IOWA UP TO #3 IN NEW COACHES, AP POLL RANKINGS

The new coaches poll is out and your 11-0 Iowa Hawkeyes just keep movin' on up in the world.  This week they're up three spots, from #6 to #3.  The Hawkeyes, one of just two undefeated teams left in the nation (along with Clemson), received one first-place vote.  Three previously undefeated teams lost yesterday -- Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and Houston.  The last time Iowa received a first-place vote was... uh, we're researching that.  But it's been a while.  A LONG while.

EDIT: Per Friend of the Pants Matt Benson, it's been 27 years since Iowa received a first place vote -- and a full 30 years (since that magical 1985 season when Iowa actually was ranked #1 for a spell) since Iowa received in-season first place votes.  Thanks, Matt!

@RossWB @PlannedSickDays Looking at the AP poll, 1988 preseason poll. Last time during the season was in 1985.

— Matt Benson (@mbenson6) November 22, 2015

EDIT2: The new AP Poll is out, and the media folks have Iowa at #3 as well:

POLL ALERT: #Iowa to 3 in Top 25; #NotreDame 4; #Clemson, 'Bama 1-2; #OhioSt, #OklaSt St dip https://t.co/ijDX9iPEwt pic.twitter.com/nVbxT8Q3fN

— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) November 22, 2015

The #3 ranking is the highest Iowa has been ranked in the Coaches Poll since the final regular season rankings in 2002, when 11-1 Iowa was ranked 3rd in the nation, behind undefeated Miami and Ohio State teams.  That team had already won a Big Ten Championship by that point and their season of course ended with a disappointing defeat against USC in the Orange Bowl.  This team still has several more games to go -- a minimum of three, as a matter of fact.  All of this team's goals -- some bigger than we ever imagined way back in the summer -- are still on the table.  Let's just enjoy the ride.

Go Iowa Awesome.