Iowa Hawkeyes

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 5 · 2026

The Week 5 job

Beat Ohio State and keep Iowa's season in its own hands.

TBD

SAT OCT 3

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow41%Win54%Loss31%

Ohio State

Ohio State 57%Iowa 43%

Iowa

By importanceWatch plan

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FOX

Priority 1

Penn State

at

Root for

Northwestern

Root for Northwestern3.0-point playoff boost

Northwestern visits your schedule in week 10: keep them ranked.

43% if Northwestern wins40% with the other result3-point differenceIowa playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 3

TV TBA

Priority 2

Michigan

at

Root for

Minnesota

Root for Minnesota2.1-point playoff boost

Minnesota visits your schedule in week 8: keep them ranked.

42% if Minnesota wins40% with the other result2.1-point differenceIowa playoff chance

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…

TV TBA

Priority 3

Indiana

at

Root for

Rutgers

Root for Rutgers3.1-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Indiana losing helps your spot in the standings.

19% if Rutgers wins16% with the other result3.1-point differenceIowa Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 3

TV TBA

Priority 4

Root for

Arkansas

at

Texas A&M

Root for Arkansas1.9-point playoff boost

Arkansas winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

42% if Arkansas wins40% with the other result1.9-point differenceIowa playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 3

TV TBA

Priority 5

Root for

Washington

at

USC

Root for Washington1.8-point playoff boost

Washington visits your schedule in week 6: keep them ranked.

42% if Washington wins40% with the other result1.8-point differenceIowa playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 3

TV TBA

Priority 6

Texas Tech

at

Root for

Colorado

Root for Colorado1.7-point playoff boost

Colorado winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

42% if Colorado wins41% with the other result1.7-point differenceIowa playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 3

TV TBA

Priority 7

Alabama

at

Root for

Mississippi State

Root for Mississippi State1.3-point playoff boost

Mississippi State winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

42% if Mississippi State wins40% with the other result1.3-point differenceIowa playoff chance

47 more games that don't move your needle

North Texas at Tulsa · ESPN

Western Kentucky at New Mexico State · CBSSN

Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech · ESPN

Liberty at Delaware · CBSSN

Vanderbilt at Georgia

Florida at Missouri

Kentucky at South Carolina

Auburn at Tennessee

Middle Tennessee at Kansas

Baylor at Arizona State

BYU at TCU

UCF at Houston

Cincinnati at Arizona

West Virginia at Iowa State

Boston College at SMU

California at UNLV · CBSSN

Louisville at NC State

Miami at Clemson

Notre Dame at North Carolina

Stanford at Wake Forest

Syracuse at UConn · CBSSN

Virginia at Florida State

Purdue at Illinois

Maryland at Nebraska

Michigan State at Wisconsin

Utah State at Boise State · CBSSN

Oregon State at Colorado State · USA Network

Texas State at San Diego State · The CW Network

Fresno State at Washington State · USA Network

Memphis at Charlotte

UTSA at Rice

Navy at Air Force · CBS

Temple at South Florida

San José State at Hawai'i · MW+

UTEP at New Mexico · MW+

Akron at Central Michigan

Toledo at Ball State

Western Michigan at Buffalo

Eastern Michigan at Massachusetts

Ohio at Kent State

Bowling Green at Miami (OH)

Army at Louisiana Tech

Arkansas State at Louisiana

Georgia Southern at Coastal Carolina

Old Dominion at Georgia State

Marshall at James Madison

UL Monroe at South Alabama

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 5, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.