The Great Iowa SOS Myth

H

Hawk10k

Well-Known Member
I realize this has been done to death but I just wanted to do a quick run-down of Iowa's season so far. It confuses me why I'm still hearing about our "weak SOS".
1. Illinois State is 6-1 with their only loss to Iowa in a game that was never close.
2. Iowa State is unquestionably terrible but they play us tough every year and they've had moments here and there (first half against TCU, for example) so I would consider it a mid-quality road win.
3. Pitt is now 6-1 with their only loss to Iowa.
4. Umm... North Texas scored 13 against Marshall? Not much good to say here except that we did exactly what we were supposed to do, which is curb stomp them.
5. Wisconsin was a beautifully ugly road win against a ranked team who may end up winning every other conference game this season.
6. Illinois is a tough team who has earned far more respect than they had at the start of the season. Probably my favorite win so far.
7. Northwestern was another ranked (but probably slightly overrated) team we beat on the road with a squad of walking wounded and second-stringers. So dominant was Iowa in the second half that I was working on my finances by the middle of the 4th quarter.

Like I said before, nothing new here but just wanted to put it in my own words. Looking forward to next Saturday and the rest of the season!
 
Hawk10k said:
I realize this has been done to death but I just wanted to do a quick run-down of Iowa's season so far. It confuses me why I'm still hearing about our "weak SOS".
1. Illinois State is 6-1 with their only loss to Iowa in a game that was never close.
2. Iowa State is unquestionably terrible but they play us tough every year and they've had moments here and there (first half against TCU, for example) so I would consider it a mid-quality road win.
3. Pitt is now 6-1 with their only loss to Iowa.
4. Umm... North Texas scored 13 against Marshall? Not much good to say here except that we did exactly what we were supposed to do, which is curb stomp them.
5. Wisconsin was a beautifully ugly road win against a ranked team who may end up winning every other conference game this season.
6. Illinois is a tough team who has earned far more respect than they had at the start of the season. Probably my favorite win so far.
7. Northwestern was another ranked (but probably slightly overrated) team we beat on the road with a squad of walking wounded and second-stringers. So dominant was Iowa in the second half that I was working on my finances by the middle of the 4th quarter.

Like I said before, nothing new here but just wanted to put it in my own words. Looking forward to next Saturday and the rest of the season!
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Yes, it has been beaten to death......If Iowa were a blue bood, a SEC team or simply been better the last 5 years, yeah, you would get a spin with regards to the schedule.....But the answer is 'no' to all of the above so you will get a bunch of naysayers who point out the schedule.
 
If I added correctly no other team has 4 wins against power conference teams with winning records. Pollsters are just idiots.
 
I wish we could put strength of schedule talk to bed once and for all. It will have no bearing on Iowa whatsoever. If they win out, they will be in the playoffs. If they don't, they won't.

It's as simple as that.
 
Not sure what the argument is...we are ranked in top 11...there are only 3 1-loss teams in front of us...it may even be 10 with 2 1-loss teams when AP poll drops. We are getting mentioned in playoff talks...we are not in the main conversation because we were something like 19-19 over the past 3 years! We will continue to gain respect with a win each week. Enjoying seeing a return to things be written about us this year...vs the truly negative ones in recent past years.
 
bcl20 said:
If I added correctly no other team has 4 wins against power conference teams with winning records. Pollsters are just idiots.
Click to expand...

Probably undefeated teams. Utah does. Mich, Oreg, Cal, and ASU
 
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The pundants will be waiting for any loss from Iowa, so they can drop us like a rock, and play the "I told you" card.

Hawks, don't giv'em a chance ! Just win baby.
 
Love to see the hawks win out of course but also for the other reason that the writers and pollsters couldnt say I told you so.

It is also how the hawks have won especially just the thumping they put on the mildcats last week. If the hawks can have double digit wins in most of the last 5 games then great and let the cards fall as they will.
 
If they win out in the next 5 - 6 games, I don't care if it's by a total of 5-6 points. Although I'd probably have a coronary before the season was over.
 
DDThompson said:
LMAO.

Truest saying ever said on this site.
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SIAP. Which is what national pundits are saying. IF IOWA GOES UNDEFEATED these next games, it's not because of any big test for Iowa in the next games. Not what Iowa has done against ranked foes. They applaud that. What the next wins says about Iowa football is what they poo poo.

This is, IMO, an attempt by the national media of downgrading Iowa's standing in the National Championship/national bowl picture. That is what this is. At least, they're saying don't get too hyper about Iowa football. They don't realize this season is different than previous Iowa seasons. :) Go Hawks.
 
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TeamOhio StateBaylorClemsonLSUTCUMichigan StateIowaOklahoma StateMemphisHoustonToledoTemple
Record8-07-07-07-07-08-07-07-07-07-07-07-0
SOS7010127315763377971125118111
W/L vs. Current Top 250-00-01-01-00-01-01-00-01-00-01-00-0
Ranking123456101216182021
 
I'll be the first to admit Iowa's schedule isn't exactly the SEC west, but just look at Baylor. The national media just salivates every time Baylor does anything, and Baylors schedule as been the worse I've ever seen. Can't remember every game, but I believe they've played Lamar, rice, smu, Kansas, Iowa state among others. It's like they are playing from the women's tees.
 
On "Mike & Mike" this morning, Greenie allsaid, "Iowa needs to be in the conversation. And all they can do is play the games on the schedule".

Danny Kanell "sort of" said the same thing, and also said that Iowa is a good team, doesn't have superstars, but is getting it done with total team effort.
 
Jonrn said:
I'll be the first to admit Iowa's schedule isn't exactly the SEC west, but just look at Baylor. The national media just salivates every time Baylor does anything, and Baylors schedule as been the worse I've ever seen. Can't remember every game, but I believe they've played Lamar, rice, smu, Kansas, Iowa state among others. It's like they are playing from the women's tees.
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Should Iowa happen to win the next 2 games (Maryland and Indiana) this will become a much more important/relevant discussion. I don't see Purdue or Minnesota winning in Iowa City against a 9-0 Iowa team. The reason folks are talking about the schedule is that from this point forward, Iowa has the easiest schedule. At this point, it wouldn't be shocking to see Iowa win the last 5 games. Still unprobable, but not shocking. Baylor and Ohio State's schedules to data have been easier than Iowa's. The difference is those teams have the tough part of their schedules remaining. Baylor's season starts in November. @KSU no longer looks that daunting, but then Oklahoma, @Okie State, @TCU and home with Texas. Ohio State finished with MSU and then @Michigan. Actually, they play @Illinois right before MSU, and the game at Illinois will likely be OSU's toughest opponent to that point in the season, which tells you something about their schedule.

Both Baylor and Ohio State have basically been playing exhibition games to this point. Now that Meyer has gone with Barrett, I don't see OSU losing. They have just been biding their time until they are challenged here at the end of the season.
 
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