The Iowa Hawkeyes are “stubbed” in the 2024 CBS Sports Big Ten rankings.
By 2024, the Big Ten will have undergone significant transformation. The Big Ten East and West are no longer in existence. The PAC-12 is welcoming four new members. The league is home to the Michigan Wolverines, the reigning national champion.
The Big Ten environment has completely changed, which will make things intriguing going forward. Despite being an old-school institution, it’s interesting to see how the Iowa Hawkeyes fit into this new era.
The Big Ten schools were ranked by CBS Sports for the 2024 season, and the Hawkeyes are ranked alone in the category of “The end table on which you stub your toe.”
The Hawkeyes occupy a little gray area. Though Iowa consistently shows up and wins 10 games while scoring just 13 points a game, there’s no reason to expect they’ll win the Big Ten next year. On the other hand, there’s never any reason to believe they will win the Big Ten. That being said, I have them positioned here, not with the following tier, but between Michigan State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.- CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli
Iowa just prevails in contests. It’s a mystery to all of us how Kirk Ferentz manages to get double digit victories practically with only a defense and special teams unit. Ferentz’s Hawkeyes have won ten games five times since 2019.
There are many reasons to think this squad will be better in 2024, even though you may not agree with Iowa’s methods of doing things. You also have to respect them. Yes, the act is heinous, but almost all of the significant people have returned. The offensive line as a whole is deep and back.
Following a season-long injury layoff, tight end Luke Lachey and quarterback Cade McNamara both return to the starting lineup. Along with a new offensive coordinator, that side of the ball may adopt a bit more upbeat mindset. Although the defense does lose some star players, it consistently has one of the strongest defenses in the league despite its player losses.Fornelli from CBS Sports
Iowa will get better on the offensive end of the ball if they can even muster a pulse. Their best quarterback and wide receiver are returned. Tim Lester, the new offensive coordinator, will use that team’s playbook to determine its success.
Eight defensive starters are returned for Iowa, five of whom choose to stay at Iowa and try to make a second shot at the NFL. This unit will punish teams and be very strong, just like clockwork.
There is some uncertainty over the remainder of the meeting. The remaining Big Ten teams’ 2024 division rankings are listed below.
As legally they are in the league, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, and Rutgers are included in the category of teams that “will be playing Big Ten football,” but the conversation regarding football ends there.
Since the four previous PAC-12 teams are moving on to the Big Ten, it stands to reason that Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington comprise “The newcomers” tier. Whether these teams can withstand the toughness of the Big Ten is still the greatest unknown.
The three states that comprise the “A year away from being a year away” groupโMichigan State, Nebraska, and Wisconsinโall show indications of vitality.Wisconsin and Nebraska have both hired well-known coaches for the next season, while Minnesota consistently poses a threat to one or two teams every time out.
We move up to the “usual suspects” rung with Michigan and Penn State. Jim Harbaugh’s departure will usher in a new era at Michigan, which need extensive replenishment. It’s unclear whether James Franklin can win the key games for Penn State.