Overrated: #11 Iowa Hawkeyes

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

NOTE: This is part one of a series on teams I believe to be overrated in College Football. Keep your eyes peeled for the next part! Now down to business ...

First off in the series of teams I believe to be overrated in College Football are the Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0, 6-0), currently ranked #11 in the Associated Press Top 25. So why do I think Iowa is overrated?

1. Weak Strength of Schedule

Okay I know what your thinking, how does a schedule that includes a win against then #5 Penn State qualify as weak? Granted, Iowa's win over Penn State is a marquee win. However look at the strength of schedules of their opponents:

• Northern Iowa (MVC, 5-1)
• Iowa State (Big 12, 3-3)
• Arizona (PAC-10, 3-2)
• Arkansas State (Sun Belt, 4-1)

Northern Iowa and Arkansas State are a combined 9-1, but in the Missouri Valley and Sun Belt Conferences respectively. Iowa State is 0-2 in the Big 12 with games against #15 Nebraska and #16 Oklahoma State left to play.

The Hawkeyes still have Wisconsin (5-1), Michigan State (3-3), Ohio State (5-1), and Minnesota (4-2) left to play in the Big 10. All four teams are in the top half of the Big 10, but only Ohio State is ranked in the AP Top 25. Put plainly, the Big 10 is one of the weaker conferences in the nation and Iowa's non-conference schedule isn't helping.

2. Lack of Quality Wins

Okay Iowa fans, before you lose your lids notice the 's' on the end of "wins". The win over Penn State was certainly a quality win, but other than the win over the Nittany Lions there doesn't seem to be another quaility win.

• Iowa 17 Northern Iowa 16
  (2 Blocked Field Goal Attempts as time ran out)
• Iowa 24 Arkansas State 21
  (Arkansas State totalled 296 yards of offense)
• Iowa 30 Michigan 28
  (Michigan committed 5 turnovers in the game)

So what does that leave as potential quality wins? Iowa defeated Iowa State 35-3, but that was the expected result over a lower tier Big 12 club. The only game left is the Hawkeyes win over Arizona 27-17. However if the AP Top 25 holds, Arizona would only face two ranked opponents.

All that being said I do believe Iowa should be ranked in the AP Top 25, but not as high as #11. By classical logic here is the counter example:

1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Virginia Tech
5. USC
6. Ohio State
7. Boise State
8. Cincinnati
9. Miami (FL)
10. LSU
11. Oregon

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