Delaney's dream scenario...

[El Simbolo]

MSU wins the NC, Iowa beats Stanford by any margin, and OSU waxes ND = final AP poll of:

1. MSU
2. Iowa
3. OSU
4. Clemson/OU winner
5. Alabama or Clemson
6. OU or Alabama

 

[hoffmkr]

I wanted to argue with you. I wanted to say you are crazy, but if MSU wins convincingly, I can't argue with your logic.

 

[Hawkeyes4Life247]

Although it's nice to think about, I think the three B1G teams would all need very convincing wins for this to happen. Unless MSU routes whoever they play in the championship, the AP will likely rank the loser number two. The winner of Iowa/Stanford and Notre Dame/OSU could very likely finish three and four, but it will take impressive wins to leap to two and three.

 

[thewop]

Isn't Iowa way down in the AP? I think about #4/5 would be our ceiling, just because that's how the AP poll works.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Sure the loser of the NC game will be #2.

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

Even if they lose (which hopefully happens) some will still have a hard time convincing themselves they can't vote 'Bama first. The love runs deep for some of those clowns.

 

[cedarvalleykid14]

The details can be debated, but the premise is sound. MSU, OSU, and Iowa win all their bowl games...a rational possibility...and the Big Ten could have, and should have, three teams in the top five. Let the pundits ponder that.

 

[gojojo]

It's a nice thought, but that ain't happening. Our ceiling is probably #4 with and outside chance of #3.

 

[jaysonjohn2012]

MSU will lose
Iowa will win
OSU will win

Bama wil win NC

1. Bama
2. Oklahoma
3. Iowa
4. OSU
5. Clemson
6. MSU

Delaney will still be happy

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

I think 1, 3, 4 or 1, 3, 5 is the best the Big Ten can do.

However, you have to hand it to the conference, after getting their ass kicked by the SEC for several years, they are spending the Big Ten network money on upgraded stadiums, facilities, and most importantly coaches.

I like the new coach and AD hire in Rutgers (cleaning up a terrible mess); I thought Illinois made some progress this year; looks like Michigan is back; jury is out on Nebby/Minny/Pedo U; and Wisconsin in a "down" year went 9-3 ....

 

[hoffmkr]

Iowa's Ceiling is #2, but to happen Four games have to happen just right.
1) Iowa Wins
2) MSU beats Alabama by atleast 7 pts
3) Oklahoma Wins over Clemson
4) MSU beats Oklahoma

If games 1-3 happen, Iowa is basically #3/4 before National Championship game tied with Clemson. Mightly Alabama has two losses and falls down.
If MSU beats Oklahoma, Oklahoma now has two losses and fall below Iowa. Iowa also has a better loss than Clemson breaking the tie.

 

[Lone Clone]

I don't think that has happened since '71, which might be the only time it did happen. Nebraska finished #1, Oklahoma finished #2 and Colorado finished #3.

Iowa State was #17, although that probably isn't terribly important to most posters here.