Iowa State’s Playoff Hopes Dwindle After Loss to Cincinnati
The Iowa State Cyclones’ hopes of making the College Football Playoff took a major hit after their first defeat of the season in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bearcats. Entering the game as slight underdogs, the Cyclones were aware of the challenge—and unfortunately, they couldn’t come out on top.
Despite being ranked in the Top 15 before the game, the loss has caused Iowa State to plummet in the rankings, nearly dropping out of the Top 25 entirely. Although Cincinnati is a respectable opponent and may make waves in the Big 12, the loss significantly damages Iowa State’s postseason outlook.
According to Austin Mock of The Athletic, the Cyclones now have just a 5% chance to reach the College Football Playoff. Their chances were much better prior to the loss, but the defeat has drastically changed their trajectory.
Cyclones’ Path to CFP Now Highly Unlikely
Seeing their CFP odds drop to 4% is discouraging for Cyclone fans, but the season is far from over. While the Big 12 hasn’t gained much national respect yet, several teams are beginning to rise in the polls—Texas Tech has climbed into the Top 10, and others are gaining momentum.
Looking ahead, Iowa State faces a relatively manageable Week 7 matchup against Colorado. However, after that, the schedule becomes more demanding, with consecutive games against ranked teams BYU and Arizona State. These matchups will be critical opportunities for Iowa State to earn quality wins and regain national attention.
Luckily, both of those key games will be played at home following a bye week, giving the Cyclones a valuable chance to regroup and prepare. With six regular-season games remaining, the team still has reasons to be optimistic about their overall performance this year.
While Iowa State is expected to be favored in several upcoming games, they’ll need to tighten up their defense—an area that struggled notably in the Cincinnati loss. If they hope to climb back into playoff contention or at least secure a strong postseason berth, defensive improvements will be essential.
No Comment! Be the first one.