ESPN names Iowa football among potential first-time champions in 2026

Iowa football claims five national championships. The Hawkeyes claim the 1921, 1922, 1956, 1958 and 1960 national championships.

Iowa wasn’t the nation’s top-ranked team in the Associated Press’ final top 25 rankings in 1956, 1958 or 1960, though. The Hawkeyes were ranked third (1956), second (1958) and third (1960) in those seasons’ final AP Top 25 polls.

And, of course, the AP Top 25 poll didn’t exist until 1936.

With that in mind, ESPN compiled a list of teams that could become first-time national champions in the 2026 college football season. In order to compile its list, ESPN only recognized national titles from the AP, the United Press International, the Coaches Poll or BCS and College Football Playoff national championships.

ESPN ranked Iowa as the fourth-most likely program to break through:

Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes have generated a level of consistency that few programs ever see, winning between eight and 10 games in 11 of the past 13 seasons and claiming a top-15 defense, per SP+, for 11 straight years. When the breaks go their way in close games, they win 10; when they don’t, it’s more like eight. Keep that up, and they’ll reach the CFP pretty soon.

They’ll still have to win three or four games when they get there, however, and they’ve lost their past seven games against top-10 teams by an average of 33-7. Raw upside is Iowa’s biggest issue; this is a high-floor, lower-ceiling program, and we’ll see if it can figure out a way to bridge that gap. If Indiana can, the Hawkeyes can, right? – Bill Connelly, ESPN

Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes have generated a level of consistency that few programs ever see, winning between eight and 10 games in 11 of the past 13 seasons and claiming a top-15 defense, per SP+, for 11 straight years. When the breaks go their way in close games, they win 10; when they don’t, it’s more like eight. Keep that up, and they’ll reach the CFP pretty soon.

They’ll still have to win three or four games when they get there, however, and they’ve lost their past seven games against top-10 teams by an average of 33-7. Raw upside is Iowa’s biggest issue; this is a high-floor, lower-ceiling program, and we’ll see if it can figure out a way to bridge that gap. If Indiana can, the Hawkeyes can, right? – Bill Connelly, ESPN

The top three most-likely teams to break through and win their first national championship this season were Oregon (No. 1), Texas Tech (No. 2) and Ole Miss (No. 3).

Two other Big Ten teams were listed within ESPN’s top 20 most-likely teams to win their first national championship in 2026: Illinois (No. 8) and Wisconsin (No. 10).

It’s a long road to glory for Iowa, but the Hawkeyes will look to begin charting that path on Saturday, Sept. 5 against Northern Illinois from Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff between the Hawkeyes and Huskies is set for 3:15 p.m. CT with the game broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

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