The Iowa Hawkeyes held steady at No. 3 in the Week 7 Big Ten Power Rankings released by Yahoo Sports on October 20, 2026, keeping their spot in the playoff hopefuls tier while Ohio State and Indiana separated themselves at the top after a top-five showdown in Columbus.
The Hawkeyes did not play in Week 7, using their bye week to prepare for a road trip to Minnesota. Yahoo Sports placed Iowa in Tier 2, its playoff hopefuls group, behind Ohio State, Indiana, UCLA and ahead of USC, describing the Hawkeyes as a team that could reach the postseason but still needs to build its resume in the second half of the schedule.
Ohio State survives Indiana in top-five clash
The Buckeyes edged Indiana 19-15 in a game that came down to the final play, with the Hoosiers missing a late touchdown that would have won it. Ohio State heads into its bye week as the No. 1 team in Yahoo Sports' rankings, while Indiana stays at No. 2 despite the loss.
UCLA, which climbed the rankings in recent weeks under coach Bob Chesney, sits at No. 4 after beating Wisconsin 17-7. According to CBS Sports, the Bruins had been waiting for a road test before analysts fully bought in on what Chesney is building in Los Angeles.
What the Week 7 rankings mean for Iowa
For Iowa fans, the takeaway is simple: the Hawkeyes remain firmly in the playoff conversation without taking a snap. The bye week came at a useful moment, with key division games ahead. Iowa travels to Minneapolis to face Minnesota, and oddsmakers and prediction markets already like the Hawkeyes' chances on the road, as Iowa opened as a 7-point favorite in Week 8.
The Big Ten race sets up favorably for Iowa down the stretch. Ohio State and Indiana have separated themselves as the conference's two clear playoff locks, per Yahoo Sports, but the Hawkeyes control their own path to the expanded postseason field if they keep winning.
How the rest of the Big Ten shook out
Oregon landed at No. 6 after surviving Nebraska 17-14 in Eugene, a game USA Today called the week's most notable final score. Dylan Raiola, the former Cornhuskers quarterback, defeated his old team.
Northwestern stayed at No. 7 after a narrow 24-21 win over Michigan State. Nebraska fell to No. 8 after another close loss, this one on a late Oregon touchdown. Michigan climbed to No. 9 by turning three Penn State turnovers into all of its points in a 21-18 win over the Nittany Lions.
Wisconsin dropped to No. 10 after the loss to UCLA and now faces USC, which sat at No. 5 after its own bye week. Penn State checked in at No. 11 and gets a bye before its next game.
Bottom of the conference
Washington moved up to No. 12 after what Yahoo Sports called an upset of Purdue, 38-26. Purdue slid to No. 13, with the outlet describing the Boilermakers as a wacky team mixing big wins with unforeseen losses. Minnesota entered its bye week at No. 14 and hosts Iowa next. Illinois sat at No. 15 and will host Oregon.
The biggest mover at the bottom was Rutgers, which knocked off Maryland 37-30 to climb out of the rankings' lowest tier. Maryland took the Scarlet Knights' place in what Yahoo Sports labels The Basement, the spot reserved for the conference's worst teams.
Michigan State, at No. 16, nearly upset Northwestern but fell short and now travels to face UCLA.
Why the bye week matters for Iowa
Bye weeks in mid-October give coaching staffs two weeks to prepare for a single opponent, and Iowa's timing could not be much better. The Hawkeyes face a Minnesota team coming off its own bye, so the edge in preparation time is a wash, but the extra week allowed Iowa to get healthy and refine its game plan for a rivalry game with real stakes in the Big Ten standings.
The Week 7 rankings were unusually quiet across the conference, according to Yahoo Sports, with most of the weekend's chaos happening outside the Big Ten. That stability at the top means Iowa's path is clear: win at Minnesota, and the Hawkeyes stay in the playoff hunt with games against the conference's upper tier still to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Iowa ranked in the Week 7 Big Ten Power Rankings?
Yahoo Sports ranked Iowa No. 3 in its Week 7 Big Ten Power Rankings, released October 20, 2026, placing the Hawkeyes in its playoff hopefuls tier behind Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA.
Who is No. 1 in the Week 7 Big Ten Power Rankings?
Ohio State holds the top spot after beating Indiana 19-15 in a top-five matchup in Week 7. Indiana stayed at No. 2 despite the loss.
Who does Iowa play next?
Iowa travels to Minneapolis to face Minnesota in Week 8. The Hawkeyes are early 7-point favorites on the road.
Which Big Ten teams are considered playoff locks?
According to Yahoo Sports, only Ohio State and Indiana qualify as playoff locks in Week 7. Iowa, UCLA and USC round out the top tier as playoff hopefuls.