Iowa football teams from 1996 could enter a hypothetical 24-team playoff

The 1996 Iowa football team, following a period of decline, finished the season with an 8-3 record and a No. 21 ranking in the AP poll. The team had previously found success with key players such as Tavian Banks, Sedrick Shaw, and Tim Dwight. Despite an unexpected loss to Tulsa, they achieved a notable victory over No. 10 Penn State. Iowa capped off their season with a 27-0 shutout victory against Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl. In this hypothetical playoff scenario, Iowa would face North Carolina in the first round, with the potential for upsets due to their talented roster.

• 12:15 PMYahoo Sports — Iowa Football Squads That Would've Made a 24-Team Playoff: 1996