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Article is titled "Why the Iowa Hawkeyes could win the College Football Playoff"

It is fairly safe to say that the Iowa Hawkeyes are just now getting the amount of respect that an undefeated Power 5 team should be receiving at this point of the season. The Hawkeyes rank eighth in both the AP Top 25 and coaches poll and were ninth in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. On Tuesday night, we found out that the Hawkeyes had jumped to No. 5 in the CFP rankings.
You could still argue that the rankings don't seem to give enough credit to a club that is 9-0 for only the second time in school history and can move to 10-0 for the first time ever with a win over Minnesota in Week 11.
So is this team the real deal? Is Iowa good enough to win the Big Ten, and by virtue of claiming that title, could the Hawkeyes actually land a spot in the College Football Playoff?
After looking it over, it turns out there are many reasons to think this team has what it takes to earn a postseason berth.
(Note: Unless specified otherwise, the metrics referenced below are from games against Power 5 opponents and the rankings indicate placement among the 65 Power 5 teams or qualifying players from those clubs.)
[h=3]Powerhouse defense[/h]
Iowa defensive back Desmond King has helmed an opportunistic Hawkeyes defense. Jon Durr/Getty ImagesThis is one of the strongest platoons in college football, something evidenced by the sheer volume of upper-tier metrics the Iowa defense has posted this year.
We can take this by areas. Want a team that can stop the run?
[h=1]EDITOR'S PICKS[/h]
Iowa ranks first in rushing touchdowns allowed (three), fifth in rush yards allowed per game (99.3), sixth in percentage of rushes that allowed 5 or more yards (31.4 percent), tied for fifth in rushes allowed of 10 or more yards (23) and tied for seventh in yards allowed per rush (3.3).
Looking to stop the pass?
The Hawkeyes place sixth in yards per attempt (5.7), seventh in yards allowed per dropback (4.9), eighth in interception rate (4.4 percent) and third in yards after catch per reception (4.6).
How about ball-hawking?
Iowa rates tied for second in opponent turnovers (17), tied for first in turnover margin (plus-11) and tied for second in opponents' red zone turnovers (three). A key to this effort is cornerback Desmond King, who leads the nation in interceptions (eight) and ranks second in passes defensed.
Overall defensive efficiency?
This might be the best reflection of how good this group is, as Iowa ranks eighth in points allowed per drive (1.2), seventh in percentage of drives that end in a touchdown (12.8 percent), second in percentage of drives that end in a turnover (19.8 percent), sixth in yards allowed per play (4.6) and tied for sixth in offensive touchdowns allowed (11).
[h=3]Crunch-time quarterback[/h]
C.J. Beathard has headed an unheralded but efficient Iowa offense. Marc Lebryk/USA TODAY SportsC.J. Beathard's overall numbers really don't make him stand out, but there might not be a better quarterback in the Big Ten when it comes to performing late in a ball game. Beathard's 85.7 Total QBR in the fourth quarter and overtime of games ranks seventh nationally and is a key reason the Hawkeyes are mastering the art of finishing this season.
[h=3]Balanced, big-play, high-percentage offense[/h]Iowa has the third-most balanced offensive production in the FBS. The Hawkeyes can also hit big plays, as they rank second in the Big Ten in scrimmage plays of 40 or more yards (13).
Iowa maximizes their opportunities by holding on to the football. The Hawkeyes are tied for ninth in fumbles per rush (1.0 percent), tied for sixth in drive turnover percentage (5.6 percent) and fourth in dropped pass rate (2.1 percent).
[h=3]Faced very tough competition level[/h]
Look closely at Kirk Ferentz and Iowa, and you'll see that they belong in the playoff discussion. Jon Durr/Getty ImagesThis team often faces the criticism that they have posted these numbers against less than stellar competition, but that actually isn't the case.
The Hawkeyes rank sixth nationally in ESPN Stats & Information's strength of record metric. This statistic is designed to reflect the chance that an average Top 25 team would be able to post a won-loss record as good or better. It is measured on a 0-100 scale with 100 being the best, so Iowa's 94.5 mark here is almost as strong as one can get in this metric.
It should also be noted that the Hawkeyes have won two games over ranked opponents this season (No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 20 Northwestern). Alabama is the only other team to post as many road wins over ranked opponents this season.
[h=3]Odds to go unbeaten and/or win a conference title are nearly as good as Ohio State, Alabama and Baylor[/h]According to Football Outsiders' FEI ratings, Iowa has a 57.6 percent chance of closing out the regular season with an unbeaten record. The Hawkeyes actually have a better chance of going unbeaten than Ohio State according to this measurement (23.8 percent for Buckeyes) and only Clemson has a better overall chance of finishing undefeated (97.0 percent).

ESPN Stats & Information's Football Power Index says Iowa has a 26.3 percent chance of winning the Big Ten championship. Those odds are nearly as great as Alabama's odds to win the SEC (38.6 percent) or Baylor's odds at winning the Big 12 (37.3 percent).
[h=3]Bottom line[/h]Hawkeyes center Austin Blythe had the right idea when he recently pointed out that three of the top four teams in the initial ranking last year didn't make the playoff. He also noted that the College Football Playoff committee "really can't deny us if we keep winning ball games."
Getting those victories won't be easy, as Iowa will have to post wins over a Minnesota team that beat them 51-14 last year and a Nebraska club that just got through knocking off a previously undefeated Michigan State squad. If the Hawkeyes combine those tough wins with a Big Ten championship victory, Blythe will be correct in saying the committee won't be able to deny this club a berth in the College Football Playoff.
 
Makes me want to gear up and get ready to watch another Hawk game...it must be getting close to Saturday.
 
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sums it up nicely:

C.J. Beathard's overall numbers really don't make him stand out, but there might not be a better quarterback in the Big Ten when it comes to performing late in a ball game.
 
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