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Big Ten Football Power Rankings, Week 8: Iowa loss means new No. 1 team

By Dante Pryor

Purdue Boilermakers players celebrate during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game Iowa, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.211016 Purdue Iowa Fb 050 Jpg
Purdue Boilermakers players celebrate during a NCAA Big Ten Conference football game Iowa, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.211016 Purdue Iowa Fb 050 Jpg /
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October 9, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh (right) watches a play against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
October 9, 2021; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh (right) watches a play against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports /

Previous: . Hawkeyes . 5. team. 878. . 6-1, 3-1

The Hawkeyes were finally exposed this past weekend, losing at home to Purdue 24-7. There was going to come a game where the defense did not play particularly well and needed the offense to pick them up and carry the day.

Purdue was not the likely candidate to do what it did to Iowa. The Boilermakers could not run the football, which made them one-dimensional. Iowa’s secondary was supposed to be the team’s strength, yet David Bell had 240 receiving yards when everyone in the stadium knew he was getting the ball.

806. . 5-1, 2-1. Previous: . Nittany Lions . 4. team

Penn State was off this week after their loss to Iowa on the road last week. The off week was a god-send for the Nittany Lions. Sean Clifford has the opportunity to rest the injury he sustained against Iowa and backup quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson a chance to get first-team reps in practice.

Head coach James Franklin has been tight-lipped about the Clifford injury. Playing Illinois this weekend helps Penn State; they could beat the Illini without their starting quarterback. That does not mean Clifford will be back for Ohio State because no one outside Penn State’s football facility knows how serious Clifford’s injury is.

. 6-0, 3-0. Previous: . Wolverines . 3. team. 811

The Wolverines run the risk of having a game similar to Iowa. There will come a game where the running game is ineffective, and they need Cade McNamara to make plays for the Wolverines to win. Can McNamara make those plays?

The jury is out on that. The Wolverines’ offensive line has gelled this season, and the running game is one of the best in the country. They should take care of business against Northwestern this week. Circle those calendars for Oct. 30 when they play Michigan State.

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