Does FB or MBB Finish Higher in the Conference in '26-'27?

[Westernhawk]

I would almost flip those. A lot of pundits are high on the FB team, and I hope that faith is warranted, but there are a lot of question makes to answer to get to 5th. That said, the schedule is favorable.

On MBB, I feel like Ben has built a team that is better equipped to compete in the conference slog. Losing Stirtz is a killer for sure, but this team will be deeper, more balanced, and overall more Big 10 ready talent. Last year it sort of felt that Stirtz was super human, we would win, and often times he was. I think this year's version will be more balanced and competitive night in and out.

I will go:
MBB 5th
Football 6th

I like your thinking. I also like your point about the favorability of schedule for FB. The schedule difficulty matters a lot when you are historically within a narrow range of 8-10 wins per year.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Too much of a wildcard at QB to make any kind of football prediction. Neither of these guys has ever played a single snap of college football that meant anything. Both of 'em have an equal chance to be the next Marco Lainez or the next CJ Beathard.

And for basketball, Ben ran EVERYTHING thru Bennett. That might be a bigger chore to fill for a BIG 10 team compared to him repeating it in the past. I think he will always scout and scheme to have successful teams, but filling that key cog could prove to be challenging at a top notch DIV 1 conference.

 

[HuckFinn]

Um, there may be too much of a wildcard to make a bet with your own money, but you can make a prediction on an anonymous message board!

I am actually shocked how many pundits and sites are putting Iowa in the Top 25. There seems to be a lot of faith nationally in Tim Lester repeating what he did last season. We shall see. A lot of holes to fill beyond QB, but there is talent on this roster for sure.

Even though the competition was 2nd level, we scored a bunch of points on our rivals late in the season and then won a bowl game we were supposed to lose. I think Tim has created some serious improvement in our O, And our D just keeps doing it. But as you pointed out, some really good players have moved on.

 

[BuiltLikeWilt]

I like your thinking. I also like your point about the favorability of schedule for FB. The schedule difficulty matters a lot when you are historically within a narrow range of 8-10 wins per year.

I dont think our schedule is favorable in football Michigan, Ohio state and then Washington on the road ,Minny on the road is pretty tough stretch to open conference play. We'll be lucky(or very good) to split those games

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I dont think our schedule is favorable in football Michigan, Ohio state and then Washington on the road ,Minny on the road is pretty tough stretch to open conference play. We'll be lucky(or very good) to split those games

Fair. Iowa will be dogs against Michigan, OSU, and Washington. We are better than Minny, but let's say that is a push. Iowa should be favored in every other game. So, if the season goes to chalk, we are likely 9-3. Sneak an upset against one of the other three and we are 10-2 and in the conversation for the playoffs. Its a tough stretch for sure, but an overall favorable schedule.

 

[Fryowa]

Um, there may be too much of a wildcard to make a bet with your own money, but you can make a prediction on an anonymous message board!

I am actually shocked how many pundits and sites are putting Iowa in the Top 25. There seems to be a lot of faith nationally in Tim Lester repeating what he did last season. We shall see. A lot of holes to fill beyond QB, but there is talent on this roster for sure.

If Hammerin' Hank Brown or Jeremy What The Hecklinski is the next Iowa dawg QB, I see pieces on this team that could lead to a playoff berth. If they aren't, I can also see 5-7.

 

[Gander Hawk]

Too much of a wildcard at QB to make any kind of football prediction. Neither of these guys has ever played a single snap of college football that meant anything. Both of 'em have an equal chance to be the next Marco Lainez or the next CJ Beathard.

Didn't Brown start 3 or 4 games for Auburn, or were they out of contention already.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

If Hammerin' Hank Brown or Jeremy What The Hecklinski is the next Iowa dawg QB, I see pieces on this team that could lead to a playoff berth. If they aren't, I can also see 5-7.

Based upon nothing but second hand information and a lifetime of watching KF football, I think if Brown wins the job, Iowa goes 8-4. No upside, but probably no downside. Steady Eddie. Execute the offense conservatively. Hope the rest of the team is special.

Hecklinski is more boom or bust. I believe he is our only shot at a special team, but he could be a turnover machine like Hill or an injury magnet like Sullivan. So yes, 5-7 or 10-2 are in play.

 

[Westernhawk]

I dont think our schedule is favorable in football Michigan, Ohio state and then Washington on the road ,Minny on the road is pretty tough stretch to open conference play. We'll be lucky(or very good) to split those games

Good points, although it remains to be seen how Michigan will do this year. Washington in Seattle is likely a loss. OSU is a loss. Minny on the road is a better than 50% chance to win, in my opinion. I think 2-2 is possible here. The rest of the schedule isn't too bad. I mean, Indiana and Oregon were great last year, and we blew the lead at USC (who had two receivers drafted). Should've beaten the clowns.

