Peeking ahead: 2016 Hawkeyes - Top 5 preseason?

[JerryDennard]

Iowa has obviously taken the sports world (and its own base) by surprise. Just 3 months ago, any fan who suggested "playoffs" would be suspected of being a troll from another site. A prediction of 11-0 (or 12-0) would have been certifiably insane. Yet, here we are. at least 3 games to go.

Win or lose (barring a complete meltdown) - Iowa is playing with house money this year.

So, looking ahead to next year - assuming we don't win out - where will Iowa be ranked preseason in 2016?

Let's assume CJB comes back, and hopefully King. Would we be preseason top 5? Maybe even preseason #1?

 

[td77]

Don't get ahead of yourself. If you haven't figured it out already, the media doesn't like Iowa. I'd say between number 10 and 15.

 

[JerryDennard]

I don't the media hates Iowa in general as much as the media hates Iowa in 2015 because we came out of nowhere. Next year we will be the sexy pick and get the benefit of the doubt.

 

[yerpHAWK]

If we make the playoff, and show we belong, we will be top 10.

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

Next year's schedule is only slightly more difficult than this year.

A top 5 ranking is completely reasonable.

 

[QChawks]

Others receiving votes

 

[Hawkdogwoof]

You must be new. That will not happen. 12-18 would be right, even if they won Natl championship. Michigan, Ohio St, Florida, Oklahoma etc will always be ranked higher pre season with 4 or 5 undeserving SEC teams. Just the way it is.

 

[StormHawk42]

Depends how we finish this season. 0 losses (national champs) = top 5, 1 loss = top 15, 2 losses = top 20, 3 losses = barely 25, maybe receiving votes

 

[Krhino1]

Hope they are not ranked at all. We do awfully when we are highly ranked preseason.

 

[TANK44]

Not 100% true we were preseason #4 in 1985 and finished #10

 

[hawkosx]

Hope they are not ranked at all. We do awfully when we are highly ranked preseason.

Ranked by the Media or not, I actually think next year will be a down year. We will be loosing way too many players to graduation

 

[StormHawk42]

Ranked by the Media or not, I actually think next year will be a down year. We will be loosing way too many players to graduation

I disagree. I think our talent will be about the same or slightly better, not to mention CJ is still around. But the schedule will be tougher, so the results may not show we are/are not better.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

Not 100% true we were preseason #4 in 1985 and finished #10

That was 30 years ago..lol...I think Kirk maintains momentum the 3rd time around

 

[And1Hawk]

Hope they are not ranked at all. We do awfully when we are highly ranked preseason.

I agree because we relish the role of the hunter instead of the hunted. The hunter role gives us that chip we need. Anyone remember 2010?

 

[icu81222]

SEC will, as usual, need to have 8 teams in the top 15 so as to keep all their losses as "good losses".

Iowa may get thrown a top 25 bone but the word fluke will be the soup d'joure.

 

[JerryDennard]

Bama is losing Henry and Coker. I assume they reload and will be top 5. But beyond that: Auburn was terrible and has no QB. Miss St loses Dak Prescott. LSU is likely losing Fournette and their coach (assuming Fournette goes pro). Ark loses Allen. SEC might be underrepped in the top 10 (Ole Miss might be a favorite unless Kelly and Treadwell go pro).

Big 10? Michigan will be preseason top 10 bc Harbaugh but lose Rudock and likely Butt (top rated TE on draft board). MSU will lose Cook and Burbridge. OSU is obviously losing Zeke, Braxton, Cardale and Bosa but will still be ranked top 10 unless Urban has a health issue. Iowa might be the cream of the Big 10 crop.

 

[Lone Clone]

Next year's schedule is only slightly more difficult than this year.

A top 5 ranking is completely reasonable.

That's what I was going to ask. When do you guys start playing the biggies again? Does the conference lay out the schedule in a pattern?

 

[td77]

That's what I was going to ask. When do you guys start playing the biggies again? Does the conference lay out the schedule in a pattern?

There appears to be no pattern what so ever. We add Penn St and Michigan next year. 2017 slates MSU, OSU, and Penn St. Scheduling anomaly, we play Penn St. 4 straight years.

 

[hawkiniowacity]

Bama is losing Henry and Coker. I assume they reload and will be top 5. But beyond that: Auburn was terrible and has no QB. Miss St loses Dak Prescott. LSU is likely losing Fournette and their coach (assuming Fournette goes pro). Ark loses Allen. SEC might be underrepped in the top 10 (Ole Miss might be a favorite unless Kelly and Treadwell go pro).

Big 10? Michigan will be preseason top 10 bc Harbaugh but lose Rudock and likely Butt (top rated TE on draft board). MSU will lose Cook and Burbridge. OSU is obviously losing Zeke, Braxton, Cardale and Bosa but will still be ranked top 10 unless Urban has a health issue. Iowa might be the cream of the Big 10 crop.

Fournette is only a soph and didn't redshirt, so he isn't going anywhere. Not to mention 3 lackluster games in a row isn't going to get him to a point where sitting out next year is an option

 

[JerryDennard]

Fournette is only a soph and didn't redshirt, so he isn't going anywhere. Not to mention 3 lackluster games in a row isn't going to get him to a point where sitting out next year is an option

I think Fournette declares - why would he put more mileage on his tires? Esp with a new coach / new scheme?

 

[yerpHAWK]

I think Fournette declares - why would he put more mileage on his tires? Esp with a new coach / new scheme?

You have to be in college for at least 3 years (Rs soph, or true Jr) before you can declare. He is a true sophmore.