Iowa 5th in Big Ten media preseason football poll, but has schedule others may envy

Having what is presumed to be an easier schedule than most can be a deceiving thing in college football, but Iowa has to like what it’s been handed in the first year of an 18-team Big Ten.

First, let that sink in a bit. An 18-team Big Ten, with no divisions. It’s like European soccer, minus the relegation but with a bowl game in Detroit for the team that finishes in 13th place.

The annual Cleveland.com preseason Big Ten football media poll was released Monday morning, and the Hawkeyes are fifth. Anything from third through 18th keeps you out of the league-championship game.

However, if every team wins every game against teams picked to finish below them, Iowa will go 8-1 in the conference and go to Indianapolis in December for a fourth time.

I know. Ifs and buts, candy and nuts. Still, consider this:

Of the top seven teams in the preseason poll, Iowa is the only one that faces just two of the other top six. Here they are:

1. Ohio State: Iowa, at Oregon, at Penn State, Michigan

2. Oregon: Ohio State, at Michigan, at Wisconsin

3. Penn State: At USC, at Wisconsin, Ohio State

4. Michigan: USC, Oregon, at Ohio State

5. Iowa: At Ohio State, Wisconsin

6. USC: At Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State

7. Wisconsin: At USC, Penn State, at Iowa, Oregon

Indiana and Rutgers are the only other two teams that face just two of the top seven picks.

Minnesota, on the other hand, plays five of them. The Gophers’ first three Big Ten games are Iowa at home, at Michigan, and USC at home. They close the season by playing Penn State at home and Wisconsin on the road. Ouch.

Nebraska plays four of the top seven. The Huskers’ final three games are at USC, Wisconsin at home, and at Iowa.

Six of Iowa’s nine league games are against teams picked to finish in the second half of the standings. They are Washington (10th), Maryland (11th), Minnesota (12th), Northwestern (14th), UCLA (15th) and Michigan State (16th).

Nebraska, the Hawkeyes’ final opponent, was pegged eighth.

Recap: Iowa avoids the two best teams the Big Ten swiped from the Pac-12, Oregon and USC. ‘Tis better this year to play at UCLA than at USC, and to host Washington rather than Oregon.

Also, the Hawkeyes have no business to conduct with either Michigan or Penn State.

Playing at Ohio State is no bed of roses, but the Hawkeyes are idle the week before they meet the Buckeyes on Oct. 5.

While the 27 media voters felt Iowa has the fifth-best Big Ten team starting the season, the Hawkeyes clearly have the least-brutal schedule of anyone expected to be closer to first place than 18th.

Plus, they have a defense.

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Comments: mike.hlas@thegazette.com