Two ESPN writers tab Iowa for College Football Playoff

[BigOHawk]

One of them is Ed Cunningham, who has loved Iowa since calling the Cap One bowl in 2005. The other is Anthony Becht, who played for several teams in the league, good stuff!

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...powers-clemson-tigers-florida-state-seminoles

 

[Galenahawk]

Mark May too

 

[Galenahawk]

Mark May too

Sorry - had us winning Big 10. Must think no Big 10 representative in the Playoff.

 

[whatsup13579er]

Those guys are really smart, knowledgeable guys. Really did their homework.

 

[KujawaFan]

Ed loves the Hawks. Said the best O-Line in the country. And Mark May understands line play. Like to see that prediction. Now, having ND anywhere on that list makes me puke in my mouth. Until they join a conference they should not even be eligible. Look at their schedule. It really isn't that difficult each year and this year they have only 3 road games and spacing between the hard games. And in their ACC conference "affiliation" they happen to skip Clemson and FSU but the Hawks get ripped for missing OSU and MSU. Time for the committee to shove that shamrock where the sun don't shine. Total joke.

 

[whatsup13579er]

I saw a couple of CFPs with FSU and Clemson or FSU and ND. Sorry the ACC isn't going to get 2 teams into the CFP, and yes I consider ND in the ACC. I think it would take a really weird year for anyone to get 2 teams in and it will probably be the SEC because of the SEC hype machine (ESPN).

 

[Backinthe515]

Ed loves the Hawks. Said the best O-Line in the country. And Mark May understands line play. Like to see that prediction. Now, having ND anywhere on that list makes me puke in my mouth. Until they join a conference they should not even be eligible. Look at their schedule. It really isn't that difficult each year and this year they have only 3 road games and spacing between the hard games. And in their ACC conference "affiliation" they happen to skip Clemson and FSU but the Hawks get ripped for missing OSU and MSU. Time for the committee to shove that shamrock where the sun don't shine. Total joke.

They play Texas, sparty,stanford,miami, USC. That's not the hardest schedule in the world but it's not a "joke". Little early on the sauce this weekend?

 

[DodgerHawki]

They play Texas, sparty,stanford,miami, USC. That's not the hardest schedule in the world but it's not a "joke". Little early on the sauce this weekend?

Agreed their schedule is not a joke. It's not the hardest in the country, but good games sprinkled throughout. If Texas and Miami are back to being Texas and Miami it becomes much harder.

 

[KujawaFan]

Fine joke was too strong. But Texas and Miami are not difficult at this point. And Mich St and Stanford are at home. Put them in the Big 10 when they may have to actually play back-to-back road games in November. Like I said I was wrong on a "joke" but seriously? 3 road games? Service schools and NC St or Vriginia between tough games? No conference championship? Ideally (which means it never will happen) the final 4 this year is Clemson, FSU, ND and Stanford or Oklahoma. Leave the Big 10 and SEC and either the Pac 12 or Big 12 out. Force ND to get to a conference. Delaney will drop the hammer.

 

[LeroyHawk]

Unless I counted wrong, 8 of those think the B1G will be left out of the playoff. Unless the B1G winner has at least two losses, I just can't see that happening.

 

[KujawaFan]

I agree Leroy. The 2 conferences that I can't see ever being left out (absent multiple losses and a bunch of other teams running the table) are the Big 10 and SEC. The Big 12 and Pac 12 have already been left out and the ACC has had FSU and Clemson the past few years. The Big 10 and SEC are far and away the most powerful conferences. Just irritates the hell out of me that Notre Dame gets a seat at the table without having to join a conference.

 

[hansenhawk]

Hate to say it, but they are wrong. Iowa will never be in the playoff as long as it stays at 4 teams. Now move it to 8, and we got a shot!

Probably our best shot was last year, having only to beat a MSU team we match up fairly well with. Most years that is OSU, and now Michigan, and I don't see us running that entire table anytime soon.

Debbie Downer, I know.

 

[93hawkeye]

Ed loves the Hawks. Said the best O-Line in the country. And Mark May understands line play. Like to see that prediction. Now, having ND anywhere on that list makes me puke in my mouth. Until they join a conference they should not even be eligible. Look at their schedule. It really isn't that difficult each year and this year they have only 3 road games and spacing between the hard games. And in their ACC conference "affiliation" they happen to skip Clemson and FSU but the Hawks get ripped for missing OSU and MSU. Time for the committee to shove that shamrock where the sun don't shine. Total joke.

I don't understand the best O-line talk. This is the line that got manhandled by MSU and Stanford and lost 2 starters to graduation. I like our line's potential, but BEST is hyperbole

 

[KujawaFan]

You could be right. But Ed is closer to an expert than I am so I'll go with it. But I agree that the MSU and Stanford games did not inspire best O-Line beliefs. I assume Ed is basing it on the fact that all our guys have starting experience coupled with another year under the Captain and crew.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Last year was that once in a generation shot that a team like Iowa gets. Game breaks went their way. Favorable schedule. So close to a win in the B1G champ game. I don't think the stars will align that way again for a while.

