Would you rather…

[swagsurfer02]

I’ve said it before, I don’t think the new conference alignment is good for teams like Iowa. We got rid of divisions and the Big Ten West was pretty mediocre. Plus we added an elite to very good team in Oregon, and a couple decent teams in Washington and USC……and a bad team UCLA (which some how beat us this year).

ISU looks to be heading to their conference championship game and it seems we beat them more often than not.

Not sure Iowa has much of a shot of winning the conference or even finishing 2nd in the Big Ten.

Hypothetically speaking…. Would it be better to be in a “lesser” conference and be in the championship hunt annually with a crack at the playoff more often?

 

[swihawk]

Moot point. We aren't going anywhere.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

It's something I've thought of. I was thinking it was easier to win in the Big Ten because we get 3-4 spots. I'm certainly not advocating that we would be in the Big 12 Championship every year but I'm positive we would win it a few times.

 

[eyesofhawk]

Being in the Big12 championship hunt wouldn't be significant. Fans would devalue the wins based on their opinions of the schedule

 

[BurgHawk87]

2 losses will get you in the playoffs in the big ten without having to worry about a conference championship. 2 losses in the big 12 and you have to win the championship game (if you even get there). Let's not stoop to Nebraska levels of hypotheticals.

 

[swagsurfer02]

2 losses will get you in the playoffs in the big ten without having to worry about a conference championship. 2 losses in the big 12 and you have to win the championship game (if you even get there). Let's not stoop to Nebraska levels of hypotheticals.

Solid point, but I’m not sure our schedule gets much easier than this years and we had 4 losses. I don’t really know if we have many more 10-2 seasons with his the new conference looks.

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

Play in that dog sh*t conference?

 

[swagsurfer02]

Play in that dog sh*t conference?

They have a legit shot at the playoff while…. We may be headed to Memphis for a bowl game against a 6-6 team so…..

 

[QChawks]

I think we’d dominate the FCS

 

[onlyTheObvious]

USC Michigan Ohio St Oregon and Penn State will always pump the NIL in.

The rest of the league will be hoping for lightning in a bottle along with an easy schedule. Indiana this year.

 

[OutbackBowl2017]

They have a legit shot at the playoff while…. We may be headed to Memphis for a bowl game against a 6-6 team so…..

How do they have a legit shot? They aren’t even in their conference championship game yet. Houston beats BYU and it’s a no go.

And an 8-4 Iowa isn’t going to ISU’s every other year bowl game in Memphis. More likely Tampa.

 

[eyesofhawk]

They have a legit shot at the playoff while…. We may be headed to Memphis for a bowl game against a 6-6 team so…..

So it's all about making the playoff now?

That's fine. But I don't ever want to hear last season's 10 wins devalued because that would have gotten Iowa into the playoff this season

 

[OutbackBowl2017]

So it's all about making the playoff now?

That's fine. But I don't ever want to hear last season's 10 wins devalued because that would have gotten Iowa into the playoff this season

Not with Iowa’s terrible offense. It’s still a beauty pageant too.

 

[BigAssTurkeyLeg]

USC Michigan Ohio St Oregon and Penn State will always pump the NIL in.

The rest of the league will be hoping for lightning in a bottle along with an easy schedule. Indiana this year.

Is our NIL actually that bad? We have money and a big fan base… can’t imagine we’re really that different than Nebraska, Wisconsin, Washington etc.

 

[swagsurfer02]

So it's all about making the playoff now?

That's fine. But I don't ever want to hear last season's 10 wins devalued because that would have gotten Iowa into the playoff this season

Yes…..it’s all about getting into the playoff now. I’m not completely sold that just 10 wins automatically gets you into the playoff either.

 

[swagsurfer02]

How do they have a legit shot? They aren’t even in their conference championship game yet. Houston beats BYU and it’s a no go.

And an 8-4 Iowa isn’t going to ISU’s every other year bowl game in Memphis. More likely Tampa.

ISU doesn’t have a legit shot at the playoff? What are you basing this off of? You think the Big 12 will only get 1 team in each year?

 

[TampaHawkfan]

So it's all about making the playoff now?

That's fine. But I don't ever want to hear last season's 10 wins devalued because that would have gotten Iowa into the playoff this season

I don't think a 10-3 Iowa team that didn't score a point against a ranked opponent all year would've been given an at large invite.

