Athlon Preseason Top-25

[Cycsk]

Just bought the 2019 Athlon College Football Preview with Brock Purdy on the cover at the West HyVee in Ames.

My favorite feature is the "Big 12 Unit Rankings." They give us two #1's: Defensive Line and Linebackers.

4 of the 12 "Big 12 Games to Watch" include us. Most of any team!

 

[Gonzo]

Iowa's road schedule is brutal. I could see them losing all their road games.

at Iowa State
at Michigan
at Northwestern
at Wisconsin
at Nebraska

Not so easy home games

Penn State
Purdue

Meatgrinder. Half of the B1G's programs are in Athlon's top-20.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Something interesting that I noticed --

Iowa and the immediately surrounding states have not had much for distinguished football teams in the past few years. Looks like that might change soon.

17. Nebraska
18. Iowa
19. Wisconsin
23. Mizzou
24. Iowa State

None of these are "elite" top ten schools, though, at least in the preview.

Good to see the Big 12 North and Big 10 West -- either from the past or now -- becoming more competitive, however. Great Plains schools deserve to win, too.

 

[CySmurf]

Think Stanley's pass hit the dirt?

Or Herky's junk?

 

[madguy30]

Or Herky's junk?

Oh that's right!

He should play basketball too.

 

[Cycsk]

On pages 14-16 of the Athlon preview are the Unit Rankings for each conference. The photo accompanying the Big 12 rankings is JaQuan Bailey!

 

[ForeverIowan]

Just bought the 2019 Athlon College Football Preview with Brock Purdy on the cover at the West HyVee in Ames.

My favorite feature is the "Big 12 Unit Rankings." They give us two #1's: Defensive Line and Linebackers.

4 of the 12 "Big 12 Games to Watch" include us. Most of any team!

#1 defensive line and #1 linebacking core with a first team all Big 12 safety patrolling center field. Defense is absolutely loaded.

 

[Cycsk]

#1 defensive line and #1 linebacking core with a first team all Big 12 safety patrolling center field. Defense is absolutely loaded.

Athlon's Big 12 First-Team Defense includes: Bailey, Lima, Spears, Eisworth. Second-team has Rose. No Uwazurike, not even on third-team!

 

[RezClone]

Athlon's Big 12 First-Team Defense includes: Bailey, Lima, Spears, Eisworth. Second-team has Rose. No Uwazurike, not even on third-team!

This is fair at this point. I like him we all do. Last year Uwazurike had 1 sack, 27 tackles, 12 solo and 15 assist. 5 TFL No FFs. He's a beast no doubt, but I mean I get it.

 

[Cycsk]

This is fair at this point. I like him we all do. Last year Uwazurike had 1 sack, 27 tackles, 12 solo and 15 assist. 5 TFL No FFs. He's a beast no doubt, but I mean I get it.

Which means our D-line is even better than Athlon thinks!