Big Ten Strength of Schedule: Iowa Faces Five Top-25 Teams as ESPN Reporter Gets Fact-Checked
By John Damon | Just The News Iowa
An ESPN SEC reporter's attempt to downplay the Big Ten's strength of schedule backfired badly this week after a quick fact-check revealed the conference actually has eight teams facing at least five ranked opponents in 2026. The correction is good news for Iowa fans who will see their Hawkeyes battle five top-25 teams this season.
ESPN Reporter's Mistaken Claim
ESPN SEC reporter Peter Burns shared a graphic of the USA Today preseason coaches poll on social media Tuesday, claiming that nine SEC teams would play at least five top-25 opponents while zero Big Ten teams would face such a schedule. The post was immediately flagged by Big Ten supporters who pointed out the math was simply wrong.
In reality, seven Big Ten schools are scheduled to face at least five teams currently ranked in the coaches' top 25. A deeper look shows eight Big Ten teams will hit that mark, including the University of Iowa.
Iowa's Tough Road Ahead
The Hawkeyes, ranked No. 22 in the preseason poll, will face a gauntlet of ranked opponents this season. Iowa's schedule includes matchups against No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No. 6 Indiana, No. 16 Michigan, and No. 17 Penn State. That is five top-25 teams on the docket for Kirk Ferentz's squad.
Iowa's schedule is among the toughest in the Big Ten, with road games at Ohio State and Indiana plus home contests against Oregon, Michigan, and Penn State. The Hawkeyes will also face in-state rival Iowa State, though the Cyclones did not make the preseason top 25.
Big Ten's Recent Dominance
The fact-check comes as the Big Ten has established itself as the premier conference in college football. The conference has won three straight national championships and dominated postseason play in recent years. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti took direct shots at the SEC during Big Ten media days, adding fuel to the ongoing rivalry between the two conferences.
Meanwhile, the SEC's defenders have been left to argue that their conference remains the top dog based on television ratings and historical reputation rather than recent on-field results.
Preseason Rankings Have Limits
Burns's critique was based on preseason rankings, which have proven unreliable in recent years. Last season, No. 3 Penn State lost six straight games in a midseason collapse, while undefeated Indiana was ranked only No. 19 despite going 11-2 the previous year. Clemson was ranked No. 6 and received votes as the No. 1 team before losing three of its first four games.
Preseason rankings are essentially meaningless, and using them to measure strength of schedule is doubly unreliable. The real test will come when the games begin.
What This Means for Iowa Fans
For Iowa supporters, the message is clear: the Hawkeyes will be tested early and often. The schedule includes five ranked opponents, giving Iowa ample opportunity to prove itself on the national stage. A strong showing against this slate could propel the Hawkeyes into playoff contention.
The season kicks off in Week 2 with a marquee matchup between Texas and Ohio State, giving fans a first real look at how the conferences stack up. Until then, the debate will continue on social media and sports talk shows.
SEC Numbers Also Off
Burns claimed nine SEC teams would play at least five top-25 opponents. An independent count shows 13 SEC teams actually meet that threshold. Texas and Arkansas lead the way with seven ranked opponents each, followed by six teams with six ranked games and four teams with five.
The error shows Burns was incorrect on both sides of his argument. In the current climate of SEC vs. Big Ten rivalry, such mistakes do not go unnoticed.
Looking Ahead
The actual football games will settle the debate soon enough. For now, Iowa fans can look forward to a challenging schedule that will test their team's mettle. The Hawkeyes have a chance to make a statement against some of the best teams in the country.
The post originally appeared on Awful Announcing.