Big Ten power rankings: Iowa holds steady after CyHawk win, Ohio State still on top

The Big Ten took a major hit to its College Football Playoff hopes in Week 2, and the road ahead looks tough for the conference. With several top teams set to face each other, the Big Ten may end up with just two playoff bids in 2026.

Penn State, Michigan, and USC are likely to knock each other down the standings. Oregon's loss to Oklahoma State adds a serious blemish to its resume. If the Ducks drop another game, their playoff hopes could be over. The conference might be looking at a two-bid year.

Where does Iowa stand after the CyHawk win?

The Hawkeyes sit at No. 7 in this week's power rankings after a gritty 16-13 victory over Iowa State in the annual CyHawk game. It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win in a rivalry game that means so much to the state.

Tony Diaz continues to impress as the best wide receiver option Iowa has seen in a decade. However, the quarterback play remains lackluster. For Hawkeye fans, it feels like the same old story: strong defense, solid special teams, and just enough offense to get by.

Iowa's schedule looks favorable in the coming weeks, and the defense should keep them competitive in every game. But if the offense doesn't improve, the Hawkeyes will struggle against the conference's top teams.

Wisconsin and Washington struggle to impress

Wisconsin checks in at No. 10 with a favorable Big Ten schedule ahead. Quarterback Colton Joseph has shown promise and looks like the best signal-caller the Badgers have had in years. The middle of the conference has looked weak, which bodes well for Wisconsin's chances to climb the standings.

Washington sits at No. 9 after a lackluster performance against Utah State. The Huskies only won by two points, which is not the mark of a top-tier Big Ten team. Quarterback Demond Williams has not shown improvement from last season, and the team has plenty of issues to fix.

UCLA rolling, Penn State and Oregon raise questions

UCLA has looked sharp in both of its games, including a 28-10 win over San Diego State in Week 2. Wayne Knight has scored six touchdowns in just two games and shows no signs of slowing down. The Bob Chesney era is off to a strong start in Westwood.

Penn State moved to No. 6 after a ho-hum 27-9 win over Temple. The Nittany Lions haven't faced real competition yet, and we won't know how good they truly are until they play a legitimate opponent.

Oregon dropped to No. 5 after a 39-31 loss to Oklahoma State. The Ducks got pushed around by a team that lost to Tulsa in Week 1. The revamped defensive line was supposed to help against physical teams, but they delivered a soft performance. There are major red flags in Eugene.

Michigan, USC, and Indiana round out the top four

Michigan bounced back from a near-disaster in Week 1 with a 17-10 win over Oklahoma. The most interesting development was the use of Bryce Underwood as a runner. His legs could unlock a stagnant offense and get the Wolverines back on track.

USC has looked outstanding through three games, though they haven't faced quality competition. Quarterback Jayden Maiava has complete command of the Lincoln Riley offense, and the young receivers keep making electric plays. The Trojans are a playoff dark horse if they can avoid slip-ups on a brutal travel schedule.

Indiana sits at No. 2, but we haven't learned anything about the Hoosiers yet. They've played nobody in non-conference play. Coach Curt Cignetti knows that beating the bottom of the Big Ten should get him to 9-3, and a few wins over mid-tier teams would lock in a playoff spot. For now, they can't be No. 1.

Ohio State remains the team to beat

The Buckeyes lost to Texas, but they did nothing to lose their spot atop the rankings. They were the better team for three quarters. Jeremiah Smith looked unstoppable, and Julian Sayin was poised and accurate. Ohio State played it safe in the second half, content to run the clock and play field position. They needed just one more score to win in Austin, but it never came.

This is still a very good football team. Losing to another very good team on the road shouldn't drop them too far in any rankings.

What does this mean for Iowa's playoff hopes?

For Iowa fans, the big picture is simple: the Hawkeyes need to keep winning and hope the offense finds a spark. The defense is good enough to beat most teams on the schedule. If the quarterback play improves, Iowa could surprise people in the second half of the season.

The Big Ten might only get two teams into the playoff this year. That makes every conference game critical. Iowa's path starts with taking care of business against the weaker teams on the schedule and pulling off an upset or two against the top dogs.

The Hawkeyes have the pieces to make a run. It all comes down to execution on offense.