Big Ten football power rankings: Does Iowa fall after Oregon loss?

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Saturday night felt like Groundhog Day for Iowa fans, as the Hawkeyes lost another game to a ranked opponent.

The 18-16 loss to Oregon is even more frustrating for Hawkeye fans because the game was right there for the taking. Iowa lost by two points despite a bad snap on a punt leading to a safety, a fumble in the red zone from Kaden Wetjen, and a failed two-point conversion attempt. If any one of those plays bounces the other way, there's a good chance Iowa wins that game.

But they didn't. And it extends a losing streak against ranked opponents that goes back to 2021. How far does this loss drop Iowa in the Big Ten football power rankings after a wild week in the conference? Let's jump into a week 11 edition of the power rankings.

1. Ohio State (9-0)

The Buckeyes did exactly what they were supposed to do against a terrible Purdue team on Saturday, winning 34-10. They outgained the Boilermakers 473-186 behind dominant games from quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. That sophomore duo is powering Ohio State to the top of these power rankings and the entire college football landscape.

Next week: vs UCLA

2. Indiana (10-0)

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza had his Heisman Trophy moment in the Hoosiers' 27-24 road victory over Penn State. Getting the ball back with just under two minutes to play and down by four, Mendoza led Indiana down the field, making huge throws left and right before tossing the game-winning touchdown to Omar Cooper Jr. with 30 seconds left. It wasn't a pristine game for Curt Cignetti's bunch, but they found a way to win behind Mendoza's heroics.

Next week: vs Wisconsin

3. Oregon (8-1)

The Ducks got a signature victory on Saturday afternoon, traveling to rainy Iowa City, playing Iowa's style of game, and emerging with an 18-16 win. Oregon's rushing game ran wild all game, gaining 261 yards on 7.3 yards per carry. The defense held Iowa to 239 yards of total offense as the Ducks survived their first trip to Kinnick Stadium this century. A culture-defining victory for Dan Lanning's team.

Next week: vs Minnesota

4. USC (7-2)

The Trojans handled their business on Friday night, taking care of Northwestern 38-17 in Southern California. Freshman running back King Miller had a nice day on the ground, rushing for 127 yards and a score in the win. Star wide receiver Makai Lemon was fantastic, hauling in 11 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown. USC's College Football Playoff hopes remain alive for the time being.

Next week: vs Iowa

5. Michigan (7-2)

The Wolverines had a bye week to get better following a lackluster win over Purdue in week 10. Michigan's running game is elite, but quarterback Bryce Underwood leaves a lot to be desired in the passing game. If he can improve over this stretch run, the Wolverines will be in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot.

Next week: @ Northwestern

6. Iowa (6-3)

The Hawkeyes brought Oregon down into the mud on Saturday, but some crucial mistakes on the margins cost Kirk Ferentz's team a chance at the upset in their 18-16 loss. Costly turnovers, bad run defense, and special teams blunders ruined the Hawkeyes' chances of a signature victory and removed them from College Football Playoff consideration. Another frustrating result against an elite team at home this season for Iowa.

Next week: @ USC

7. Illinois (6-3)

The Fighting Illini had a bye week to prepare for their upcoming game against Maryland this weekend. Illinois has been Jekyll and Hyde this season, looking like whirlbeaters one game and phonies the next. An easy remaining schedule should get the best out of Bret Bielema's squad in the final month, but it wouldn't shock me at all if the Illini drop a game they have no business losing.

Next week: vs Maryland

8. Minnesota (6-3)

The Golden Gophers leap into the top eight during a bye week after some conference chaos. PJ Fleck's team is still a middle-of-the-pack squad, so this placement is more of an indictment of the rest of the conference than anything else. Minnesota will need a play a perfect game if it wants to pick up a win this weekend, but that seems highly unlikely given what we've seen from this team this season.

