ESPN ranked college football's next first-time national champs. Is Iowa next? 🤔

[ssamra13]

FULL RANKING: on3.com/news/espn-ranks-college-football-top-20-most-likely-first-time-national-champions

 

[eyesofhawk]

0-0

 

[DukeSlater]

Iowa was good enough last year, being only a handful of plays from being undefeated, including having Indiana, Oregon, and USC on the ropes in the final seconds. So sure, with a few breaks--any national champion needs them--Iowa definitely could win a national title. Have the ball bounce their way, and the talent is there on both sides of the ball for the first time in a long while. It could get very interesting very soon.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

FULL RANKING: on3.com/news/espn-ranks-college-football-top-20-most-likely-first-time-national-champions

Pretty solid list. Oregon is the obvious best guess, and TT because of all the money they're throwing at the program, and playing in the big 12th almost assures them a ticket to the playoff.

 

[UIAlumFireFighter]

No. We’ll need a head coach with a not-so-risk averse mindset.

Above head coach’s name is not Kirk Ferentz.

 

[Passing Is For COMMIES]

Iowa has a natty already though. 1958.

We also have 1899, 1921, 1922, 1956, and 1960 as split national championships. Iowa only claims the 1958 one though, as that's the only consensus national championship year.

 

[313oldman]

Iowa was good enough last year, being only a handful of plays from being undefeated, including having Indiana, Oregon, and USC on the ropes in the final seconds. So sure, with a few breaks--any national champion needs them--Iowa definitely could win a national title. Have the ball bounce their way, and the talent is there on both sides of the ball for the first time in a long while. It could get very interesting very soon.

and barely beat msu and psu, keep it real bro

 

[QChawks]

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

and barely beat msu and psu, keep it real bro

So, national champs can't have close games? Indiana, "barely" got out of Kinnick with a win. Are they not legit? In 2002 we "barely" beat Purdue, and then conversely we "barely" lost to ISU, yet we still had a shot at the Natty had we beat USC in the Orange bowl. We went into that game ranked 2nd or 3rd I believe.

 

[93hawkeye]

Talent is not there for the Hawks. Execution against top teams is not there.

 

[313oldman]

So, national champs can't have close games? Indiana, "barely" got out of Kinnick with a win. Are they not legit? In 2002 we "barely" beat Purdue, and then conversely we "barely" lost to ISU, yet we still had a shot at the Natty had we beat USC in the Orange bowl. We went into that game ranked 2nd or 3rd I believe.

my point was that the writer implied that close games would only go one way...

 

[r_desihawk]

my point was that the writer implied that close games would only go one way...

your point holds but does so for many teams that go all the way as well. 2002 osu won a nc by surviving 7 one score games. it happens to the best teams during special years.
and the psu game did go down to the wire but only because we pretty much spotted those guys a couple tds. last year's team in my book was kirk;s best team if including coaching staff but extremely low percentage plays late in the game went the opponent's way turning a potentially unbeated regular season to a 4 loss season.
if iowa is to win a nc most certainly it will involve getting several breaks that's a given, we aren't about to plough through 15 games by 2 TDs each.