Iowa Hawkeyes

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 8 · 2026

The Week 8 job

Beat Minnesota and avoid turning a likely win into a season problem.

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow41%Win47%Loss23%

Iowa

Iowa 74%Minnesota 26%

Minnesota

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 1

Oregon

at

Root for

Illinois

Root for Illinois4.1-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Oregon losing helps your spot in the standings; Illinois visits your schedule in week 12: keep them ranked.

19% if Illinois wins15% with the other result4.1-point differenceIowa Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 2

Indiana

at

Root for

Michigan

Root for Michigan4.1-point title-game boost

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

19% if Michigan wins15% with the other result4.1-point differenceIowa Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 3

USC

at

Root for

Wisconsin

Root for Wisconsin2.5-point playoff boost

Wisconsin visits your schedule in week 9: keep them ranked.

43% if Wisconsin wins40% with the other result2.5-point differenceIowa playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 4

Rutgers

at

Root for

Northwestern

Root for Northwestern2.2-point playoff boost

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

41% if Northwestern wins39% with the other result2.2-point differenceIowa playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 24

TV TBA

Priority 5

Vanderbilt

at

Root for

Kentucky

Root for Kentucky1.3-point playoff boost

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

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

48 more games that don't move your needle

Middle Tennessee at Florida International · CBSSN

Missouri State at Delaware · ESPNU

South Alabama at Marshall · ESPN2

Liberty at Kennesaw State · CBSSN

New Mexico State at Sam Houston · ESPN2

East Carolina at Memphis · ESPN2

James Madison at App State · ESPNU

Duke at Virginia · ESPN

NC State at Stanford · ESPN

Army at Tulsa · ESPN2

Texas A&M at Alabama

LSU at Auburn

Oklahoma at Mississippi State

Tennessee at South Carolina

Ole Miss at Texas

Baylor at Kansas

BYU at UCF

Colorado at Oklahoma State

Houston at Utah

Iowa State at Arizona

Kansas State at Arizona State

Texas Tech at Cincinnati

West Virginia at TCU

California at SMU

Boston College at Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh at Miami

Syracuse at North Carolina

Virginia Tech at Clemson

Michigan State at UCLA

San Diego State at Colorado State · The CW Network

Utah State at Texas State · CBSSN

Boise State at Washington State · USA Network

Massachusetts at UConn · CBSSN

Rice at Florida Atlantic

North Texas at Navy · CBSSN

UTSA at Tulane

Air Force at Wyoming · The CW Network

Hawai'i at Northern Illinois · MW+

San José State at Nevada · MW+

Akron at Kent State

Bowling Green at Buffalo

Eastern Michigan at Ohio

Western Michigan at Toledo

Miami (OH) at Central Michigan

Georgia State at Arkansas State

Louisiana at Southern Miss

Old Dominion at Louisiana Tech

UL Monroe at Troy

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 8, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.