With the College Football Playoffs only allowing four teams in the mix, several schools were left just on the outside looking in. Stanford and Iowa were two teams in contention until the very end while narrowly missing out on getting into the playoff picture. Now, they look to finish off successful seasons with a win in the Rose Bowl as the Hawkeyes and Cardinals face off on New Year's Day.
Iowa had their eyes on perfection and the playoffs. The Hawkeyes finished the season second in the Big Ten after losing to Michigan State in the title game. The Spartans took the final spot in the playoffs leaving Iowa and their 12-1 record to head to California for the Rose Bowl. It was not was the team had in mind after their solid start to the year, but now they can at least try and end on a high note.
CJ Beathard will lead the Hawkeyes in the Rose Bowl. The quarterback had a solid season throwing 15 touchdowns with 2570 yards. The main receiver on the other end of those passes was Matt VandeBerg who added three touchdowns on the year. However, the passing attack is not what Iowa was known for this year. The team found their success in the run game with the "Four Deadly Horsemen" of Jordan Canzeri, LeShun Daniels Jr, Derrick Mitchell Jr and Akrum Wadley. They combined to put up 100 yards in every game this season while Canzeri led the way with 976 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Cardinals enter the Rose Bowl to play a game no one thought they would make it to. Stanford started their season with a loss to Northwestern, but bounced back. Their only other loss came to Oregon which knocked them out of the playoffs. All eyes will be on Christian McCaffery who finished a record-breaking season as the Heisman trophy runner up. McCaffery rushed for 3,496 yards which broke a record held by Barry Sanders. As just a sophomore in the league, McCaffery will have every chance to come back and win the title next season.
Stanford and Iowa might be disappointed they are playing in the Rose Bowl and not a playoff game, but this matchup will certainly have its thrills. With the passing attack inconsistent, the run game is where each team will find their points as they play on New Year's Day.
