ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit views Iowa football as CFP challenger

During his Friday appearance on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show," college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit gave tremendous praise to Kirk Ferentz's Iowa football program as a team that he believes always has a fighting chance at making the College Football Playoff.

While the Hawkeyes have yet to appear in the CFP since its inception in 2014, Herbstreit highlighted the under-appreciated work of defensive coordinator Phil Parker and the Hawkeyes' hard-nosed style of play.

"I feel like they are every year. I always look at Iowa with Kirk Ferentz as a team that is always knocking on that 10-win mark. I mean, I think they've averaged nine wins over the last, I don't know how many years. I don't think they get credit, to be honest with you, because of the style of ball that they play.

"Phil Parker is as good as there is as a defensive coordinator. If you and I asked anybody outside of that region, tell me about Iowa's defensive coordinator. I don't know if a lot of people (would know). Do you ever hear Phil Parker talked about on a national level? Never. Should he be? Yes. But, I think (they don't get credit) because of the style of ball that they play. They don't necessarily win sexy, they don't outscore people. They hit you with a rubber hose. They just beat you down, and, to me, it's effective," Herbstreit said.

"I always look at Iowa with Kirk Ferentz as a team that's knocking on the College Football Playoff door..

It all comes down to if they can play with the big boys" ~ @KirkHerbstreit#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/tDa982euBl

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 11, 2026

Herbstreit added that the Hawkeyes' true X-factor this season is their quarterback play, especially against upper-echelon Big Ten foes on their schedule such as Ohio State, Michigan, and Washington.

"It comes down to the quarterback play," Herbstreit said. "Can they play with the big boys? You know they're going to get to that nine- or 10-win mark, which to me gets them in the discussion. But what are they going to do when it comes to those top teams in the Big Ten?"

Iowa took one step forward toward validating Herstreit's thoughts with its 16-13 Cy-Hawk win over rival Iowa State. The Hawkeyes return to action on Saturday, Sept. 19 against Northern Iowa from Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast by FS1.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews

This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit views Iowa football as CFP challenger