Iowa Hawkeyes Bowl Projections: Music City or Citrus Bowl After Week 6 Chaos
Week 6 of the college football season turned the postseason picture upside down, and for Iowa Hawkeyes fans, the projections are starting to take shape. ESPN's bowl experts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach have released their latest predictions, and both see Iowa heading to a prominent bowl game, though the destination differs.
Bonagura projects Iowa to face Mississippi State in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 in Nashville. Schlabach, meanwhile, has the Hawkeyes taking on Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 2 in Orlando. Both games would give Iowa a strong postseason matchup and a chance to close the season with a marquee win.
What happened in Week 6 that changed the bowl picture?
The college football landscape was rocked by upsets, with four unranked teams knocking off ranked opponents. The biggest shock came when Oklahoma defeated then-No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry, while Kentucky, South Carolina, and North Carolina also posted statement wins. UCLA's road victory over Oregon in Eugene added to the chaos.
These results reshuffled the College Football Playoff projections and the entire bowl slate. For Iowa, the shifts were modest but meaningful, keeping the Hawkeyes in the mix for a quality postseason destination.
How does the new College Football Playoff format work in 2026?
This season introduces a new CFP structure. The four Power 4 conference champions receive automatic bids, along with the highest-ranked Group of 6 team. The remaining seven spots go to the next highest-ranked teams, with Notre Dame guaranteed a spot if it finishes in the top 12. The top four teams earn first-round byes, while seeds 5 through 8 host first-round games on campus.
The CFP National Championship is set for Jan. 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, capping a bowl season that begins Dec. 12 with the Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta.
What bowl games are the Hawkeyes projected for?
Bonagura's projection has Iowa facing Mississippi State in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. ET. Schlabach's projection sends Iowa to the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Jan. 2 at noon ET, where the Hawkeyes would meet Tennessee.
Both matchups would provide Iowa with a challenging opponent and a chance to showcase its brand of physical, disciplined football on a national stage. The Music City Bowl offers a regional draw for Hawkeye fans, while the Citrus Bowl carries more prestige as a New Year's Six-adjacent game.
Who are the top teams in the CFP projections?
Both ESPN experts agree on the top two seeds: Georgia and Miami. Bonagura has Georgia as the No. 1 seed with Notre Dame at No. 2, while Schlabach flips Miami to No. 2 and keeps Georgia on top. Indiana, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, and Utah round out the top eight in various combinations.
Bonagura projects a national championship matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia, while Schlabach sees Miami facing Georgia for the title. Both experts have Georgia winning it all.
What does this mean for Iowa's season?
Iowa's path to a bowl game remains solid, but the Hawkeyes will need to finish strong in Big Ten play to secure the best possible destination. The projections suggest Iowa is viewed as a competitive team capable of landing in a quality bowl, whether that is the Music City or Citrus Bowl.
For fans, the takeaway is clear: Iowa is on track for a meaningful postseason appearance, and the final stretch of the regular season will determine just how good that bowl game will be.
Bowl projections for other Big Ten teams
Beyond Iowa, the Big Ten is well represented in the projections. Ohio State is a projected CFP participant, while Indiana, Penn State, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Minnesota all appear in various bowl games. The conference's depth is on full display, with multiple teams in the mix for top-tier postseason matchups.
As the season progresses, these projections will continue to shift. But for now, Iowa fans can look ahead to a bowl game that offers both regional appeal and a chance to end the year on a high note.
This article is based on projections from ESPN's Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach, released after Week 6 of the 2026 college football season.