Mapping Iowa’s Path to the College Football Playoff
It’s time to start talking to your children about playoff Iowa.
SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 09: Iowa Hawkeyes players celebrate their 41-24 win with fans during the college football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Washington Huskies on October 9, 2026 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images I know we can all be a little superstitious at times. Like the world’s greatest boss, Michael Scott, I myself am not superstitious, but I am a little stitiuos. So, let’s just go ahead and say it out loud: at the midway point of this season, the Iowa Hawkeyes are in the playoff race.The new AP poll has Iowa at #17, up three spots this week while the Coaches Poll has Iowa up two spots to #16 after Friday night’s 41-24 dismantling of Washington. Those polls are all well and good, but the only one that truly matters won’t come out for two more weeks and there is sure to be some movement between now and then.As of Monday morning, the Hawkeyes are +390 to make the College Football Playoff over on FanDuel Sportsbook. Those are the 19th best odds in the nation. Notably, that’s up from +800 in the preseason, when 28 teams carried shorter odds to make the field (seven of...