The website, devoted to the SEC, is doing an article on 16 surprise CFB teams for 2016.
Apparently, they thought we were a surprise team in 2015.
GO HAWKS
Apparently, they thought we were a surprise team in 2015.
GO HAWKS
Iowa Hawkeye FB on front page ESPN.com today
- Thread starter IowaNiceHawk
- Start date
Perhaps it's just on their College FB page.........however, it was Front when I just searched their site.
Carry on
You know this gritty kid from the streets of Nagoya really creates excitement. $4 million dollars a year, that's true, but he earns every nickel of it.
I see it is written by Phil Steele. He had Iowa in his top 10 surprise teams in his magazine, probably a rehash of that article.
3. Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes came within one play of making the CFP last year despite coming off a 7-6 season in 2014. Michigan State got a TD with 27 seconds left to edge out a 12-0 Iowa team in the Big Ten title game. Yes, Iowa was not an overly impressive team at times last year but did go 12-0 in the regular season and led Michigan State for most of that game. The Hawkeyes are actually a more experienced team this year, going from No. 98 in my experience rankings to No. 74 in 2016. A lot of folks say they got to 12-0 because of a favorable schedule and that is true, but this year's team could be even better. The Hawkeyes have five road games and only one is against a team that had a winning record last year (Penn State, at 7-6). They will have only one team on their schedule that will make the preseason top 25 (Michigan), which they get at home. Last year the Hawkeyes lost their top defensive lineman, Drew Ott, early in the year, so they are more experienced in the front seven and have Jim Thorpe winner Desmond King patrolling the secondary, with eight starters back on defense. QB C.J. Beathard will work behind a veteran O-line. I do not think the Hawkeyes are one of the top five teams in the country talentwise, but they could end up being favored in all 12 games, and an undefeated Big Ten champion would make the playoff.
3. Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes came within one play of making the CFP last year despite coming off a 7-6 season in 2014. Michigan State got a TD with 27 seconds left to edge out a 12-0 Iowa team in the Big Ten title game. Yes, Iowa was not an overly impressive team at times last year but did go 12-0 in the regular season and led Michigan State for most of that game. The Hawkeyes are actually a more experienced team this year, going from No. 98 in my experience rankings to No. 74 in 2016. A lot of folks say they got to 12-0 because of a favorable schedule and that is true, but this year's team could be even better. The Hawkeyes have five road games and only one is against a team that had a winning record last year (Penn State, at 7-6). They will have only one team on their schedule that will make the preseason top 25 (Michigan), which they get at home. Last year the Hawkeyes lost their top defensive lineman, Drew Ott, early in the year, so they are more experienced in the front seven and have Jim Thorpe winner Desmond King patrolling the secondary, with eight starters back on defense. QB C.J. Beathard will work behind a veteran O-line. I do not think the Hawkeyes are one of the top five teams in the country talentwise, but they could end up being favored in all 12 games, and an undefeated Big Ten champion would make the playoff.
Apparently, they thought we were a surprise team in 2015.
GO HAWKS
Iowa wasn't a surprise last year?
Yes, I check the times by series, Iowa actually led 16 more minutes of the game than MSU.
It helped that Iowa led the entire 4th quarter while MSU had that incredible drive.
I've got Phil's magazine and have already heard a couple of interviews with him this summer. He's really bullish on the Hawks this season, although like last year it's partly to do with schedule.
Essentially his point is that everyone nationally has forgotten about them and they set up pretty much just like they did last season (tons of returning talent and favorable schedule).
I can understand last season but don't see how people are ripping on their schedule as much this year. Yes we get 3 of the 4 games vs Nebraska, Wisky, NU and Minny at home as compared to last year on the road. But have Michigan and Penn St this year which we didn't last. So no MSU and OSU however people forget we win the west very good chance we are playing one of those 2 teams or Michigan for a 2nd time. So if that happens Iowa ends up playing most likely top 7 of 8 teams minus them in conference this year.
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