Iowa Hawkeyes Ranked No. 6 in Big Ten Power Rankings Ahead of Michigan Showdown

The Iowa Hawkeyes are sitting at No. 6 in the latest Big Ten power rankings after a dominant 3-0 start to the season. With Big Ten play now underway, the Hawkeyes face their toughest test yet: a road matchup against the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor.

Iowa's ground game has been the story of the early season, and that continued in Week 3 even without star running back Kamari Moulton. The Hawkeyes handled their FCS opponent with ease, but the real challenge begins this weekend against a Michigan team that is also undefeated at 3-0.

How the Big Ten stacks up after Week 3

The conference is loaded with talent this year, and several teams made statements in their final non-conference tune-ups. Here is the full breakdown of where every Big Ten team stands heading into Week 4.

18. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-3, 0-1 B1G)

Rutgers showed fight at home against USC but could not overcome costly mistakes. The Scarlet Knights should finally get in the win column this week against an FCS opponent.

17. Purdue Boilermakers (1-2, 0-1 B1G)

Purdue's offense is one of the most entertaining in the conference, but the defense has serious work to do. A tough matchup against Notre Dame looms this week.

16. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-1)

Minnesota bounced back with a win after a disastrous home loss to Mississippi State. The Gophers now hit the road for their Big Ten opener.

15. Wisconsin Badgers (2-1)

Wisconsin has looked solid in home non-conference games. The Badgers face a much tougher test this week on the road against a ranked opponent in Happy Valley.

14. Northwestern Wildcats (2-0)

Northwestern surprised many with a dominant win over Colorado. The Wildcats look feisty, but can they keep it going against Indiana this week?

13. Michigan State Spartans (2-1)

Michigan State got a reality check with a road loss to Notre Dame. The Spartans showed fight in the second quarter but were shut out in the second half of their first loss.

12. Michigan Wolverines (3-0)

Michigan started slow again against UTEP but exploded in the third quarter with a 28-0 run. It is still hard to gauge just how good this Wolverines team is after three games.

11. Maryland Terrapins (2-1)

Maryland took its first loss of the season to Virginia Tech. The Terrapins were expected to struggle, but fans would have liked to see more consistency throughout the game.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1)

Illinois bounced back nicely from a Week 2 loss to Duke. Collin Dixon is emerging as one of the Big Ten's top receivers, and the Illini look ready for conference play.

9. Washington Huskies (3-0)

Washington has looked vulnerable at times but handled its FCS opponent easily in Week 3. The Huskies should start Big Ten play strong at home against Minnesota.

8. Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0)

Nebraska did what was expected in non-conference play, handling three non-power opponents. Jamal Rule continues to impress in the ground game. The Huskers hit the road for the first time this season.

7. UCLA Bruins (3-0, 1-0 B1G)

UCLA's offense was clicking in its Big Ten opener against Purdue, jumping out to a 21-point first quarter. The Bruins are building confidence and face a sneaky fun game at Maryland this week.

Iowa Hawkeyes: Can the running game carry them past Michigan?

Iowa's running game dominated in Week 3, but that was expected against an FCS opponent. The Hawkeyes now face a much stiffer challenge in Ann Arbor. Michigan's defense has been solid, and the Wolverines are tough to beat at home.

The key question for Iowa: Can the Hawkeyes establish the run early and control the clock against a Michigan team that has looked increasingly comfortable as games progress? If Iowa can avoid slow starts and keep the pressure on Michigan's offense, they have a real shot at a statement road win.

Top contenders in the Big Ten race

While Iowa sits at No. 6, the top of the rankings is crowded with legitimate contenders. Here is how the upper tier shapes up.

5. Oregon Ducks (2-1)

Oregon got the get-right game it needed, scoring a program-record 12 touchdowns against Portland State. The Ducks have a big week ahead.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0)

Penn State's running game came alive against Buffalo, and the defense continues to impress. The difficulty ramps up this week with a Big Ten opener against Wisconsin.

3. USC Trojans (4-0, 1-0 B1G)

USC's offense is explosive, scoring 40-plus points on the road. But the defense raised concerns in a tight battle against Rutgers. The Trojans must play better defensively this week against Oregon.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1)

Ohio State rebounded at home against Kent State. Jeremiah Smith became the school's all-time leading receiver with two-thirds of the season still to play. The Buckeyes are reloading.

1. Indiana Hoosiers (3-0)

Indiana had a disjointed start against Western Kentucky but pulled away for another shutout victory. Curt Cignetti has the Hoosiers rolling, and they now enter Big Ten play with momentum.

What this means for Iowa fans

For Iowa supporters, the No. 6 ranking is a fair assessment of where the Hawkeyes stand right now. The team has handled its business in non-conference play, but the real season begins now. A win over Michigan would not only boost Iowa's ranking but also send a clear message to the rest of the Big Ten.

The Hawkeyes have the pieces to make a run, but they will need to prove it on the road against one of the conference's most storied programs. Saturday's game in Ann Arbor is the first true test of the season.

This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire and has been adapted for Iowa readers.