How Has Iowa Done in AP Top 10 Games Since 1936?

[ChosenChildren]

The AP Poll started during the 1936 season. That is 86 years. In those 86 years, Iowa is 37-76-1 against AP Top 10 games at the time of the game, for a winning percentage of about 33%. Here are the wins and ties, based on the AP ranking of the team at the time of the game (bowl games are shown for the season in question):

1. 1953 Notre Dame (#1) 14-14
2. 1942 Wisconsin (#2) 6-0
3. 1985 Michigan (#2) 12-10
4. 2016 Michigan (#2) 14-13
5. 1939 Notre Dame (#3) 7-6
6. 1960 Ohio St. (#3) 35-12
7. 1983 Ohio St. (#3) 20-14
8. 2008 Penn St. (#3) 24-23
9. 2017 Ohio St. (#3) 55-24
10. 1958 Wisconsin (#4) 20-9 *
11. 1990 Illinois (#5) 54-28 *
12. 1981 Michigan (#5) 9-7 *
13. 2009 Penn St. (#5) 20-10 *
14. 2010 Michigan St (#5) 37-6
15. 1956 Minnesota (#6) 7-0 *
16. 1956 Ohio St. (#6) 6-0
17. 1960 N'western (#6) 42-0 *
18. 1981 UCLA (#6) 20-7
19. 1940 Notre Dame (#7) 7-0 *
20. 1954 Michigan St (#7) 14-10
21. 1981 Nebraska (#7) 10-7
22. 2019 Minnesota (#7) 23-19
23. 1954 Wisconsin (#8) 13-7
24. 1954 Purdue (#8) 25-14
25. 1958 N'western (#8) 26-20
26. 1968 Oregon St (#8) 21-20
27. 2002 Michigan (#8) 34-9 *
28. 2003 Michigan (#9) 30-27
29. 2004 Wisconsin (#9) 30-7
30. 2009 Ga. Tech (#9) 24-14 Orange Bowl
31. 2021 Iowa St. (#9) 27-17*
32. 1956 Oregon St (#10) 35-19 Rose Bowl
33. 1957 Notre Dame (#10) 21-13*
34. 1960 Purdue (#10) 21-14
35. 1960 Oregon St (#10) 22-12
36. 1964 Washington (#10) 28-18
37. 1990 Michigan (#10) 24-23 *
38. 1996 Penn St. (#10) 21-20 *

True road games are marked with an asterisk *. There have been only 12 true road wins against AP top 10 teams in 86 seasons....they are rare!

We have defeated Michigan 5 times when they were ranked in the Top 10, and Ohio State 4 times. Wisconsin: 4 times. Notre Dame: 3 times. Penn State: 3 times. Oregon State: 3 times. Minnesota: 2 times. Purdue: 2 times.

 

[ssckelley]

Iowa State doesn't count as a true road game? I don't see the asterisk.

I just realized Iowa has never beaten a team ranked #1.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Iowa State doesn't count as a true road game? I don't see the asterisk.

I just realized Iowa has never beaten a team ranked #1.

Ooops. My bad. Iowa State was absolutely a road game, and a very rare victory against a top 10 team

 

[okeefe4prez]

Lot of memories on that list. As much as I loved watching the good guys shit truck OSU by a score of 55-24, I think the best game on that list that I attended was the 2004 Wisconsin game. What a great day.

 

[HawkGold]

82 years. Those wins were done by only 4 coaches.