Iowa Opens at No. 19 in College Football Playoff Rankings
The 6-2 Iowa Hawkeyes were ranked No. 19 in the College Football Playoff’s first rankings, published on November 3, 2026.
Iowa entered the College Football Playoff committee’s first top 25 at No. 19, giving the 6-2 Hawkeyes an early place in the race for the 12-team postseason field. The ranking is higher than Iowa’s positions in the AP poll, at No. 21, and the Coaches Poll, at No. 20.
The Hawkeyes have four regular-season games remaining: road games against Northwestern and Nebraska, and matchups with Purdue and Illinois. A win over Northwestern could provide a boost, particularly with other ranked teams playing this weekend.
Iowa’s route to contention depends on winning out. Reaching 10-2 could put the Hawkeyes in position to make the playoff, though the remaining schedule presents challenges. The committee’s opening ranking gives Iowa a starting point; further movement will depend on the team’s results in the coming weeks.