 

[RPWinni0]

I’ve said it before, I don’t think the new conference alignment is good for teams like Iowa. We got rid of divisions and the Big Ten West was pretty mediocre. Plus we added an elite to very good team in Oregon, and a couple decent teams in Washington and USC……and a bad team UCLA (which some how beat us this year).

ISU looks to be heading to their conference championship game and it seems we beat them more often than not.

Not sure Iowa has much of a shot of winning the conference or even finishing 2nd in the Big Ten.

Hypothetically speaking…. Would it be better to be in a “lesser” conference and be in the championship hunt annually with a crack at the playoff more often?

The financial losses for Iowa joining the Big 12 would be significant.

 

[swagsurfer02]

The financial losses for Iowa joining the Big 12 would be significant.

I get what you’re saying but I’m not sure fans will be happy with getting their teeth kicked in just so they can parrot “at least we are in the Big Ten”

 

[BurgHawk87]

So it's all about making the playoff now?

That's fine. But I don't ever want to hear last season's 10 wins devalued because that would have gotten Iowa into the playoff this season

You can pick and choose which years record counts for this season? They wouldn't have made the expanded playoff last year, and 10-2 this season is still iffy with Oregon, PSU, Indiana, and OSU all likely ranked ahead of the hypothetical Iowa. That's an easy argument for another G5 school over a 5th from one conference. Hell looking at the current rankings and 10-2 Iowa from last season would likely be 12th at absolute best. But the big 12 rep is ranked lower currently so that bumps 2023 Iowa out.

 

[eyesofhawk]

Not with Iowa’s terrible offense. It’s still a beauty pageant too.

Yes…..it’s all about getting into the playoff now. I’m not completely sold that just 10 wins automatically gets you into the playoff either.

Guys, there isn't a 3 loss team in the current top 12. You really think they'd leave out a 10-2 big10 team?

Just stop

 

[eyesofhawk]

You can pick and choose which years record counts for this season? They wouldn't have made the expanded playoff last year, and 10-2 this season is still iffy with Oregon, PSU, Indiana, and OSU all likely ranked ahead of the hypothetical Iowa. That's an easy argument for another G5 school over a 5th from one conference. Hell looking at the current rankings and 10-2 Iowa from last season would likely be 12th at absolute best. But the big 12 rep is ranked lower currently so that bumps 2023 Iowa out.

Thought you had me on ignore

 

[BurgHawk87]

Solid point, but I’m not sure our schedule gets much easier than this years and we had 4 losses. I don’t really know if we have many more 10-2 seasons with his the new conference looks.

Meh we struggled to get 10-2 with the weak schedules as well. I'm resigned to the 8-4 life with the occasional lightning in a busch light bottle 10-2 only to see Purdue come barreling through with an Indiana season and steal our place at South Bend in December.

 

[the24fan]

The financial losses for Iowa joining the Big 12 would be significant.

This is the only correct answer

 

[swagsurfer02]

Guys, there isn't a 3 loss team in the current top 12. You really think they'd leave out a 10-2 big10 team?

Just stop

I think with this years schedule, it’s possible that if we lost a couple conference games it’s completely possible we get left out. Undefeated Oregon, two loss Ohio St, and a two loss Penn St, plus Indiana with one loss.

 

[BurgHawk87]

Thought you had me on ignore

Still do, there's a fun thing called "show ignored content" at the bottom and I occasionally click it to see what I'm "missing."

 

[eyesofhawk]

Still do, there's a fun thing called "show ignored content" at the bottom and I occasionally click it to see what I'm "missing."

Makes sense

 

[MWardT]

I get what you’re saying but I’m not sure fans will be happy with getting their teeth kicked in just so they can parrot “at least we are in the Big Ten”

Teeth kicked in? You act like Iowa is winning 2-3 BIG games a year. Iowa is actually top 15 in wins over the last 10 years in college football.

We shall see, but I think it will do more harm than good (making the playoffs) long term to ISUs brand if they get their “teeth kicked in” in the playoffs.

 

[RPWinni0]

This is the only correct answer

Money is why Nebraska joined the Big 10 and why OK and TX joined a power conference. TX and OK would still have won the Big 12 but they followed the money. OR, WA, UCLA, and USC joined the Big 10 in lieu of the Big 12 where they would for sure have won that conference. College football is big business.

 

[JasonTAlexanderJR]

ISU doesn’t have a legit shot at the playoff? What are you basing this off of? You think the Big 12 will only get 1 team in each year?

