WHERE WOULD "COLLEGE GAMEDAY" GO?
WEEK 1
Honorable Mentions: Prairie @ Pleasant Valley, Johnston @ Cedar Falls
SOUTHEAST POLK @ DOWLING CATHOLIC
An instant classic in 2021 between these teams. They combine for 8 of the last 9 state championships in Iowa's biggest class. No Brainer to pick the Rams and the Maroons.
WEEK 2
Honorable Mentions: SE Polk @ WDM Valley, Urbandale @ Johnston
ANKENY CENTENNIAL @ ANKENY
You can never go wrong with a cross-town rivalry. Ankeny has been in the championship game the past 2 years but Centennial got the best of the Hawks in the previous matchup.
WEEK 3
Honorable Mentions: NW Waukee @ SE Polk, Dowling Catholic @ Ankeny
PRAIRIE @ CEDAR FALLS
Fantastic games between these teams during the past few years. It also helps make the game bigger when the UNI-Dome is involved.
WEEK 4
Honorable Mentions: IC City High @ Dowling Catholic, Cedar Falls @ Ankeny Centennial
ANKENY @ SOUTHEAST POLK
A rematch of the last 2 championship games has to be the easiest selection of the season. The fans have been waiting months for this rematch.
WEEK 5
Honorable Mentions: CR Kennedy @ Dubuque Senior, Waukee @ Johnston
IC CITY HIGH @ IOWA CITY WEST
Probably gets passed on in weeks with bigger games but Week 5 is not as strong as other weeks. When in doubt, find the rivalry game.
WEEK 6
Honorable Mentions: SE Polk @ Linn-Mar, Bettendorf @ Pleasant Valley
WDM VALLEY @ ANKENY
Have to give Valley at least one appearance on the season. Might go with SE Polk @ Linn-Mar if both teams are playing good football but Valley-Ankeny is a safe bet for week 6.
WEEK 7
Honorable Mentions: Cedar Falls @ Dubuque Hempstead, Pleasant Valley @ IC City High
PRAIRIE @ SOUTHEAST POLK
I may be showing my bias here but it was an instant classic in 2021. Both teams are expected to be fighting for playoff positioning by this point in the season.
WEEK 8
Honorable Mentions: NW Waukee @ Ankeny, CR Kennedy @ Johnston
AMES @ DES MOINES LINCOLN
This one could wind up being an elimination game for these teams. Really any game with playoff implications could be picked here.
WEEK 9
Honorable Mentions: Linn-Mar @ Prairie, Cedar Falls @ Dubuque Senior
URBANDALE @ WAUKEE NORTHWEST
2 Teams that I neglected for 8 weeks will get their chance to shine for playoff positioning. This game had the biggest RPI implications last year, and it may have that same feat again. Did I mention the stadium being a nice backdrop?
