Phil Steele comments on Iowa Wisconsin game

83Hawk

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I don’t know about Iowa, but if Wisconsin wins Saturday you can pencil them in for the playoffs right now. Their schedule the rest of the season is Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, and they finish with Minnesota at home.

That would leave them with losses only to Notre Dame and a (currently) undefeated UCLA. A lock for the playoffs.
 

HAWKNESS

Senior
Jul 6, 2025
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A 10-2 big ten team is in 100%.

That being said i don't think this team has the QB to get to 10-2
Completely agree. There's a ton of teams that already have 2 losses. I think there's probably a 3 loss team that makes it in this year. I think all of Nebraska, NW and Wisconsin win 8-9 this year. Those 3 wins will look more favorable at end of year than today. Having said that, Iowa's not winning out
 
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Hurricane88

Junior
Mar 13, 2024
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I think we will need some other leagues to cannibalize themselves as the weeks go on (which should happen naturally) but I personally don’t think we are out yet.
The SEC has already cannibalized itself. Two teams with only 1 loss and the rest of them have 2 or more losses already. Kentucky will lose more games, IDK about Georgia. So, all but one team has 2 or more losses is great for Iowa and the Big Ten.
 
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BigOHawk1

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Oct 27, 2001
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I think Iowa comes into this game with some piss and vinegar and beats Wisk in a slobberknocker of classic KF ball. Then we go take care of Purdon't before setting up a matchup with maybe Top 15 NW. Then of course Illinois and maybe Nebraska. Huskers could well be ranked by this point and as of now I have them upsetting OSU at home in a few weeks. There...I said it..lots to play for even with a Petras-esque QB in place in Brown.
 

OnlyTheObscure

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Jul 3, 2025
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UCLA is 5-0. I don’t see Ohio st Indiana or UCLA having 3 conference losses. Iowa isn’t going to jump any of them if they do have 2 conference losses.

not sure I would pencil in the big ten with 4 bids.
 
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Hawkangler

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Mar 16, 2014
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I think Iowa comes into this game with some piss and vinegar and beats Wisk in a slobberknocker of classic KF ball. Then we go take care of Purdon't before setting up a matchup with maybe Top 15 NW. Then of course Illinois and maybe Nebraska. Huskers could well be ranked by this point and as of now I have them upsetting OSU at home in a few weeks. There...I said it..lots to play for even with a Petras-esque QB in place in Brown.
NW is next week then Purdon't. Then Illinoing and the cornholers.
 

o_waterboy4582

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I don’t know about Iowa, but if Wisconsin wins Saturday you can pencil them in for the playoffs right now. Their schedule the rest of the season is Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, and they finish with Minnesota at home.

That would leave them with losses only to Notre Dame and a (currently) undefeated UCLA. A lock for the playoffs.
Doubtful, 9-3 SEC would jump them. They would have no good wins.
 

DukeSlater

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Jul 2, 2023
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I don’t know about Iowa, but if Wisconsin wins Saturday you can pencil them in for the playoffs right now. Their schedule the rest of the season is Rutgers, Maryland, Purdue, and they finish with Minnesota at home.

That would leave them with losses only to Notre Dame and a (currently) undefeated UCLA. A lock for the playoffs.
Sure, but how did it work out for Minnesota against Purdue and for Iowa against Minnesota. Wisky's schedule doesn't look daunting, BUT what things look like on paper and what happens on the field are often VERY different things. Iowa just needs to take care of business and see what happens.
 

DukeSlater

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A 10-2 big ten team is in 100%.

That being said i don't think this team has the QB to get to 10-2
But then who else does? Iowa beat itself vs. Minny. Hell, just don't line up in the neutral zone and Iowa wins 10-6 despite a horrible, awful, terrible offensive performance.
 

Gonzo_Bloor

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Jun 30, 2025
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But then who else does? Iowa beat itself vs. Minny. Hell, just don't line up in the neutral zone and Iowa wins 10-6 despite a horrible, awful, terrible offensive performance.
This is the most ridiculous myth in football. "They beat themselves." Why? Because of the turnovers? Guess what, that blocked punt wasn't Iowa beating themselves, that was Minnesota making a great play. Because of the fumbles? Again, that was Minney's D doing its job and forcing the ball to come loose. The interceptions? Again, great play by the Minney D and their defenders. The penalties? Minney was penalized for twice as many yards on the day as we were.

People use it when they lose to us as well. "Iowa didn't really beat us, we beat ourselves." Such a complete bullsh*t excuse with zero basis in reality. The other team made those miscues and mistakes happen with their own hard play. I'd say it to people trying to use it as an excuse for losing to us. I'll say it to Iowa fans trying to use it as an excuse for losing to someone else.

Absolute nonsense.
 
