Aug. 5, 2005
The first major college football poll has been released and the Iowa Hawkeyes are ranked 10th in the USA Today Coaches poll released Friday.
Iowa’s ranking is its highest preseason ranking since 1985 where the Hawkeyes were ranked No. 3 by USA Today and No. 4 by the Associated Press. Iowa was ranked No. 12 by USA Today and No. 19 by the AP in last season’s preseason polls.
The Hawkeyes are one of three Big Ten teams ranked in the top 10. Michigan is ranked fourth and Ohio State ninth. Iowa opens Big Ten play against the ninth-ranked Buckeyes in Columbus on Sept. 24, while the Hawkeyes host the fourth-ranked Wolverines Oct. 22 in Kinnick Stadium.Purdue is the fourth league team in the poll, checking in at No. 16.
Defending national champion USC is ranked first, collecting all but two first place votes. The Southeastern Conference boasts the most teams ranked with six. Tennessee is ranked No. 3, followed by sixth-ranked LSU, 11th-ranked Florida, 13th-ranked Georgia, 15th-ranked Auburn and 24th-ranked Alabama.
Iowa is ranked high in a number of preseason publications. The Hawkeyes are ranked second by cbssportsline.com, third by Athlon, sixth by Gold Sheet, 10th by Blue Ribbon and The Sporting News, 13th by Street & Smith, 14th by Phil Steele and 15th by Lindy.
The Hawkeyes open their 2005 season Sept. 3 vs. Ball State in Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. and the game is televised regionally on ESPN Plus and is also part of the ESPN GamePlan pay-per-view service.
Rank Team Record Points1. USC (60) 13-0 1,5472. Texas (2) 11-1 1,4053. Tennessee 10-3 1,2594. Michigan 9-3 1,2425. Oklahoma 12-1 1,2236. LSU 9-3 1,1097. Virginia Tech 10-3 1,0908. Miami 9-3 1,0809. Ohio State 8-4 1,03310. IOWA 10-2 1,01411. Florida 7-5 91012. Florida State 9-3 87913. Georgia 10-2 83814. Louisville 11-1 75815. Auburn 13-0 72316. Purdue 7-5 61617. Texas A&M 7-5 36618. Arizona State 9-3 30419. Boise State 11-1 30320. California 10-2 29321. Texas Tech 8-4 24722. Boston College 9-3 23723. Virginia 8-4 21024. Alabama 6-6 19425. Pittsburgh 8-4 193
Records listed are from 2004.