Yes
The odds may be against the Hawkeyes at this point in the season, but based on what Iowa has done up to this point and could still do, I see no reason why the Hawkeyes could not land at No. 24 or No. 25 in the ranking at the end of
the season.
First, let’s look at the reason why Iowa made the first top-25 ranking at No. 20. The Hawkeyes’ record of 6-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play really doesn’t promote them above other teams.
But looking more in-depth into Iowa’s season really makes it stand out. Iowa’s only four losses this season have come to top-15 teams and only by
single-digit margins.
The Iowa State loss came from a game-winning field goal after being tied 13-13. The Indiana game went a little differently, with a deficit of 5 points being just too out of reach, and the loss to Oregon by two points can be accounted for by the safety that the Hawkeyes gave up in the
first quarter.
Aside from its four losses, Iowa beat Rutgers in a blackout game, shut out Wisconsin, and demolished Minnesota for Floyd of Rosedale. This ultimately got them to the original No. 20 ranking.
Looking at the remaining two games, the Hawkeyes play a bad Michigan State team on Senior Day and travel to Lincoln for a rivalry clash
against Nebraska.
If the Hawkeyes take care of business by easily beating the Spartans and dispatching the Cornhuskers, Iowa will finish in the rankings ahead of its bowl game, whether that be at No. 25 or slightly higher.
No
Expectations for Iowa football entering the 2025 season were sky-high after successfully landing new talent via the transfer portal. Fast-forward 10 games into the season, and the Hawkeyes sit at 6-4 overall and still face a treacherous stretch ahead against several top-ranked opponents.
Iowa has two regular-season games remaining, beginning with a home contest against Michigan State and concluding with a road trip to face cross-state rival Nebraska.
The Hawkeyes are familiar with Michigan State — a team that handed them a 32-20 loss last season.
Iowa’s last three matches against Nebraska have all come down to the final moments of the fourth quarter. Even without starting quarterback Dylan Raiola, the Hawkeyes will likely find themselves in a close one-score game
at the Cornhuskers’ Memorial Stadium.
While not impossible, finishing the season 2-0 still does not guarantee the Hawkeyes a ranked finish. Iowa had just cracked the Associated Press top 25 two weeks ago at No. 20, but following the 18-16 loss to Oregon, the Hawkeyes fell out of the rankings.
Even if Iowa can finish the last two games with a 2-0 record, that leaves the squad at 8-4 and could still result in an unranked finish.
Additionally, Hawkeye football has continued to struggle to finish and grind out a win when trailing teams. Iowa was the home team in two of those losses and was still not able to find a path to victory.
While Hawkeye football has proven even the most pessimistic fans wrong before, this season’s grueling schedule will likely be the root cause of Iowa not being ranked at the end of the season.