Iowa ranked in coaches preseason poll for first time since 2010
IOWA CITY, Iowa – For the first time since 2010, the Iowa football team is ranked in the Coaches Preseason Poll.
The Hawkeyes are ranked 15th, its highest ranking since 2010, when Iowa was ranked No. 9 by the Associated Press and 10th by the coaches.
Iowa returns 39 lettermen on offense, defense, and special teams, which includes 14 starters (seven on offense and seven on defense), from last year’s team that posted a historic 12-2 record. Last season, the Hawkeyes won all four traveling trophy rivalry games, captured the Big Ten West Division title, and competed in the Big Ten Conference championship game and 2016 Rose Bowl.
Iowa hadn’t played in the Rose Bowl since the 1990 season.
Iowa is one of four Big Ten schools ranked in the preseason poll, joining Ohio State (5), Michigan (8), and Michigan State (11).
Defending national champion Alabama is ranked first overall, followed by Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State and Ohio State, which made the top five despite only returning six starters from last season.
The Amway Coaches Poll is comprised of a panel of FBS head coaches. The panel is chosen by random draw from a pool of coaches who indicated to the American Football Coaches Association their willingness to participate. The Associated Press will release its preseason rankings on Aug. 21.
Iowa opens the 2016 season on Sept. 3, against Miami, Ohio. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Rank School Points
1 Alabama 1,585
2 Clemson 1,524
3 Oklahoma 1,398
4 Florida State 1,351
5 Ohio State 1,321
6 Louisiana State 1,241
7 Stanford 1,149
8 Michigan 1,062
9 Notre Dame 1,034
10 Tennessee 960
11 Michigan State 901
12 Mississippi792
13 Houston 668
14 TCU 649
15 IOWA 579
16 Georgia 525
17 USC 468
18 Washington 454
19 Oklahoma State 426
20 North Carolina 422
21 Baylor 383
22 Oregon 361
23 Louisville 331
24 UCLA 296
25 Florida 245