Kirk Herbstreit stood alone on the ESPN College GameDay set Saturday, going against the rest of the crew by picking No. 20 Iowa to upset No. 9 Oregon in one of Week 11’s biggest matchups.
Herbstreit called the Hawkeyes a “November spoiler” and said the Ducks’ ground game could be their undoing in a cold, physical battle at Kinnick Stadium.
“We’ve all been trained that Iowa in November, they get somebody,” Herbstreit said. “And this is the somebody. It’s going to be Oregon. Forget the history of Iowa winning. Oregon can’t run the football the way you’d expect them to, and they can’t stop the run the way you’d expect.”
Kirk Herbstreit and Mark Ingram II are the only two from the national college pregame shows to pick Iowa over Oregon.
Everyone did, however, say it was going to be a close game.
— Madison Hricik (@SportingMads) November 8, 2025
Not to mention, Oregon’s offensive attack will be on the ropes without top receiver Dakorien Moore, who was ruledout Saturday afternoon. The Ducks have averaged 6.5 yards per carry this season, but much of that came early against lighter competition. In their loss to Indiana, they rushed for only 81 yards on 30 carries.
On the other hand, Iowa has built its reputation on stopping the run, allowing just 2.64 yards per carry, which is tied with Ohio State for best in the Big Ten.
If Herbstreit’s pick proves right, the Big Ten’s Playoff picture could be thrown into turmoil, with Oregon’s CFP hopes potentially hanging by a thread in the final weeks.
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