Big Ten Power Rankings: Where Does Iowa Football Stand After Beating Wisconsin?

Iowa football is feeling pretty good about itself after downing Wisconsin on Saturday, and though Kirk Ferentz doesn't care about rankings, Hawkeye fans will like where their team ends up on this week's latest Big Ten power rankings. 

If there's one thought I have about this conference, it's that its wide open as we head into November. Buckle up, folks. 

The Spartans were on a bye last week, so one could only hope that can help Pat Fitzgerald and Co. find a way to end this season with at least one conference victory. 

Maryland came very close to beating Illinois, but the Fighting Illini managed to hang on with a last-second field goal. We'll see if the Terps can play spoiler down the stretch. 

Rutgers remains ahead of Maryland because of its head-to-head victory over the Terrapins a few weeks ago, but this team is going nowhere. It's probably time to move on from Greg Schiano. 

Purdue has fallen back to earth after a surprising 2-1 start in Big Ten play. A home date with Maryland this week could get the Boilers back in the win column. 

The fourth quarter continues to be Nebraska's kryptonite. I've never seen a team fall apart at the end of a game more than Matt Rhule's team. The Huskers could be in free-fall mode if they can't win at Illinois on Friday. 

Congratulations to Penn State for getting its first conference win of the season! Attendance in Beaver Stadium is becoming a major issue, though. 

Michigan pulled out a win over Rutgers, but this is far from the Wolverines we're used to seeing. 

Washington's offense couldn't do anything until the final three minutes of the game against Nebraska, but that's why football games are 60 minutes. Give credit to the Huskies, but this offense needs to be better.

Bret Bielema deserves a lot of credit for guiding Illinois out of a brutal start. The Fighting Illini don't win in the prettiest ways, but they are getting it done. 

Minnesota thought it had beaten No. 4 Indiana with a 60-yard field goal, but the Hoosiers responded with a 60-yarder of their own and then won in overtime. That was an absolutely brutal loss for P.J. Fleck and Co. 

Wisconsin came to Kinnick Stadium with a lot of hype, but it laid an absolute egg. The Badgers were dominated by Iowa in every statistical category. Disappointing setback for Luke Fickell and Co. 

Northwestern had Oregon on the ropes at Autzen Stadium, but couldn't hang on to a 20-6 lead. That was a frustrating outcome for the Wildcats, but they have to get back up on their feet and play Iowa at home this Saturday. 

Oregon still isn't a great team, but if it can flash that explosiveness with Dylan Raiola under center, it will have a chance to salvage its season. A tough road test at Ohio State awaits. 

Few coaches in America are better at bouncing back after losses than Kirk Ferentz. Iowa just simply has Wisconsin's number right now. The biggest question I have moving forward with this Hawkeye team is consistency. We've seen complete performances from Iowa this year, but this young team needs to string together a winning streak to have any chance of being in the College Football Playoff conversation. 

Indiana does have the second-best mark in the conference, but the Hoosiers just haven't been playing well in any of their wins. Credit Curt Cignetti for grinding these games out, but Indiana needs more from its offense. The bye week should help. 

It may be a little bullish to put USC in the top five, but Lincoln Riley and Co. deserve a shoutout for beating up Ohio State. The Buckeyes are definitely not the same team without Julian Sayin, but that was a major win nonetheless. The Trojans are back in CFP contention. 

Head-to-head wins do matter in these power rankings, but Ohio State remains above USC for two reasons: it was playing with a backup quarterback in a monsoon. The Buckeyes are suddenly in serious danger of missing the CFP, but this team is too talented not to bounce back, right? 

Bob Chesney continues to do wonders in Los Angeles. No one is showing up to games, but the Bruins have a very good chance to run the table and make the CFP. What a story this team is writing in Hollywood. Can UCLA keep winning?