Sports Illustrated pegs Iowa No. 6 in its preseason football Top 25

This is as high as I've seen Iowa picked by a major publication.

Maybe I won't be accused (as much) of being a homer when it's revealed I put Iowa sixth on my preseason Associated Press Top 25 ballot. Those votes were cast with an Aug. 1 deadline, and the poll will be released on Aug. 21.

Anyhow, here's the SI Top 25:

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Boise State

4. Texas

5. TCU

6. Iowa

7. Florida

8. Oregon

9. Nebraska

10. Virginia Tech

11. Wisconsin

12. Oklahoma

13. North Carolina

14. Georgia Tech

15. Miami

16. Pitt

17. USC

18. Cincinnati

19. Penn State

20. Oregon State

21. LSU

22. Utah

23. Arkansas

24. Stanford

25. Florida State

Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn is on SI's preseason All-America team. The magazine picks the 16 best games of the regular season, and two will be played in Iowa City. Those are Iowa's games against Wisconsin and Ohio State.