Big Ten Football: Post-spring power rankings for 2021 season

By the end of last season, you could make the argument that Iowa was the second-best team in the Big Ten.

Following tough losses to Purdue and Northwestern at home to open the season by a combined five points, the Hawkeyes won out and were dominant at times in doing so. They finished last year ranked in the top 20 and have 13 starters returning on offense and defense, including starting quarterback Spencer Petras.

Iowa is losing some key pieces on the offensive and defensive lines, which was part of what made the Hawkeyes so good down the stretch. Six starters will need to be replaced combined between the O-line and D-line, as well as both starting receivers.

However, Iowa is great at developing big guys. It also has one of the best running backs in the Big Ten in Tyler Goodson, an All-Big Ten performer a season ago.

As long as Iowa can avoid some of the early slip-ups this season, it should be really good by November and a trip to Indy is well within reach.