Iowa Hawkeyes

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Way too early

WEEK 8 · 2026

17%

Big Ten title game

Win the Big Ten

46%

Make the playoff

<1%

First-round bye

avg seed 9.3

Way-too-early read: ratings carry last season forward — the portal will have opinions. The week-8 job: beat Minnesota.

Playoff odds by week

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

If Iowa wins out: 35% to win the Big Ten, >99% to make the playoff.

The Saturday rundown

ranked by what moves Iowa's path

Your game

TBD

SAT OCT 24

Iowa at Minnesota

Your game. Beat Minnesota and your playoff odds are 51%; lose and they drop to 19%.

Iowa 82%

Worth a glancesmaller, but real

TBD

SAT OCT 24

Oregon at Illinois

Big Ten race: Oregon losing helps your spot in the standings; Illinois visits your schedule in week 12 — keep them ranked.

Oregon 88%

TBD

SAT OCT 24

Indiana at Michigan

Big Ten race: Indiana losing helps your spot in the standings.

Indiana 80%

TBD

SAT OCT 24

Texas Tech at Cincinnati

Texas Tech winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

Texas Tech 91%

TBD

SAT OCT 24

Houston at Utah

Houston winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

Utah 92%

TBD

SAT OCT 24

USC at Wisconsin

Wisconsin visits your schedule in week 9 — keep them ranked.

USC 80%

TBD

SAT OCT 24

Vanderbilt at Kentucky

Kentucky winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

Vanderbilt 82%

TBD

SAT OCT 24

Texas A&M at Alabama

Texas A&M winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

Alabama 63%

TBD

SAT OCT 24

Rutgers at Northwestern

You still play Northwestern in week 10.

Northwestern 65%

45 more games that don't move your needle

Middle Tennessee at Florida International

Missouri State at Delaware

South Alabama at Marshall

Liberty at Kennesaw State

New Mexico State at Sam Houston

East Carolina at Memphis

James Madison at App State

Duke at Virginia

NC State at Stanford

Army at Tulsa

LSU at Auburn

Oklahoma at Mississippi State

Tennessee at South Carolina

Ole Miss at Texas

Baylor at Kansas

BYU at UCF

Colorado at Oklahoma State

Iowa State at Arizona

Kansas State at Arizona State

West Virginia at TCU

California at SMU

Boston College at Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh at Miami

Syracuse at North Carolina

Virginia Tech at Clemson

Michigan State at UCLA

San Diego State at Colorado State

Utah State at Texas State

Boise State at Washington State

Massachusetts at UConn

Rice at Florida Atlantic

North Texas at Navy

UTSA at Tulane

Air Force at Wyoming

Hawai'i at Northern Illinois

San José State at Nevada

Akron at Kent State

Bowling Green at Buffalo

Eastern Michigan at Ohio

Western Michigan at Toledo

Miami (OH) at Central Michigan

Georgia State at Arkansas State

Louisiana at Southern Miss

Old Dominion at Louisiana Tech

UL Monroe at Troy

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 8, with last season's ratings carried forward — way too early, enjoy responsibly.