The University of Iowa football team is ranked No. 15 in the Amway Coaches Preseason Poll released Monday.
The Hawkeyes’ preseason national ranking of No. 15 is its highest since 2010, when Iowa was ranked No. 9 by the Associated Press and 10th by the coaches.
Iowa returns 39 lettermen on offense, defense, and special teams, which includes 14 starters (seven on offense and seven on defense), from last year’s team that posted a historic 12-2 record. Last season, the Hawkeyes won all four traveling trophy rivalry games, captured the Big Ten West Division title, and competed in the Big Ten Conference championship game and 2016 Rose Bowl.
Iowa is one of four Big Ten universities ranked in the preseason poll, joining Ohio State (5), Michigan (8), and Michigan State (11).
The Amway Coaches Poll is comprised of a panel of FBS head coaches. The panel is chosen by random draw from a pool of coaches who indicated to the American Football Coaches Association their willingness to participate. The Associated Press will release its preseason rankings on Aug. 21.
Iowa opens the 2016 season on Sept. 3, against Miami, Ohio. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (CT) at Kinnick Stadium. Tickets are available for all UI home football games (limited availability for Iowa State and Michigan contests) at the UI Athletic Ticket Office located in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS, or online at hawkeyesports.com/tickets.
Amyway Coaches Poll
Rank School Points
1 Alabama 1,585
2 Clemson 1,524
3 Oklahoma 1,398
4 Florida State 1,351
5 Ohio State 1,321
6 Louisiana State 1,241
7 Stanford 1,149
8 Michigan 1,062
9 Notre Dame 1,034
10 Tennessee 960
11 Michigan State 901
12 Mississippi 792
13 Houston 668
14 TCU 649
15 IOWA 579
16 Georgia 525
17 USC 468
18 Washington 454
19 Oklahoma State 426
20 North Carolina 422
21 Baylor 383
22 Oregon 361
23 Louisville 331
24 UCLA 296
25 Florida 245