Big Ten football power rankings: Did Iowa rise or fall over their bye?

What a wild and wacky weekend in the Big Ten conference.

Iowa was on a bye following its 20-15 loss to Indiana last weekend, so it got to watch from the sideline as chaos ensued around the conference. From big comeback wins to shocking collapses, it was a weekend to remember in the Big Ten.

Where do the Hawkeyes rank in this week’s newest Big Ten football power rankings? Did they benefit from the chaos or drop further down into the doldrums of the conference? Let’s dive into the newest edition of the Big Ten football power rankings.

1. Ohio State (5-0)

The Buckeyes showed once again why they’re the best team in the nation with a 42-3 drubbing of Minnesota. Sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin is really coming into his own, and the defense is absolutely nasty. Ryan Day’s squad is the frontrunner to repeat as National Champions at the moment.

Next week: @ Illinois

2. Oregon (5-0)

The Ducks had a bye week to refocus following their huge road win over Penn State last weekend. The offense and running game in particular have been great this season, and the defense is loaded with star power. They seem to be on a crash course to a matchup with Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game right now.

Next week: vs Indiana

3. Indiana (5-0)

The Hoosiers also had a bye to celebrate their road win over Iowa and to get ready for a huge matchup this weekend. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is still in the Heisman Trophy race, and Curt Cignetti’s squad is playing with loads of confidence. We’ll learn a lot about Indiana this weekend.

Next week: @ Oregon

4. Michigan (4-1)

The Wolverines used their strong defense and a great game from quarterback Bryce Underwood to overwhelm Wisconsin 24-10 on Saturday. Running back Justice Haynes ran for two more scores on the ground, giving Michigan a great performance to back up their freshman quarterback. The Wolverines are improving every week.

Next week: @ USC

5. USC (4-1)

The Trojans had a bye week to stew on a frustrating road loss to Illinois last weekend. The offense is elite per usual under Lincoln Riley, but the defense had legitimate concerns. If that unit doesn’t improve, this season could go off the rails.

Next week: vs Michigan

6. Illinois (4-1)

Quarterback Luke Altmyer threw for a career-high 390 yards in the Fighting Illini’s 43-27 win over Purdue on Saturday. Illinois’ offense has really rebounded from a poor performance against Indiana, but the defense was a problem again. They gave up over 450 yards for the third straight week, an issue that Bret Bielema needs to address soon.

Next week: vs Ohio State

7. Washington (4-1)

The Huskies pull off one of the craziest comebacks you’ll ever see this weekend. They trailed 20-0 late in the third quarter, but scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Maryland 24-20. Quarterback Demond Williams was great again, and the defense really settled in after a shaky start. This could be a season-defining result for Washington.

Next week: vs Rutgers

8. Iowa (3-2)

The Hawkeyes were on a bye following a frustrating home loss to Indiana. The biggest question for Iowa is the health of quarterback Mark Gronowski, whose status for this weekend is up in the air. The Hawkeyes need him healthy if they want to turn their season around.

Next week: @ Wisconsin

9. Nebraska (4-1)

The Cornhuskers picked up a big 38-27 win over Michigan State over the weekend. Running back Emmet Johnson found the end zone three times, while the defense had two interceptions in the win. This was a solid performance for Matt Rhule’s squad, albeit against an average Spartans team.

Next week: @ Maryland

10. Maryland (4-1)

The Terrapins let one slip through their fingers, blowing a 20-point lead on Saturday en route to a 24-20 loss to Washington. Maryland had a 5-0 start right there for the taking, but couldn’t finish the game. Quarterback Malik Washington struggled against a strong Huskie defense, and the defense blew it in the fourth quarter.

Next week: vs Nebraska

11. Michigan State (3-2)

Quarterback Aidan Chiles was awful in the Spartans‘ 38-27 loss to Nebraska. He went 9-23 for 85 yards and two interceptions in the loss, showcasing the worst of what he can be. Michigan State will only go as far as Chiles can take them, and they need much better performances from him going forward.

Next week: vs UCLA

12. Penn State (3-2)

Pathetic. Embarrassing. Inexcusable. Whatever word you want to use to describe the Nittany Lions‘ 42-37 loss to UCLA will work. Penn State’s defense looked uninterested from the jump, letting the Bruins drive down the field at will. This is the kind of performance that gets a head coach fired. It’s do-or-die time for James Franklin the rest of this season.

Next week: vs Northwestern

13. Rutgers (3-2)

The Scarlet Knights had a bye to make adjustments after a tough road loss to Minnesota. The offense, led by quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, is strong. But the defense is a complete mess at the moment. Greg Schiano needs to get that unit ironed out soon.

Next week: @ Washington

14. Northwestern (3-2)

The Wildcats took care of business with a 42-7 win against an overmatched UL Monroe squad on Saturday. Quarterback Preston Stone threw for three touchdowns in the win. This team still isn’t very good, but they were able to flex their muscles against a far inferior non-conference opponent.

Next week: @ Penn State

15. Minnesota (3-2)

The Golden Gophers jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Saturday. That was the end of the good stuff in that game, as they lost 42-3 to Ohio State. 162 yards of offense isn’t going to get it done against most teams, and especially not against the best team in the country. PJ Fleck’s offense has some soul-searching to do following this performance.

Next week: vs Purdue

16. UCLA (1-4)

Wow. If you saw this performance coming from the Bruins, I’m going to need the winning Powerball numbers from you. UCLA’s offense looked fantastic in its 42-37 win over Penn State. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava played like the quarterback UCLA paid for, accounting for five total touchdowns in the win. I have no idea what to expect from this team going forward.

Next week: @ Michigan State

17. Wisconsin (2-3)

The Badgers are truly dreadful right now. They played like a team that’s given up on its head coach in a 24-10 loss to Michigan. The quarterback room is a mess, and the defense is incredibly soft. Luke Fickell will need a miracle to keep his job at this rate.

Next week: vs Iowa

18. Purdue (2-3)

The Boilermakers have come back to Earth following a 2-0 start to the season. The offense was good, but the defense was abysmal in their 43-27 loss to Illinois over the weekend. Purdue will be lucky to win a conference game at this rate.

Next week: @ Minnesota

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Big Ten football power rankings: Did Iowa rise or fall over their bye?

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