a No. 1 ranking, with Alabama (10 first-place votes), Georgia, and Oklahoma in hot pursuit.

The Hawkeyes, who were ranked No. 19 in the coaches poll, open the season against Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 31 in Kinnick Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

Preseason AP Top 25

1. Clemson (52)

2. Alabama (10)

3. Georgia

4. Oklahoma

5. Ohio State

6. LSU

7. Michigan

8. Florida

9. Notre Dame

10. Texas