The #17 Iowa Hawkeyes manhandled the #20 Northwestern Wildcats by a 40-10 count on Saturday, running over and through them all day long. Saturday's impressive performance has made us big-time Iowa believers. Here's 3 Reasons Why Iowa Fans Should Start Thinking College Football Playoff.
1. Schedule
Have you looked at Iowa's remaining schedule?!? Here's what's left: Maryland, at Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, at Nebraska. All of those games are extremely winnable, especially considering just how much of a mess the Huskers have been in the clutch. Iowa is a legit threat to go 12-0 with no Michigan, Michigan State or Ohio State on their schedule.
2. Rushing Attack
The Hawkeyes ran for 294 yards against Northwestern on Saturday, gashing them both up the middle and on the edges. RB Jordan Canzeri's foot/ankle injury will undoubtedly cause a huge loss for Iowa if it's as serious as it looked on the field. However, this Iowa rushing attack is still built to last behind one of the better offensive lines in the nation.
3. Clutch Defense
Iowa's D has been a top-25 unit all year long, and they we're even better on Saturday. The Hawkeyes limited Northwestern to a scant 2.9 yards per play. With the level of competition left on the Hawkeyes' schedule, we expect similar performances to Saturday as the days get colder.