Isu is not going to be as good this year (we lost to them on the road). Wisky, who knows. Nebby... I won't even try to predict. It's hard to say and that's what is fun about cfb. So many variables!

At any rate, I think that our schedule is a bit easier this year than last year. Cheers.

 

[HuckFinn]

Fair. Iowa will be dogs against Michigan, OSU, and Washington. We are better than Minny, but let's say that is a push. Iowa should be favored in every other game. So, if the season goes to chalk, we are likely 9-3. Sneak an upset against one of the other three and we are 10-2 and in the conversation for the playoffs. Its a tough stretch for sure, but an overall favorable schedule.

I would not be surprised if we beat Michigan and/or Wash. Even Ohio St. better be ready for a night game in Kinnick. 2 of 3?

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I would not be surprised if we beat Michigan and/or Wash. Even Ohio St. better be ready for a night game in Kinnick. 2 of 3?

That's the type of May bravado I was trying to stir up! F those blue bloods. Hawks gonna be rolling this year!!

 

[99topdawg]

Brown just needed to make this throw to beat Indiana:









Instead, he did this:

 

[HuckFinn]

Yup.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Thanks for reminding me of the gut punch, 99. Yes. Easy first down. Into FG range. Bleed clock to 3 seconds and a patented KF field goal victory over a ranked opponent at home.

 

[Westernhawk]

Brown just needed to make this throw to beat Indiana:

View attachment 12194







Instead, he did this:

View attachment 12195

This hurts to see, again.

 

[CP87]

Here is the video, if you want more pain:

I will say, there is a chance LB21 makes a play, even with an on-target throw. Also, Moulton could have done a better job presenting as a target. But Brown did the same throwing while falling away crap that caused him to miss other throws during that game, and we also saw that during the spring game videos. That seems like a problem.

 

[Westernhawk]

Here is the video, if you want more pain:

I will say, there is a chance LB21 makes a play, even with an on-target throw. Also, Moulton could have done a better job presenting as a target. But Brown did the same throwing while falling away crap that caused him to miss other throws during that game, and we also saw that during the spring game videos. That seems like a problem.

It brings back fresh memories of how I imagine we all felt after the amazing Mendoza interception. In most years, that's a win. Dang!

 

[BigD]

With a huge 18 team conference now, regular season titles really do not mean anything anymore. The schedules are just not even across the board for the teams, in either sport.

So, I'll submit this:

The goal in football is to make the 12 team playoffs.

The goal in basketball is to make the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

This year, basketball won out: Elite 8 v. no playoffs for the football team.

My prediction for next year: Football misses the playoffs but gets a bowl bid as a consolation prize.

I'm predicting Ben makes the Sweet 16 again.

So, basketball does better than football.

Couldn’t agree more. In football 2004 since we finished on top and that’s ridiculous for a fan base to have to wait that long. If you can’t win your conference or at least finish second or in third place then you have no hope or chance for a playoff birth with such a small number of teams being invited.

Under current circumstances Iowa has a very low probability of ever making it to the playoffs. The amount of teams invited would need to be doubled for Iowa to make to the playoffs. The best thing for the mid tier teams would be for there to be four divisions and to make it even fairer the division champs would play a different divisions champ within the conference each year.

Basketball? If Ben can recruit at a big ten level each year then I think the basketball program has as good of chance to compete for a title as any other big ten school in the conference.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Couldn’t agree more. In football 2004 since we finished on top and that’s ridiculous for a fan base to have to wait that long. If you can’t win your conference or at least finish second or in third place then you have no hope or chance for a playoff birth with such a small number of teams being invited.

Under current circumstances Iowa has a very low probability of ever making it to the playoffs. The amount of teams invited would need to be doubled for Iowa to make to the playoffs. The best thing for the mid tier teams would be for there to be four divisions and to make it even fairer the division champs would play a different divisions champ within the conference each year.

Basketball? If Ben can recruit at a big ten level each year then I think the basketball program has as good of chance to compete for a title as any other big ten school in the conference.

I disagree with your football take, at least depending on how you are defining the term "low probability." Its an uphill climb to make the playoffs, but Iowa can do it. Hell, we were two plays away from making it last year (a 10-2 Iowa team with wins over Indiana and either USC or Oregon gets in for sure.)

If it was a 12 team playoff throughout KF's tenure, we make it in 2002, probably 2004, 2009, 2015, and maybe '21 but I doubt it. The Covid year would have been interesting. 4-5 times in 26 years? That's like 15-20% of the time.

 

[trj]

Basketball

Too many unknowns with the quarterback and D-line. Right now they have a couple of walk-ons on the 2-deep on the d-line. I just can’t see them getting beyond the 9-3/8-4 range.

IMO, the basketball team has the potential to have a better regular season this year than last year.