Hoping for a great season. 10 wins is definitely possible. Win the west and get back to the champ game.
Making the playoffs? I don't think so.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

Agreed their schedule is not a joke. It's not the hardest in the country, but good games sprinkled throughout. If Texas and Miami are back to being Texas and Miami it becomes much harder.

trust me, UT is not back and lose big league to ND

 

[KujawaFan]

Simple question for supporters of ND's schedule. How many ranked teams did they beat last year? Was Temple their best win or Navy? This year they play 3 ranked teams in 12 games with 2 at home. I get our schedule isn't a world beater but why do people think ND always plays a tough schedule and then gets a seat at the table? Just horrible for college football. I don't like the Big 12 but they were left out 2 years ago for not having a conference championship and ND doesn't even belong to a conference.

 

[whatsup13579er]

You could be right. But Ed is closer to an expert than I am so I'll go with it. But I agree that the MSU and Stanford games did not inspire best O-Line beliefs. I assume Ed is basing it on the fact that all our guys have starting experience coupled with another year under the Captain and crew.

The OL was pretty banged up towards the end of the year. Remember we had a true Frosh C recruit playing RT in the Rose Bowl. With the zone run scheme that KF runs you need continuity on the OL.

Daniels will be much better at his natural C position. Boone will be much improved having been playing G all year and G fits him better. Welsh will be nasty. Ike will be very good at RT. Croston at LT was consistent and should be better with all those game snaps under his belt. I really like our G-C-G lineup again this year.

 

[Recruiting Violation]

...why do people think ND always plays a tough schedule...?

Because of the names of their highest profile opponents. They definitely play some good teams this year, but it's also worth noting that they play in just three road games. They also play 6 at home and 3 at neutral sites. That means they'll have just a few games in front of hostile crowds.

 

[ichawk24]

why do people think ND always plays a tough schedule

I think that people developed this belief because, in the recent past, ND opened the year with Michigan, MSU and Purdue in the first three weeks of the season when a lot of teams are playing MAC/SunBelt games. Then they close the season with USC or Stanford.

When ND is playing Army, Navy, NC State and Syracuse in the middle of the season, no one cares because they are focused on their own conferences.

The ND schedule is more or less similar to any P5 schedule.

 

[KujawaFan]

Great point 24. I agree except the big difference is the schedule spacing. ND makes their schedule for the year. They will play a tough game and then sprinkle in a couple service academy home games, then a tough game, then nobodies, then an end of the year game to make a statement. How often does ND have back-to-back road games without a bye? Just a joke.

 

[ANYCHawk]

Worth noting, Ed Cunningham has us winning a semi-final game. So yeah if that happens I'm going to lose my crap.

 

[Iafootballfan]

When, not if, they move it to 8 teams is when we get our shot.

 

[Packer54]

I agree Leroy. The 2 conferences that I can't see ever being left out (absent multiple losses and a bunch of other teams running the table) are the Big 10 and SEC. The Big 12 and Pac 12 have already been left out and the ACC has had FSU and Clemson the past few years. The Big 10 and SEC are far and away the most powerful conferences. Just irritates the hell out of me that Notre Dame gets a seat at the table without having to join a conference.

I get a real strong sense that ESPN wants to keep driving the bus on this deal. They are really pushing a crapload of conversation around "the best 4 teams" and kind of ignoring the power 5 Conf champions. Not really ignoring them but not making it too automatic. It just has a strong SEC smell to it, and in the case of this year ACC as well. There is a bunch of talk on the " eye test" crap.

 

[pacnorthhawkeye]

Hate to say it, but they are wrong. Iowa will never be in the playoff as long as it stays at 4 teams. Now move it to 8, and we got a shot!

Probably our best shot was last year, having only to beat a MSU team we match up fairly well with. Most years that is OSU, and now Michigan, and I don't see us running that entire table anytime soon.

Debbie Downer, I know.

Agreed...if there should happen to be 5 undefeateds (probably won't happen)come playoff time and we happen to be in the mix along with, oh let's say bama at 13-0, Clemson 13-0, okie 12-0 and Stanford 13-0 or ND at 12-0.....I think we end up on the short end of that stick and the argument will be the rose bowl no show last year....but it will be cause to expedite the 8 team playoff imo.

 

[pacnorthhawkeye]

I get a real strong sense that ESPN wants to keep driving the bus on this deal. They are really pushing a crapload of conversation around "the best 4 teams" and kind of ignoring the power 5 Conf champions. Not really ignoring them but not making it too automatic. It just has a strong SEC smell to it, and in the case of this year ACC as well. There is a bunch of talk on the " eye test" crap.

ESPN is a heartless whore. That is all.