I laughed at Iowa's Playoff chances. Then I saw Hawkeyes schedule

I used to say Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti won’t rest until he expands the playoff to such a size that it’ll have room for 8-4 Iowa. Joke’s on me, because after walking it off against Michigan, Iowa is pointed in the direction of the 12-team playoff, baby! Think that’s premature? OK, sure it is

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What is the story about?

I used to say Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti won’t rest until he expands the playoff to such a size that it’ll have room for 8-4 Iowa.

Joke’s on me, because after walking it off against Michigan, Iowa is pointed in the direction of the 12-team playoff, baby!

Think that’s premature?

OK, sure it is, but peek at Iowa’s remaining schedule. Ohio State comes to town next weekend to cut Iowa down to size.

A win that won't be forgotten in Iowa football history

Then, it’s seven unranked Big Ten opponents into the finish line for Iowa. If the Hawkeyes keep limiting opponents to an average of eight points per game like they did in September, you better believe there’s a path

to the playoff for Iowa.

This is the type of favorable Big Ten schedule draw Indiana took advantage of in 2024, when the Hoosiers lost to Ohio State, took care of business against everyone else, and made the playoff at 11-1.

The playoff committee abhors bad losses, but it can live with a resume that lacks marquee victories.

How did Iowa beat Michigan 20-19? In true Iowa fashion.

Iowa trailed Michigan by five points with 2½ minutes remaining when Kirk Ferentz opted for a field goal on 4th-and-6. Imagine the outrage within the analytics nerd community!

Iowa missed the field goal, then forced a punt, then won when Hank Brown fired a last-second touchdown pass. That missed field goal was probably all part of a master plan that only makes sense to Ferentz, but somehow it works more often than not.

“There was nothing easy out there,” Ferentz said afterward.

That’s just how Iowa likes it.

If you thought Miami-Texas A&M was ugly in the first round of last year’s playoff, just wait for the rock fight Ferentz would start in a December playoff game. First-round home game in a blizzard in Iowa? The college football sickos would love it.

I can think of no better evidence that a 24-team playoff is superfluous than Iowa making a 12-team playoff.