If you are like me and have the pleasure of knowing any Hawk fans, you are surely hearing them crow about their team's Number 3 ranking,, and Nebraska's lack thereof. For all of you in this unfortunate situation with me, here is some information to help you set them straight, or at least give them something to ponder.
Iowa has played Indiana which has a record of 2-3, Iowa State 3-2, Kent State 2-3, Colorado State 1-3, Maryland 4-1 - Combined record of Iowa Opponents 12-12.
Nebraska has played Illinois 2- 4, Fordham 2-3, Buffalo 2-3, Oklahoma 5-0, Michigan State 5-0, Northwestern 2-3. For a combined record of 18-13.
Iowa has such an easy schedule- Penn State is the only ranked team left on their schedule, and will likely be the only team on the scheduled ranked at the end of the season, unless Iowa State, Nebraska or Wisconsin can go on a run and sneak in the rankings later in the season. Honestly, with that schedule if they don't finish at least 10-2 they should be embarrassed. I think they will likely lose to Penn State, win the West, lose in the Conf. Championship, and then finish for an Iowa Best Rose Bowl loss for a pedestrian 10-4, 11-3 season (losing to us on Black Friday). That they will crow about being "this close" to making the playoff. Looking at the BIG, there might not be a team from the BIG in the playoff this year...
Nebraska's schedule will feature 5- maybe 6 teams ranked at the end of the season, with the potential of multiple being in the top-10.
We'll see if Iowa is for real when they play Penn State this weekend.