Iowa football

Rooting Guide

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The Hawkeyes

How we pick

Big help: a team ranked ahead of Iowa, outside the top 8, loses. Those are the bubble teams the Hawkeyes have to pass.

Helps: a top 8 team that already has two losses drops another, or a team ranked just behind Iowa loses before it can jump them.

Small help: teams Iowa beat keep winning (that win looks better), teams Iowa still plays keep winning (that win will count more), and teams that beat Iowa keep winning (that loss looks better).

Teams already safely in the field don't count either way. Rankings are the latest College Football Playoff committee rankings, or the AP poll in a week the committee has not released new ones yet.

Iowa Hawkeyes rooting guide: Week 11, Saturday, November 14

Who Iowa fans should cheer for this week, ranked by how much each result helps the Hawkeyes' College Football Playoff chances.

Our rooting rules, using the College Football Playoff committee rankings (Nov 10).

Iowa's chance to make the College Football Playoff is 32%, the price bettors are paying on Kalshi as of Friday, November 13, 2026.

Iowa's game

Iowa vs. Purdue, Saturday, November 14, 6:30 PM Central.

Who to root for this week

Baylor over BYU (Big help, Saturday, November 14, 2:30 PM Central). BYU is No. 10 in the CFP rankings, just ahead of Iowa (No. 15). A loss drops them to 7-3.
Colorado over Houston (Big help, Friday, November 13, 9:15 PM Central). Houston is No. 14 in the CFP rankings, just ahead of Iowa (No. 15). A loss drops them to 7-3.
Oklahoma State over Texas Tech (Big help, Saturday, November 14, 8:30 PM Central). Texas Tech is No. 12 in the CFP rankings, just ahead of Iowa (No. 15). A loss drops them to 8-2.
Florida over Kentucky (Big help, Saturday, November 14, 5:15 PM Central). Kentucky is No. 11 in the CFP rankings, just ahead of Iowa (No. 15). A loss drops them to 7-3.
SMU over Wake Forest (Big help, Saturday, November 14, 11:00 AM Central). Wake Forest is No. 13 in the CFP rankings, just ahead of Iowa (No. 15). A loss drops them to 8-2.
Indiana over USC (Helps, Saturday, November 14, 2:30 PM Central). USC is No. 18, right behind Iowa (No. 15). A loss keeps them from jumping the Hawkeyes.
Iowa State over Cincinnati (Small help, Saturday, November 14, 11:00 AM Central). Iowa beat Iowa State on Sep 12. Their wins make that win look better.
Wisconsin over Maryland (Small help, Saturday, November 14, 11:00 AM Central). Iowa beat Wisconsin on Oct 31. Their wins make that win look better.
Washington over Michigan State (Small help, Saturday, November 14, 3:15 PM Central). Iowa beat Washington on Oct 9. Their wins make that win look better.
Michigan over Oregon (Small help, Saturday, November 14, 2:30 PM Central). Iowa beat Michigan on Sep 26. Their wins make that win look better.
Nebraska over Rutgers (Small help, Saturday, November 14, 11:30 AM Central). Iowa plays Nebraska on Nov 27. A better Nebraska makes that win count more.
Illinois over UCLA (Small help, Friday, November 13, 8:00 PM Central). Iowa plays Illinois on Nov 21. A better Illinois makes that win count more.

Updated Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

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How we pick

Iowa Hawkeyes rooting guide: Week 11, Saturday, November 14

Iowa's game

Who to root for this week