Next week: @ Oregon

9. Washington (6-3)

Woof. The Huskies now own the worst conference loss of the season after a dreadful 13-10 defeat to lowly Wisconsin. Washington's offense grinded to a halt once again, which is becoming a concerning and confusing trend given the talent on that side of the ball. This is an inexcusable loss for the Huskies and ruins any conversations about a special season. Absolutely brutal.

Next week: vs Purdue

10. Nebraska (7-3)

Freshman quarterback TJ Lateef was impressive in the Cornhuskers' 28-21 win over UCLA. He passed for 205 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start, replacing the injured Dylan Raiola. Running back Emmet Johnson was great too, racking up 232 yards of total offense with three touchdowns. Unfortunately for Matt Rhule's team, they don't get to play a terrible UCLA team every week.

Next week: BYE

11. Northwestern (5-4)

The Wildcats didn't play great in Los Angeles, losing 38-17 to UCLA on Friday night. Running back Caleb Komolafe continues to be a great story, as he rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown against the Trojans. But Northwestern's defense had no answers for a high-powered USC offense, giving up almost 500 yards in the loss. Reaching bowl eligibility should be the goal this season for the Wildcats.

Next week: vs Michigan

12. Penn State (3-6)

The Nittany Lions gave Indiana everything they could handle at a sold-out Beaver Stadium, but came up short in a 27-24 thriller. The defense couldn't get one last stop as Fernando Mendoza delivered his Heisman Trophy moment in the clutch. Penn State dropped to 0-6 in Big Ten play, but showed some legitimate fight and heart in this game. And they have a great opportunity to win that first conference game this weekend.

Next week: @ Michigan State

13. Rutgers (5-5)

The Scarlet Knights got the ground game going in a 35-20 win over Maryland on Saturday. Running back Antwan Raymond had 240 yards on the ground and a touchdown in the win, while wide receiver Ian Strong hauled in three touchdown receptions. Raymond now has 1,000 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season, turning into a star back as a sophomore. And now bowl eligibility is back in play for Greg Schiano's bunch.

Next week: BYE

14. UCLA (3-6)

The Bruins showed some life, but came up short in their 28-21 home loss to Nebraska. They had no answers for Emmet Johnson, who did whatever he wanted to on the ground and in the receiving game. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava was fine, but he still leaves a lot to be desired. Finding their next head coach and preparing for 2026 is what should be on UCLA's mind right now.

Next week: @ Ohio State

15. Maryland (4-5)

The Terrapins have now lost five games in a row in the Big Ten, a new low for Mike Locksley in his time at Maryland. The defense was truly abysmal in their 35-20 loss to Rutgers, giving up almost 50 yards of offense to the Scarlet Knights. And while quarterback Malik Washington was great on the ground, he didn't get anything going through the air. What a disaster this season has turned into after a promising start.

Next week: @ Illinois

16. Wisconsin (3-6)

Shockingly, the Badgers won a game in conference play, taking down a ranked Washington team 13-10 in Madison. Wisconsin's defense rose to the occasion, completely shutting down a talented Huskie offense to sneak away with a victory. The offense is still terrible, as shown by the fact that the leading passer on the day was punter Sean West, who completed one pass for 24 yards. This smells like fool's gold to me instead of a real turning point.

Next week: @ Indiana

17. Purdue (2-8)

The Boilermakers were never going to beat Ohio State, but a 34-10 defeat is still disappointing. Quarterback Ryan Browne didn't play well at all, and the defense had no answers for a high-flying Buckeye air assault. This was an expected result, but it's still a sign that this program has a long way to go before becoming nationally relevant again.

Next week: @ Washington

18. Michigan State (3-6)

Following Wisconsin's win, the Spartans now own real estate in the basement of the power rankings. Things have completely fallen off the tracks for head coach Jonathan Smith, who's scrambling to find any sort of answer at the moment. A quarterback switch seems promising, but will it actually matter on the day if the rest of the roster continues to play like this? This is a lost and very disappointing season in East Lansing.

Next week: vs Penn State

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Big Ten football power rankings: Does Iowa fall after Oregon loss?

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