http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...shake-first-college-football-playoff-rankings
"You look around the country every week and see scores that maybe surprise you, catch you off guard," said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, whose Hawkeyes have an opportunity to earn a statement win at Penn State on Saturday. "I think it's the nature of college football. Biggest part of the challenge, not only matching up for your opponent, but also being focused, making sure you're spending the time you have to spend, not getting distracted on things that have nothing to do with the ballgame."
2. No. 18 Iowa at No. 17 Penn State (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
If Iowa wins this game, it will have defeated its most difficult remaining opponent, but it marks just the first of back-to-back road games that will determine the Hawkeyes' legitimacy in the playoff conversation. A win in State College is certainly the first step, but for Iowa to be taken seriously, it can't beat Penn State then lose at Purdue on Nov. 3. Iowa currently has a chance to win the Big Ten West, but it needs Wisconsin to lose another league game, as the Badgers own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Iowa. If the Hawkeyes can finish as one-loss Big Ten champs, they would certainly be considered for a top-four finish. A win over Penn State also could impact the résumés of Ohio State and Michigan, as both Big Ten East contenders need the Nittany Lions to remain in the committee's top 25.
"You look around the country every week and see scores that maybe surprise you, catch you off guard," said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, whose Hawkeyes have an opportunity to earn a statement win at Penn State on Saturday. "I think it's the nature of college football. Biggest part of the challenge, not only matching up for your opponent, but also being focused, making sure you're spending the time you have to spend, not getting distracted on things that have nothing to do with the ballgame."
2. No. 18 Iowa at No. 17 Penn State (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
If Iowa wins this game, it will have defeated its most difficult remaining opponent, but it marks just the first of back-to-back road games that will determine the Hawkeyes' legitimacy in the playoff conversation. A win in State College is certainly the first step, but for Iowa to be taken seriously, it can't beat Penn State then lose at Purdue on Nov. 3. Iowa currently has a chance to win the Big Ten West, but it needs Wisconsin to lose another league game, as the Badgers own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Iowa. If the Hawkeyes can finish as one-loss Big Ten champs, they would certainly be considered for a top-four finish. A win over Penn State also could impact the résumés of Ohio State and Michigan, as both Big Ten East contenders need the Nittany Lions to remain in the committee's top 25.