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doughuddl2_rivals

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Sep 5, 2009
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I think Iowa comes into this game with some piss and vinegar and beats Wisk in a slobberknocker of classic KF ball. Then we go take care of Purdon't before setting up a matchup with maybe Top 15 NW. Then of course Illinois and maybe Nebraska. Huskers could well be ranked by this point and as of now I have them upsetting OSU at home in a few weeks. There...I said it..lots to play for even with a Petras-esque QB in place in Brown.
I hate to burst your bubble but the Wisconsin D is ranked 12th in scoring D at 15 pts per game. That's 1 more pt than Iowa that's ranked 8th.

With no run game and the lowest rated QBs it seems like an impossible task.
 

85Bears

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Aug 31, 2019
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I hate to burst your bubble but the Wisconsin D is ranked 12th in scoring D at 15 pts per game. That's 1 more pt than Iowa that's ranked 8th.

With no run game and the lowest rated QBs it seems like an impossible task.
Not really, Michigans defense is better and we scored 20 and beat them on the road, this one’s at home.
 

85Bears

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Aug 31, 2019
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I think Iowa comes into this game with some piss and vinegar and beats Wisk in a slobberknocker of classic KF ball. Then we go take care of Purdon't before setting up a matchup with maybe Top 15 NW. Then of course Illinois and maybe Nebraska. Huskers could well be ranked by this point and as of now I have them upsetting OSU at home in a few weeks. There...I said it..lots to play for even with a Petras-esque QB in place in Brown.
For sure we are going to come out swinging
 

85Bears

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IF Iowa wins out. It would have 2 ranked wins. One on the road. Possibly a 3rd if Nebby get's it together. So, a 10-2 Iowa team would make it in.
It would be three ranked wins, possibly four. Michigan was ranked 18th when Iowa beat them, Wisconsin is currently ranked, NU will certainly be ranked. Nebraska could possibly be ranked.
 

93hawkeye

Senior
Sep 19, 2004
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This is the most ridiculous myth in football. "They beat themselves." Why? Because of the turnovers? Guess what, that blocked punt wasn't Iowa beating themselves, that was Minnesota making a great play. Because of the fumbles? Again, that was Minney's D doing its job and forcing the ball to come loose. The interceptions? Again, great play by the Minney D and their defenders. The penalties? Minney was penalized for twice as many yards on the day as we were.

People use it when they lose to us as well. "Iowa didn't really beat us, we beat ourselves." Such a complete bullsh*t excuse with zero basis in reality. The other team made those miscues and mistakes happen with their own hard play. I'd say it to people trying to use it as an excuse for losing to us. I'll say it to Iowa fans trying to use it as an excuse for losing to someone else.

Absolute nonsense.
yes x 1000
 

BigOHawk1

All-Conference
Oct 27, 2001
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It would be three ranked wins, possibly four. Michigan was ranked 18th when Iowa beat them, Wisconsin is currently ranked, NU will certainly be ranked. Nebraska could possibly be ranked.
Exactly, ranked wins as they occur not re: final standings although I'm sure there is a CFP metric vs. CFP Top 25 at the time as well.
 

Hurricane88

Junior
Mar 13, 2024
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Exactly, ranked wins as they occur not re: final standings although I'm sure there is a CFP metric vs. CFP Top 25 at the time as well.
I'm speaking for current rankings. Which are done by AP polls. Which are VERY flawed. The commission could find it a little differently. Iowa might not have a single win against a ranked team by the end of the season's poll as well. Just need a little help from our friends in the SEC to lose more games.
 

Outbackbowl2017

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Dec 4, 2016
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I'm speaking for current rankings. Which are done by AP polls. Which are VERY flawed. The commission could find it a little differently. Iowa might not have a single win against a ranked team by the end of the season's poll as well. Just need a little help from our friends in the SEC to lose more games.
ESPN will use the ranked metric at the time SEC teams played each other but will dismiss it for other conferences. Mark my words, the goal is to rep the SEC and help get as many teams into the play off as possible, even with 3 or 4 “quality losses”. It’s going to happen. Iowa will be lucky to be 8-4 with another turd of an offense under KNOF.
 

Hurricane88

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Mar 13, 2024
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ESPN will use the ranked metric at the time SEC teams played each other but will dismiss it for other conferences. Mark my words, the goal is to rep the SEC and help get as many teams into the play off as possible, even with 3 or 4 “quality losses”. It’s going to happen. Iowa will be lucky to be 8-4 with another turd of an offense under KNOF.
That is definitely possible.
 

Outbackbowl2017

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Doesn't matter,.. Neither team is playoff caliber.
Iowa, Wisky, NW, Minny, NE…..all play each other the last five weeks of the season so like the SEC, losses will pile up and there will be a bunch of 9-3 to 8-4 teams. The old B1G west teams aren’t good enough to be play off teams.
 

85Bears

All-American
Aug 31, 2019
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Iowa, Wisky, NW, Minny, NE…..all play each other the last five weeks of the season so like the SEC, losses will pile up and there will be a bunch of 9-3 to 8-4 teams. The old B1G west teams aren’t good enough to be play off teams.
Who are all the teams that are so much better you have in the playoffs ? And don’t say overrated trash like tennessee
 
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