College Football's Most Underrated Teams: Iowa Connections and 2026 Sleeper Picks

As the 2026 college football season approaches, analysts are finalizing their predictions. But some teams are flying under the radar, and a few of them have direct connections to Iowa and the Big Ten Conference. From a Vanderbilt squad that lost to the Hawkeyes last season to a North Dakota State program that could make playoff noise, here are the five teams that deserve more respect this year.

Why Vanderbilt Matters to Iowa Fans

Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea has been quietly building a competitive program in Nashville. The Commodores lost to Iowa last season, but that defeat came against one of the best teams on their schedule. Now, with 5-star quarterback Jared Curtis arriving and a strong receiving corps returning, Vanderbilt looks poised to surprise people in the SEC.

Our prediction has Vanderbilt going 4-8, but that includes projected road losses at Auburn, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Florida. The Commodores will be good enough to win at least one of those games, and they might even beat NC State at home. We won't be the slightest bit shocked if we're off by two wins.

The Diego Pavia Factor

Former quarterback Diego Pavia masked a lot of defensive issues last year. Vanderbilt won games because the offense was explosive, putting up 500 points on the season. Without him, the defense will need to step up. But with the talent coming in, this is no longer the Vanderbilt everyone is used to kicking around.

North Dakota State: A Playoff Contender Hiding in the FCS

North Dakota State is a program that needs no introduction to Midwest football fans. The Bison have won ten FCS national titles under four different head coaches since 2011, and counting their D-II history, they have 18 national championships since 1963.

This season, the Bison are facing 11 FBS teams, including road games at Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico, and Hawaii. There are significant losses on offense, but this is still North Dakota State. The last time the Bison won fewer than ten games in a season was 2009, excluding the shortened 2020 campaign.

Could the Bison Make the College Football Playoff?

This is the preseason prediction we're least happy about. North Dakota State doesn't play any Power Four programs, so it might just rip through the Mountain West on the way to the College Football Playoff. For Iowa fans who love physical, fundamental football, the Bison are always worth watching.

Colorado: Talent vs. Schedule

Colorado has more than enough offensive talent to win a few shootouts. Quarterback Julian Lewis is a tremendous talent, and the receiving corps is loaded. If the offensive line is even slightly competent, there will be times when it all clicks.

However, the offensive line has to improve dramatically just to be average, and the defense is starting over with transfers. After a horrible end to last season, the vibes aren't there. Our 2-10 prediction is in line with the consensus win total of 3.5, but there's enough talent for a few upset wins.

Kentucky: A New Offense Changes Everything

New head coach Will Stein was a star offensive coordinator, and he brought in a strong coaching staff that crushed the transfer portal. Quarterback Kenny Minchey comes in from Notre Dame, the receiving corps is loaded, and the offensive line will be far better.

The problem is the schedule. Youngstown State and South Alabama are the only sure wins. After that, it's Vanderbilt, Florida, and Louisville. We predicted four wins, but with this new offense, the Wildcats will likely flirt with bowl eligibility.

North Carolina: Belichick's Second Act

For all the criticism of Bill Belichick's coaching style, he's still Bill Belichick. He hit the transfer portal hard, and Bobby Petrino is an interesting offensive coordinator hire. The defense that was underrated last year should be solid.

The schedule is brutal: TCU in Dublin, at Clemson, Notre Dame, at Pitt, at Duke. There's still Miami, Louisville, NC State, and a trip to Virginia. Our 5-7 call is fair, and the consensus win total is 4.5. But the Tar Heels weren't that far off from being 6-6 instead of 4-8 last season, and again, it's Belichick.

What This Means for the 2026 Season

College football is unpredictable, and these five teams could make analysts look foolish. For Iowa fans, the Vanderbilt connection is particularly interesting, as the Hawkeyes' win over the Commodores last year looks better with each passing month. Keep an eye on these programs as the season unfolds.

John Damon is a sports contributor for Just The News Iowa.