Priority 1
Utah State
Root for
Washington
Root for Washington2.2-point playoff boost
Washington visits your schedule in week 6: keep them ranked.
41% if Washington wins39% with the other result2.2-point differenceIowa playoff chance
Iowa Hawkeyes
0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN
Preseason
WEEK 2 · 2026
The Week 2 job
Beat Iowa State and avoid turning a likely win into a season problem.
Your game
Iowa State at Iowaplayoff chanceNow41%Win43%Loss27%
Iowa State
Iowa State 14%Iowa 86%
Iowa
Other impactful games
the highlighted team is the result Iowa wantsPriority 2
Root for
Ohio State
Texas
Root for Ohio State2.1-point playoff boost
Ohio State visits your schedule in week 5: keep them ranked.
42% if Ohio State wins40% with the other result2.1-point differenceIowa playoff chance
Priority 3
Oklahoma
Root for
Michigan
Root for Michigan1.7-point playoff boost
Michigan visits your schedule in week 4: keep them ranked.
42% if Michigan wins40% with the other result1.7-point differenceIowa playoff chance
Priority 4
Mississippi State
Root for
Minnesota
Root for Minnesota1.6-point playoff boost
Minnesota visits your schedule in week 8: keep them ranked.
41% if Minnesota wins40% with the other result1.6-point differenceIowa playoff chance
Priority 5
Alabama
Root for
Kentucky
Root for Kentucky1.5-point playoff boost
Kentucky winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.
42% if Kentucky wins40% with the other result1.5-point differenceIowa playoff chance
41 more games that don't move your needle
San Diego State at UCLA · BTN
Rutgers at Boston College · ESPN2
Arkansas at Utah · ESPN
Southern Miss at Auburn
Western Kentucky at Georgia · SEC Network
Charlotte at Ole Miss
Missouri at Kansas · FOX
Tennessee at Georgia Tech · ESPN
Arizona State at Texas A&M · ABC
Delaware at Vanderbilt · SEC Network
Washington State at Kansas State · TNT
Oregon at Oklahoma State · ESPN
Texas Tech at Oregon State · CBS
UCF at Pittsburgh · ESPN2
Arizona at BYU · FOX
California at Syracuse · ACC Network
Duke at Illinois · FS1
Georgia Southern at Clemson · ACC Network
Old Dominion at Virginia Tech · The CW Network
Wake Forest at Purdue · FS1
Eastern Michigan at Michigan State · BTN
Bowling Green at Nebraska · FS1
Penn State at Temple · ESPN2
Maryland at UConn · CBSSN
Louisiana at USC · BTN
Memphis at Boise State · USA Network
UTSA at Texas State · The CW Network
South Florida at Army · CBSSN
Navy at Florida Atlantic
UNLV at North Texas · ESPNU
Tulsa at Sam Houston · ESPN+
UL Monroe at UAB · ESPN+
App State at East Carolina · ESPNU
South Alabama at Tulane · ESPN+
New Mexico State at Hawai'i · MW+
Buffalo at Florida International · ESPN+
Jacksonville State at Ohio · ESPN+
Louisiana Tech at LSU · SECN+
Georgia State at Kennesaw State · ESPN+
Middle Tennessee at Marshall · ESPN+
Rice at Notre Dame · NBC
Your rooting list:Iowa, then Washington, Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota, Kentucky.
Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 2, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.