Greg McElroy questions whether Iowa is deserving of Top 25 preseason ranking
The AP Preseason Top 25 Poll was released on Monday, which naturally comes with opinions from all over the country that teams are ranked too high and to low heading into the college football season.
When it comes to the rankings it’s not about how you start, but how you finish. But college football analyst Greg McElroy believes that one team in particular is starting too high in the Top 25 despite being the last team to make the cut.
“One team that I felt like is ranked a lot higher than they probably should be is Iowa, and it’s not because I don’t think Iowa is going to finish the season ranked. It’s not because I don’t think Iowa is going to be a good football team, they’re always good football team. But the reason why people have them in the Top 25 because of their schedule,” McElroy said on Always College Football.
The Hawkeyes have ended all but one of the last six seasons ranked in the Top 25 to end the college football season, entering the 2024 season as the No. 25 team in the country ahead of year 26 for head coach Kirk Ferentz. But McElroy believes that Iowa’s schedule is what landed them in this year’s preseason rankings, not their reputation or roster.
“And I don’t think we should look at say Liberty from last year. Liberty was undefeated, Liberty was what they were, they got to the New Year’s Six, they got blasted. Why did Liberty get ranked where they got ranked?” McElroy asked. “Because they had a really nice record. Iowa might have a really nice record, but will it reflect quality?”
McElroy believes Iowa’s schedule sets them up for success, with not many games comparing in difficulty to their road matchup against Ohio State. But did the Associated Press slot them in the Top 25 based on their competition or their individual team potential this upcoming season?
“We could be fast forwarding to the end of the year and Iowa could be 10-2. Doesn’t mean they’re going to be great though, because what will their best win be? That would be my challenge and based on what I’m hearing, we’ll go into camp buzz here in a little bit, doesn’t sound like the offense is making the progress that we had hoped for Iowa this offseason,” McElroy explained.
“So we’re kind of banking on a team that is going to win the Big Ten West when the Big Ten West doesn’t matter anymore, the Big Ten West doesn’t exist anymore,” he added. “And yes, their schedule is manageable, and but are they one of the 25 best teams in America? We’ll find out. I wouldn’t have them in, the AP does.”
A successful or unsuccessful season for Iowa validates McElroy’s case either way in theory, but with the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams, it will be fascinating to see if a strong season for the Hawkeyes turns some heads nationally and pushes them into the postseason.