Kirk Herbstreit puts Big Ten contender on upset alert this weekend

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Kirk Herbstreit puts Big Ten contender on upset alert this weekend

Kirk Herbstreit puts Big Ten contender on upset alert this weekend originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Oregon Ducks are looking ahead to a possible run in the College Football Playoff, but Dan Lanning's team can't afford to overlook the Iowa Hawkeyes along the way. 

The Ducks were put on upset alert by ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who bluntly said they won't survive Iowa City without a second loss, which would likely destroy any Playoff hopes in the process. Strange things have happened in the true midwest, especially with Kirk Ferentz's team coming into the Big Ten clash with momentum. 

“We all love Dan Lanning. We all love the Ducks and their potential. But there’s just something about certain teams at Iowa when you go to November,” Herbstreit said Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show. “It’s gonna be ugly. It’s gonna be like 15-12. You’re going to wonder, ‘How the hell did we get 15-12? But that’s the fun with Iowa."

Oregon may have a 7-1 record but look unimpressive in the 21-7 win over Wisconsin last week. Also, the 30-20 loss to Indiana might've been the TKO to keep them outside the Playoff, if the SEC somehow gets four one-loss teams after the title game. The win at Penn State now looks worthless after James Franklin's firing and the early fall apart against UCLA. 

Still, Oregon is No. 9 in the Playoff ranking and has a path to follow. Iowa isn't a weaker opponent at 6-2 overall and very much alive in the title hunt. It's going to be very interesting to see how it all plays out. 

Oregon hits the road to Iowa on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS). 

More college football news: 

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos