Iowa can kiss CFP hopes goodbye after glimmer of hope vs. Indiana

The 3-2 Iowa Hawkeyes can still finish this 2025 season with pride and a great record, but as far as the College Football Playoff is concerned, the Hawkeyes appear to be on the outside looking in.

They’re now unranked after a loss to No. 8 Indiana in Iowa City this past weekend. 

It was a close contest for Iowa, a 20-15 loss, and had the Hawkeyes beaten the Hoosiers, they could have absolutely staked a claim as a team that could make the CFP. They likely would have been ranked for the first time this season, and with games against No. 7 Penn State and No. 2 Oregon still remaining on the schedule, they could have theoretically had hope for three major Big Ten upsets on their resume.

A 10-2 Iowa team with wins over ranked Indiana, Penn State and Oregon would absolutely be a CFP team. Heck, even a 9-3 team with wins over two of those three programs could have had a case.

Instead, as college football analyst David Pollack put it, the Hawkeyes lost their chance to realistically think about the CFP with the loss to Indiana. They were close, though. They had the game tied up at 13 within the final minutes of the game before a missed field goal with 2:01 to go basically took them out of it.

“They had Indiana beat, had a chance to have a statement win, to get back in this thing,” Pollack recently said on his “See Ball Get Ball” podcast (h/t On3).

Iowa QB Mark Gronowski’s injury status up in the air

Making matters worse for the Hawkeyes was the injury to starting quarterback Mark Gronowski. He hurt his knee late in the game against Indiana and didn’t return after spending significant time in the medical tent.

The Hawkeyes have a bye this week, so he has time to heal up, but his status is absolutely up in the air. If he can’t come back this season, Iowa may not even be a bowl team, let alone a CFP team.

For that reason, plus the loss to Indiana, Pollack rightfully is eliminating the Hawkeyes from CFP contention in his mind.

“I think Iowa, with Gronowski going out, and their lack of offensive prowess and inconsistency, I think they are officially out, even though your coach is amazing. Just appreciate your coach while you have him because he’s done some great things,” Pollack said.