Iowa, Michigan's latest top-25 rankings set up interesting bowl discussion

Danny Lawhon
The Des Moines Register
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Iowa's regular season is complete, but there's one more important week of discussion to be had.

And based on the latest USA TODAY Amway Coaches' Poll ranking, it'll be quite the interesting bowl debate between the Hawkeyes and Michigan.

Both teams are 9-3 after Iowa's dramatic 27-24 win over Nebraska and Michigan's 56-27 loss to Ohio State. Michigan has a head-to-head 10-3 victory. They're just one spot apart in Sunday's poll, with the Wolverines at No. 18 and the Hawkeyes at No. 19.

Same goes in The Associated Press' rankings, with Michigan at No. 17 and Iowa 18th.

Ohio State and Penn State look locked into spots in the College Football Playoff or the New Year's Six. Wisconsin (10th in both polls), Minnesota (15th in both), Michigan and Iowa will form the upper tier of bowl games in some fashion.

Wisconsin is sure to get the best remaining spot, but whether that is another New Year's Six bowl or the Citrus Bowl is the question. From there, both schools could be jockeying for a Holiday Bowl game that neither has played in for more than a quarter-century.

The top four in the coaches' rankings remain unchanged, with Utah sliding into the fifth position after Alabama's season-wrecking loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

Iowa State (7-5) continues to get a smattering of votes in both polls after its 27-17 loss to Kansas State.

FULL COACHES' POLL

  1. LSU (12-0), 1,577 points [43 first-place votes]
  2. Ohio State (12-0), 1,548 [17]
  3. Clemson (12-0), 1,482 [4]
  4. Georgia (11-1), 1,394
  5. Utah (11-1), 1,326
  6. Oklahoma (11-1), 1,294
  7. Florida (10-2), 1,135
  8. Baylor (11-1), 1,117
  9. Alabama (10-2), 1,068
  10. Wisconsin (10-2), 952
  11. Penn State (10-2), 946
  12. Auburn (9-3), 897
  13. Oregon (10-2), 878
  14. Notre Dame (10-2), 776
  15. Minnesota (10-2), 688
  16. Memphis (11-1), 630
  17. Boise State (11-1), 558
  18. Michigan (9-3), 542
  19. Iowa (9-3), 502
  20. Appalachian State (11-1), 331
  21. Cincinnati (10-2), 283
  22. Virginia (9-3). 192
  23. Navy (9-2), 188
  24. USC (8-4). 171
  25. Air Force (10-2), 129

Dropped out: No. 21 Oklahoma State; No. 23 Virginia Tech.

Others receiving votes: Southern Methodist 65; Oklahoma State 40; Kansas State 24; UL Lafayette 21; Indiana 14; Hawaii 7; Central Florida 7; Arizona State 6; Tennessee 3; San Diego State 3; Iowa State 3; Virginia Tech 2; Temple 1.

FULL ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL

  1. LSU (12-0), 1,528
  2. Ohio State (12-0), 1,498
  3. Clemson (12-0), 1,437
  4. Georgia (11-1), 1,356
  5. Utah (11-1), 1,275
  6. Oklahoma (11-1), 1,257
  7. Florida (10-2), 1,135
  8. Baylor (11-1), 1,074
  9. Alabama (10-2), 995
  10. Wisconsin (10-2), 971
  11. Auburn (9-3), 957
  12. Penn State (10-2), 890
  13. Oregon (10-2), 799
  14. Notre Dame (10-2), 734
  15. Minnesota (10-2), 683
  16. Memphis (11-1), 615
  17. Michigan (9-3), 603
  18. Iowa (9-3), 537
  19. Boise State (11-1), 463
  20. Appalachian State (11-1), 288
  21. Cincinnati (10-2), 237
  22. Virginia (9-3), 231
  23. Navy (9-2), 216
  24. USC (8-4), 157
  25. Air Force (10-2), 65

Others receiving votes: SMU 50, Oklahoma State 36, Kansas State 36, UCF 6, Virginia Tech 6, Iowa State 5, Arizona State 4, California 3, Washington 2

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