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Big Ten Football Power Rankings, Week 7: Iowa reigns supreme

By Dante Pryor

Oct 1, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes players celebrates after a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes players celebrates after a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 9, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) runs with the ball as Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Khalan Tolson (45) pursues in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
October 9, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) runs with the ball as Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Khalan Tolson (45) pursues in the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-3, 0-3)

There is hope in Piscataway for Rutgers fans. Though Rutgers has lost three straight games, they have all been against the conference’s best (Ohio State, Michigan State, and Michigan). Taking care of business in their nonconference has paved the way to a bowl.

Their next three games (Northwestern, Illinois, and Wisconsin) are winnable. Though the roster needs more talent and depth, this team of transfers and players no one else offered is playing hard for Greg Schiano like everyone knew they would. Their reward could be a bowl game.

10. Purdue Boilermakers (3-2, 1-1)

If you are trying to make a bowl game, you cannot lose to a team that lost to Bowling Green. Yet, that is what the Boilermakers did, losing to Minnesota two weeks ago. Jeff Brohm and the Boilermakers’ coaching staff had a week to fix an offense beset by injuries.

Running back King Dorue, wide receiver David Bell and defensive end DaMarcus Mitchell have all been nursing injuries since the Illini game, not to mention Alexander Horvath is out for the season. It gets no easier for Purdue as they travel to No. 2 Iowa this weekend.

9. Wisconsin Badgers (2-3, 1-2)

The Badgers picked up a much-needed win, shutting out the Illinois Fighting Illini 24-0 last week in Champaign. Head coach Paul Chryst made no bones about what he wanted to do offensively, running the football 61 times.

Chryst’s commitment to the running game makes their game against the Army at Camp Randall that much more intriguing this weekend. Expect few possessions and a lot of paint swapping as this game is sure to be a physical, hard-hitting contest.

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