Every year the polls will inflate 5-6 SEC and 3-4 Big 10 teams at the beginning of the season essentially ensuring just a few ACC and Big 12 teams struggling to climb the rankings.

 

[swagsurfer02]

Teeth kicked in? You act like Iowa is winning 2-3 BIG games a year. Iowa is actually top 15 in wins over the last 10 years in college football.

We shall see, but I think it will do more harm than good (making the playoffs) long term to ISUs brand if they get their “teeth kicked in” in the playoffs.

Have you not been around lately where Michigan and Ohio St have been scoring 30 or 40 points and Iowa scoring maybe 7…….total

Iowa is the beneficiary of playing a couple tomato cans every year and Iowa state, then the Big Ten West which isn’t exactly murderers row. Get back to me in a decade now that divisions are gone. They won’t finish in the top two any of those years but may have a shot at being the 3rd or 4th team in the conference.

 

[Iafootballfan]

Calling the Big 10 West “mediocre” is… optimistic.

 

[swagsurfer02]

Every year the polls will inflate 5-6 SEC and 3-4 Big 10 teams at the beginning of the season essentially ensuring just a few ACC and Big 12 teams struggling to climb the rankings.

Sure, but this year the SEC may only get 3 teams in and the Big Ten may get 3 or possibly 4. Had Clemson won today it’s totally possible the ACC could get two teams in and I’m curious to see if the Big 12 only gets the one in.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Georgia/Bama and Ohio St get in and have to play a team in the first round on the road and will absolutely dog walk them. Would be crazy seeing Georgia come to Ames on Dec 20th.

 

[Iafootballfan]

TX and OK would still have won the Big 12 but they followed the money.

Texas won the Big 12 one time in the past 14 years. Once.

 

[swagsurfer02]

Texas won the Big 12 one time in the past 14 years. Once.

Texas has a great shot at winning the natty this year. I think they will be fine in the SEC. Sark is a good coach, and was u see Saban for a bit. He will do fine.

 

[Iafootballfan]

Texas has a great shot at winning the natty this year. I think they will be fine in the SEC. Sark is a good coach, and was u see Saban for a bit. He will do fine.

Absolutely but people on this board act like Texas ran through the Big 12, that’s far from the truth.

 

[swagsurfer02]

Absolutely but people on this board act like Texas ran through the Big 12, that’s far from the truth.

Oklahoma ran that conference and Texas seemed to battle best with them. I would say Iowa St has been the one team since Campbell had been there that has given them both a difficult time.

 

[MWardT]

Have you not been around lately where Michigan and Ohio St have been scoring 30 or 40 points and Iowa scoring maybe 7…….total

Iowa is the beneficiary of playing a couple tomato cans every year and Iowa state, then the Big Ten West which isn’t exactly murderers row. Get back to me in a decade now that divisions are gone. They won’t finish in the top two any of those years but may have a shot at being the 3rd or 4th team in the conference.

Four teams from the BIG will make the playoffs this year and Iowa finished tied for fifth place in the BIG with Illinois.

So to answer your question, I’d rather play in a conference that puts four teams in the playoffs versus a conference that puts one in the playoffs. Iowa has a legit chance to crack the top four in the BIG. And they get to play meaningful games along the way.

 

[HawkBall23]

I’ve said it before, I don’t think the new conference alignment is good for teams like Iowa. We got rid of divisions and the Big Ten West was pretty mediocre. Plus we added an elite to very good team in Oregon, and a couple decent teams in Washington and USC……and a bad team UCLA (which some how beat us this year).

ISU looks to be heading to their conference championship game and it seems we beat them more often than not.

Not sure Iowa has much of a shot of winning the conference or even finishing 2nd in the Big Ten.

Hypothetically speaking…. Would it be better to be in a “lesser” conference and be in the championship hunt annually with a crack at the playoff more often?

Leave and give up all that shared revenue??

Not. A. Chance.


Also, with the way things are changing, teams like Iowa will be very dependent on that new influx of money to compete in terms of spending on recruits & the transfer portal.

 

[swagsurfer02]

Four teams from the BIG will make the playoffs this year and Iowa finished tied for fifth place in the BIG with Illinois.

So to answer your question, I’d rather play in a conference that puts four teams in the playoffs versus a conference that puts one in the playoffs. Iowa has a legit chance to crack the top four in the BIG. And they get to play meaningful games along the way.

We tied for 5th …..WITH THIS SCHEDULE. That’s an issue. If next years schedule is any indication of what we have to look forward to, I don’t see us finishing better than 5th most years.