The Iowa Hawkeyes held firm at No. 3 in the latest Big Ten football power rankings, published October 20 by Yahoo Sports, as the conference's Week 7 shakeout left quarterback questions looming from Columbus to Iowa City.
Iowa, now 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play, comes off a bye week and travels to Minnesota on Saturday, October 24, for a rivalry game that could go a long way toward deciding whether the Hawkeyes stay in the hunt for a spot in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis.
Who starts at quarterback for Iowa against Minnesota?
That is the question hanging over Iowa City this week. Yahoo Sports flagged the Hawkeyes alongside Ohio State, Illinois, and Michigan as one of the programs where the quarterback situation is unresolved, asking plainly who will line up behind center in Minneapolis: Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklinski.
The answer matters beyond one weekend. Iowa's remaining schedule includes games that will test whichever quarterback gets the nod, and the Oct. 24 trip to Minneapolis opens a stretch that Yahoo Sports described as decisive for Minnesota too. The Gophers, ranked 10th at 4-2 and 2-1, face Iowa, Indiana, and UCLA in consecutive weeks, and the rankings noted that stretch will reveal exactly where Minnesota belongs in the conference this fall.
Where the rest of the Big Ten stands
Ohio State kept the top spot after a 19-15 win at Indiana, but the Buckeyes left Bloomington with concerns. Yahoo Sports reported that all eyes are now on the health of starting quarterback Julian Sayin and the readiness of backup Luke Fahey, with a bye week arriving at a convenient time.
Indiana stayed at No. 2 despite the loss, and the rankings argued the Hoosiers barely deserved a drop after falling to the No. 1 team in a game that could have gone either way. Indiana's defense drew praise as one of the most fearsome units in the country, with the rankings asking how many remaining opponents will manage more than two touchdowns against it.
UCLA moved to 6-0 and 4-0 after beating Wisconsin 17-7, and Yahoo Sports went as far as to say fans should prepare to see the Bruins in the College Football Playoff, and possibly in Indianapolis. Northwestern, Oregon, and USC rounded out the top seven, with Oregon's own quarterback situation still unsettled after a 17-14 win over Nebraska.
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