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Wisconsin Football: Big Ten Power Rankings

By Tanner Nestle

MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 15: Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the football during the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 15: Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the football during the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on October 15, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Joshua Jackson #15 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass from the Boston College Eagles during the second half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Iowa Hawkeyes won 27-20. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 27: Joshua Jackson #15 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass from the Boston College Eagles during the second half of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Iowa Hawkeyes won 27-20. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

8. Iowa Hawkeyes

This may seem low for Iowa, but it’s difficult to argue they deserve a spot higher than this. Aside from 2015 where Iowa went 12-2 and played in the Rose Bowl, it hasn’t won more than eight games since 2009. Coming off back-to-back 8-5 seasons, Iowa is showing it’s closer to an eight-win team than a 12-win team.

The Hawkeyes do have some nice wins to their name, most notably the thrashing of Ohio State 55-24 last year. Iowa wasn’t able to capitalize on the momentum and lost to Wisconsin the following week 38-14 where it gained less than 100 yards of total offense. The only two scores for the Hawkeyes came thanks to Josh Jackson’s two pick-sixes.

Iowa is able to play a lot of teams very close, like Penn State early in the season, but often can’t finish the deal. A lot of the hardships Wisconsin faces with an overall lack of athleticism Iowa seems to have too.

Nathan Stanley is returning for his junior season and has shown promise, but leading rusher Akrum Wadley and Iowa’s two best defensive players, Jackson and linebacker Josey Jewell, are all gone to the NFL. Kirk Ferentz will probably be able to keep Iowa afloat in the middle of the pack, but anything beyond an 8-5 record seems like a stretch right now.