#22 Big Ten Conference

Iowa

Projected 8–4 · 8 proj. wins

Playoff:OUT

Updated Aug 30, 2026 · model record 83% on 6 graded calls →

Call the season

How many games does Iowa win? The Ninjas project 8.

Tap a number to call it — then see how you stack up against the Ninjas.

Playoff

17%

Title

Win conf

SOS

#34

Schedule & outlook

Full schedule + record projection →

W1vs N Illinois98%
W2vs Iowa State79%
W3vs Northern Iowa99%
W4@ Michigan23%
W5vs Ohio State19%
W6@ Washington38%
W8@ Minnesota63%
W9vs Wisconsin72%
W10@ Northwestern61%
W11vs Purdue87%
W12@ Illinois47%
W13vs Nebraska66%

Chaos meter49 · SIMMERING

CalmMayhem

Path to the playoff

Playoff odds →

LOCKWin out → in the field, no committee debate.
RISKLose to Ohio State → the margin for error vanishes.
CHAOSRun the table + upsets → the only way the door opens.

Full odds

Make the 12: 17%
16-team field: 23%
24-team field: 35%
Win conference: 2%
National title: 1%

Our playoff odds call · month by month

▲0

Pre 17% → 17%

Pre 17%Aug 17%

Up next

vs N Illinois· W198% WIN

Matchup preview & buzz →

Last season

2025 · via CFBD

Where Iowa finished a year ago — the foundation the 2026 outlook is built on.

SP+ rating

#12

+19.7 · off #37 / def #6

Talent composite

#42

247 blue-chip composite

Recruiting class

#38

2025 signing class

Returning prod.

49%

of offensive production

Efficiency

2025 · national rank

Offense#37

EPA / play#80
Success rate#46
Explosiveness#134

Defense#6

EPA / play#18
Success rate#35

The big number is opponent-adjusted SP+ offense/defense; the splits underneath are per-play efficiency — the same signals that feed the 2026 model. Lower rank is better.

Offseason moves

2026 portal · via CFBD

Portal in

3★ avg

Portal out

3.1★ avg

Net

in − out

Scholarship players in and out of the transfer portal for 2026, with average recruiting stars — a quick read on whether the roster got deeper or thinner. Star quality matters as much as the count.