Why aren't the Hawkeyes 3rd?

[jinto86]

Okay, I know I will probably get flamed for this... but who cares. The Hawks should be ranked 3rd in the nation right now! First off, I think most sane people anymore would agree that Boise State is way overranked and should be closer to 6th or 7th... that puts the Hawks in 5th. Cincinnati is a bit harder to knock off, but considering none of the teams they have faced are currently ranked (and I think only one was ranked going in)... I have to put the Hawks ahead with their 3 ranked victories.

So this leads me to Iowa versus Texas, and in many ways this comes down the same way that Iowa versus Cininnati does. Texas just has not had that hard of a schedule this year, not at all. Their OOC schedule was a joke (admittedly not entirely their fault that Arkansas wussed out, but even still thats just one BCS team as opposed to the two Iowa played, and not even a ranked one), while the Big 10 gets a lot of flack for looking bad the Big 12 doesn't exactly look great this year. They have had two hard games this year, in what should be considered the hardes game they have played so far this year, the opposing star (to put it lightly) QB missed most of the game and they won by 3 points. Texas Tech they beat a lot more soundly, but Texas Tech still has not looked that bright this year and will be falling outside of all rankings tomorrow after losing to A&M at home (and weren't ranked with the one system that counted last week).

On the other hand Iowa has 3 victories against ranked opposition. Arizona (should be going up this week after a nice victory), Penn State on the road (could get near the top 10 this week after a really impressive victory), and Wisconsin on the road (bye week but I can't see this two loss team dropping out of the top 25). Now say what you will about how they win games (and the UNI and Arkansas State games, the former would have beaten Tennesee and Washington most weeks (ask anyone who follows them at all and they could tell you that much), and the later never had the game in question up until there was like 10 seconds to go)... where was I... oh right... they keep winning. They now have either the 3rd or 9th hardest schedule in the country (depending on who you ask... different measurements or something like that) compared to Texas who is in the 30s and others that are even lower then that.

So where is the respect for these Hawkeyes! This is 2009, I don't care how any team did in 2008! Especcially if they don't have the kindof winning streak Iowa has!

[Condem]

1. Anybody who knows anything won't flame, jinto, cos' they know we win our Bowl games.

Good piece. The lack of respect is due to the lack of respect in the national media to the Big Ten. A lot of it is pure bullshit. But it won't change until a top tier team wins the Big One. For now, as a Hawk fan, I'm just enjoying the ride one game at a time. Next up, the Hoosiers. So climb aboard the bandwagon, everybody. I promise you we won't hurt the horse.

[caraher]

2. Don't obsess about rankings

If the Hawkeyes end the regular season undefeated I think you'll be satisfied with their ranking. Meanwhile enjoy the games and ignore the media beauty contest. It's *not* all about votes, it's about watching what unfolds on the field. Last night's thriller was a "W" but isn't exactly going to wow the voters, but who cares? Most mythical national champions have close calls. And if they lose a game or two all this is moot anyway.

[jinto86]

15. I won't be satisified if they are still behind Texas and Cincinnatti

Not when they have had this much harder of a schedule.

[Upton]

3. Over the the last 6 years

the Big Ten is 15-28 in bowl games, a woeful 1-6 last year.

The numbers speak for themselves.

Once the Big Ten proves itself to be an elite conference again, it's top teams will get more respect.

Edit: Suggesting that UNI and Arkansas State can beat Tennessee and UW is ridiculous and undermines your whole post.

[jinto86]

16. Have you watched UNI play recently?

I mean how many Super Bowl Champion QBs has Washington produced? The Panthers might not get top recruits, but they get someone drafted every year.

But who won that 1 bowl game last year, whos won several bowl games over the past few years. Beyond that the Hawks have beaten a 5-3 Big 12 team (the best team that Texas has beat is 5-3 I believe) and a 6-2 Pac-10... something tells me that should add to the credit their getting. Beyond that since when is the Big East, MWC, and some of the other conferences ranked ahead of them "elite conferences". I remember a couple years back when everyone was saying how rediculous it was that the Big East got an automatic BCS birth when their best team was barely top 20 if that.

[fishwax]

18. UNI is currently 3-2 in the *Missouri Valley Conference* They lost to South Dakota State yesterday

[JonLP24]

19. LOL I was willing to give jinto the benefit of the doubt

Partly because I couldn't find any Super Bowl winning QBs that played for Washington but I did find Warren Moon, while no Super Bowl wins, he is a Hall of Famer. They also had Chris Chandler wasn't bad but no Super Bowl wins either. I was assuming Northern Iowa was 7-1 with their only loss to Iowa but 3-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference? :rofl:

[trotsky]

4. Hell of a finish to last night's game.

Wow. Feel badly for MSU, to have played such fantastic D with I can't even remember how many goal line stands, and lose it with :00 on the clock. Ouch. Even though I'm a Gophers fan I'd love to see Iowa win out and play for the national championship. The Gophs sure won't be contending for anything anytime soon.

[Condem]

5. Looking forward to seeing your new place, trotsky.

I hate that dome. Outdoors is the ONLY way football should be played.

[trotsky]

6. It's nice.

I was able to attend a scrimmage there before the season. The one thing the dome always lacked, this new place has in abundance: that college gameday feel. Very fun place to watch a game, not a bad seat in the house.

[Condem]

7. Are you making the trip south to IC in four weeks?

[trotsky]

9. To watch what, a worse pounding than the Gophs took at the end of last year?

:)
Tough to do with two small kids. Never been down there before, would be fun to do someday.

[Condem]

10. Well, when you decide to do it you've got a place to tailgate.

Happyiowan (my wife) and I will show you the town. Been here 15 years now. Me- a Philly boy and happy's a Georgia peach. We love this place.

[JonLP24]

8. Wait for the BCS Rankings. They haven't been released yet for this week......n/t

[Condem]

11. Word is Iowa's 4th, Jon.

We'll see.

[JonLP24]

13. I think it's a really good ranking for this point in the season

There is still quite a football left to be played and if Iowa keeps winning they're in good shape. It's a sure thing that Florida or Alabama is going to lose and who knows with Texas but SOS will probably hurt the Longhorns in the long run.

I'm waiting for the ranking to come out so people can complain, spin, etc. I enjoy it since my Devils have no shot at a national championship this year. :)

[jinto86]

17. The only way Texas drops is if they lose

and with that cupcake schedule it seems unlikely.

[Bluzmann57]

12. Well as a Hawk fan, I'm not real sure they deserve to be ranked third

They don't win pretty, they just win. And there are still four games left, Northwestern always gives the Hawks trouble, there could be a HUGE letdown after that magnificent W last night, and Ohio State always finds a way to destroy the Hawks. Besides that, it's at the horseshoe. So let's just wait and see.
UNI is a pretty good club, but to suggest they can beat Washington and Tennessee is probably a crazy suggestion. Don't know all that much about Arkansas State so I won't comment on that. And let's face it, Florida, Alabama, Texas, and USC all have name recognition. Kind of like the Red Sox and Yankees in MLB. Iowa will earn some (grudging) respect if they go undefeated all the way through the schedule. It remains to be seen whether they will play for the B(ullshit)CS, but no matter what, this is a magical season and nobody can disparage what the Hawks have done so far, even the SEC loyalists. Btw, Iowa State beat Nebraska yesterday as well. That's good. I hate the 'Huskers.

[Iggo]

14. Playoffs!

[El Supremo]

20. They are number one on the BCS computers!

Is that important?

[jinto86]

21. Sure, it means that bias is helping Texas out

Not any legimate victories.