Kirk Herbstreit outlines College Football Playoff path for Iowa Hawkeyes
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 12, 2026, 12:25 AM
Last updated Sep 12, 2026
The No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes enter Saturday’s matchup against Iowa State while pursuing their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Despite Kirk Ferentz holding the record as the Big Ten’s all-time winningest coach, the program has yet to reach the postseason tournament. Kirk Herbstreit suggested that Iowa’s path to the playoff requires a 2-1 performance in an upcoming three-game stretch that includes road contests against Michigan and Washington, along with a home game versus Ohio State. Herbstreit identified quarterback play as the primary factor for the team's potential success, noting that the Hawkeyes must prove they can compete against top-tier conference opponents. The team faces these challenges following a running back injury sustained in practice this week.
- •Iowa hosts Iowa State on Saturday.
- •Kirk Herbstreit identified a 2-1 record in games against Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington as a playoff path.
- •The Hawkeyes deal with a running back injury ahead of the Iowa State game.
- •Quarterback performance is highlighted as the primary factor for the team's postseason potential.
- 12:25 AMYahoo Sports — Iowa football news: How Hawkeyes can snap Playoff drought, per Kirk Herbstreit
"Kirk Ferentz is the Big Ten’s all-time winningest football coach, but Ferentz has never led his team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, to the College Football Playoff and isn’t a favorite to do so this season. The No. 21 Hawkeyes made a big quarterback decision Friday and have a tough task ahead on Saturday vs. Iowa State, with hope springing anew for a […] The post Iowa football news: How Hawkeyes can snap Playoff drought, per Kirk Herbstreit appeared first on ClutchPoints.
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