Rece Davis Names Surprising College Football Team That Could 'Pave Their Way' to the Playoff

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Rece Davis Names Surprising College Football Team That Could 'Pave Their Way' to the Playoff

As the 2025 college football season reaches Week 11, one team that was not ranked in the College Football Playoff committee’s initial top 12 could make some noise down the stretch.

The program in question is the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa is 6-2 this season, with its two losses being a three-point defeat to the Iowa State Cyclones and a five-point loss to the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers. The Hawkeyes have four games remaining this season, two of which are against ranked opponents.

This weekend, the first of two important games takes place at home against the No. 9 Oregon Ducks, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. The following weekend, the team will play on the road against the No. 19 USC Trojans. On the “College GameDay Podcast,” ESPN’s Rece Davis mentioned that he believes Iowa has a viable path to its first College Football Playoff appearance.

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) prepares to throw a pass against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. © Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

“You know who else could pave their own way?” Davis asked. “Iowa. Iowa plays USC. Iowa plays Oregon. Washington plays Oregon. You mentioned the Ducks’ opportunity with all of those; the Ducks also have to play all of those teams. Opportunities to stumble and open the door for any of those that might come out of that with a win.”

The Hawkeyes are known for their strong defense, but recently they have experienced an offensive surge. Iowa has scored 25 or more points in three consecutive games. The team is led by quarterback Mark Gronowski, who has thrown for 946 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions. Additionally, he has contributed 313 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.

Related: Joel Klatt Names College Football Program That Will Contend for First Playoff Appearance

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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