Iowa and Iowa State Both In First Playoff Rankings

It's amazing that we've had football season go off with so few hitches amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Many teams have had to cancel or reschedule games or realign their rosters at times as players and coaches have contracted the virus. For example, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Wisconsin has had to cancel so many games because of COVID issues on their sidelines or that of an opponent this season, including this weekend against Minnesota, there's a good chance the Badgers won't be able to catch up in time to be eligible for the Big Ten conference title game.

Some teams have allowed limited fans in the stands, others haven't allowed any at all. That means that at Kinnick Stadium this year, one of the loveliest traditions of game day, the "wave" to the Stead Family Children's Hospital has revamped and gone virtual. But we're still doing it, and while sports aren't the most important thing, it's just nice to have had some semblance of normalcy in your life this fall if you're a sports fan.

At the end of the season, the Top 4 teams compete in the College Football Playoff to determine the National Championship. Now is the time that the regular season system of ranking teams turns into the "College Football Playoff" rankings, and although Iowa and Iowa State are nowhere close to that Top 4 in the playoff system's first poll, Iowa's News Now reports they are both having successful enough seasons to be placed in the latest Top 25.

Iowa State is 6-2 with Big 12 conference title hopes very much alive as they take on Texas. They are #13 in the new poll, while Iowa, at 3-2 is starting to rebound from a lackluster beginning of the season to slide in at #24. The Heroes game between Iowa and Nebraska is played this Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

Both teams will likely make bowl games if they stay on pace and if the season continues to go as smoothly as it has. Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State would be competing in the College Football Playoff if it began today, as they are ranked at the top.