Iowa Football: Hawkeyes Move Up In Coaches Poll, Steady in AP

The Iowa Hawkeyes faced another challenge in week three as they played host to the high-powered offense of the Kent State Golden Flashes. Again, the Hawkeye defense shined bright, holding KSU to just 7 total points, and finding the scoreboard once again with their first safety of the season.

The Iowa offense has yet to match the prowess of the defense, but continues to do enough to close out comfortable wins. That was again the case on Saturday as the Iowa offense scored 28 of Iowa’s 30 points, but did so without much threat of an explosive play from the passing game. While Spencer Petras completed a very nice 69% of his passes, he averaged just 5.8 yards per attempt.

But at the end of the day, it was another 3-score win for the Hawkeyes and despite finally facing a foe outside the top-25, Kent State is expected to push for a MAC title. The result was Iowa holding steady in the latest AP poll released on Sunday.

By sticking at #5, the Hawkeyes match their stretch of two straight weeks inside the top-5 nationally at the end of 2015 before falling to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game. With another week in the top-5, Iowa would have it’s longest streak since 2002 when the Hawkeyes spent four weeks there at the end of the year before falling to USC in the Orange Bowl.

Here’s a look at the full AP poll for this week.

1) Alabama, 3-0 (59 first place votes)
2) Georgia, 3-0 (3)
3) Oregon, 3-0
4) Oklahoma, 3-0
5) Iowa, 3-0
6) Penn State, 3-0
7) Texas A&M, 3-0
8) Cincinnati, 3-0
9) Clemson, 2-1
10) Ohio State, 2-1
11) Florida, 2-1
12) Notre Dame, 3-0
13) Ole Miss, 3-0
14) Iowa State, 2-1
15) BYU, 3-0
16) Arkansas, 3-0
17) Coastal Carolina, 3-0
18) Wisconsin, 1-1
19) Michigan, 3-0
20) Michigan State, 3-0
21) North Carolina, 2-1
22) Fresno State, 3-1
23) Auburn, 2-1
24) UCLA, 2-1
25) Kansas State, 3-0

Others Receiving Votes (Big Ten-only): ~30) Maryland

Dropped Out: #15 Virginia Tech, #19 Arizona State, #24 Miami

Over in the Coaches Poll, the Hawkeyes have slowly started to garner similar respect to the AP Poll. Iowa climbed another spot this week, jumping over Clemson and into 6th.

1) Alabama, 3-0 (59 first place votes)
2) Georgia, 3-0 (3)
3) Oklahoma, 3-0
4) Oregon, 3-0
5) Texas A&M, 3-0
6) Iowa, 3-0
7) Clemson, 2-1
8) Penn State, 3-0
9) Cincinnati, 3-0
10) Notre Dame, 3-0
11) Florida, 2-1
12) Ohio State, 2-1
13) Ole Miss, 3-0
14) Iowa State, 2-1
15) Wisconsin, 1-1
16) BYU, 3-0
17) Coastal Carolina, 3-0
18) Arkansas, 3-0
19) Michigan, 3-0
20) North Carolina, 2-1
21) Michigan State, 3-0
22) Oklahoma State, 3-0
23) Auburn, 2-1
24) UCLA, 3-0
25) Fresno State, 3-1

Others Receiving Votes (Big Ten-only): ~36) Maryland; ~51) Rutgers

Dropped Out: #15 Virginia Tech, #21 Arizona State

Noted Notables

• After jumping into the AP top-5 at the earliest point in a season since 1985, the Hawkeyes are set to play their second home game this week as a top-5 team this season. That marks just the third home game as a top-5 team for the Hawkeyes since 1985.
• The SEC continues to lead all conferences with 7 teams ranked in total. That includes the top two teams in Alabama and Georgia after the Crimson Tide escaped The Swamp with a narrow victory and the Bulldogs pummeled South Carolina. The SEC has three teams in the top-10 with Texas A&M still sitting at #7.
• The Big Ten remains second among conferences but jumps to six total teams ranked after Michigan State comes in at #20 thanks to a beatdown of former #24 Miami in south Florida. The Big Ten is tied with the SEC at three teams in the top-10. Penn State jumps four spots to #6 after a home win over former #22 Auburn. Ohio State falls one spot to #10 after struggling at home with Tulsa. Wisconsin holds at #18 after a bye week while Michigan moves up six spots to #19 after disposing of NIU.
• BYU was the biggest mover this week, jumping eight spots to #15 after they picked up a second straight top-25 win. They defeated then #19 Arizona State 27-17.

The Hawkeyes are back in Kinnick Stadium this Saturday for a 2:#0pm kick against Colorado State. The Rams are fresh off a 22-6 road win over Toledo, which gave Notre Dame quite the scare in week two.

This weekend’s game will be Iowa’s fourth consecutive afternoon kick. Looking forward, the Hawkeyes travel to Maryland in week five for a Friday evening game before returning to the friendly confines of Kinnick for a showdown with #6 Penn State in week six.

While Hawkeye fans are no doubt eyeing the potential for ESPN’s College Game Day making their first trip to Iowa City since 2006, there will be competition. While week six features current #5 Iowa vs. #6 Penn State, it also has #1 Alabame at #7 Texas A&M, the Red River Rivalry and a few other potential candidates. Iowa has hosted just twice all-time with both prior instances being losses to Ohio State.

Game Day is slated to be in Chicago this weekend as #12 Notre Dame takes on #18 Wisconsin.