College Football Playoff Rankings 2018: Top 25 projections for Week 10

Defense kept Iowa in the game as long as possible when they went on the road to face No. 17 Penn State in Happy Valley on Saturday. But Kirk Ferentz’s team couldn’t pull out the victory in Big Ten play, falling 30-24 to the Nittany Lions as their comeback bid fell short.

Geno Stone returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown to bring Iowa back within a field goal with 10 minutes remaining in the game. The defense held the Nittany Lions on the ensuing drive, and the Hawkeyes drove down into the red zone. But Nate Stanley threw an interception from the Penn State 3 on first and goal with 3:18 remaining, and the comeback bid fell short.

Iowa probably will still make it into the College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings, thanks to their position as one of a trio of teams tied for second in the Big Ten West. The Hawkeyes play Northwestern and Purdue head-to-head still, and only need Wisconsin to lose once more to control their own fate.