Iowa's blowout win at Washington clears path to College Football Playoff thanks to easy remaining schedule

With only unranked opponents left on the schedule and an offense finding new life behind Jeremy Hecklinski, a CFP bid is within reach No. 20 Iowa faced the unenviable task of traveling two times zones for Friday night's game at Washington on short rest after a physically taxing Week 5 loss to Ohio State. Further complicating matters for the Hawkeyes was a shoulder injury that kept starting quarterback Hank Brown out. But with backup Jeremy Hecklinski slinging the rock, Iowa jumped out to an early four-touchdown lead and stunned the Huskies 41-24. In the process, the Hawkeyes reinserted themselves into the College Football Playoff hunt. At 5-1 and 2-1 in the Big Ten, Iowa is entering the second half of its schedule with a realistic path to a 10-2 record or even 11-1 if it runs the table.

A 10-2 Iowa team would have roughly a 60% chance of reaching the College Football Playoff, according to the CBS Sports College Football Forecaster. The Hawkeyes are one of the strongest Power Four programs to have never made a CFP appearance. While the path ahead isn't necessarily easy, it's notable for what it doesn't include. There is no Indiana or Oregon on the docket. In fact, not a single team ranked in the AP Top 25 entering Week 6 action remains on