Big Ten Power Rankings: Hoosiers close to last after Week 9
Last game: 33-13 win vs. Northwestern
Next game: Nov. 5 @ Purdue
After a much-needed bye week, Iowa took on one of the worst teams in the Big Ten and won by 20, thanks to the efforts of Spencer Petras and others on the offensive side of the ball. Petras contributed to a season-high 398 offensive yards in this blowout win and totaled two touchdowns (one passing and one throwing) in the game.
Kaleb Johnson was also a standout in my opinion, with 13 carries for 93 yards (7.2 average), he’s looking to solidify himself as the lead back in this horrid offensive unit. And yet again, the Hawkeyes’ defense stepped up to the plate like they have been most of the season. Allowing just 177 total yards of offense to Northwestern, Iowa is in a good place defensively as they look to close out the season strong.
Now focused on a Boilermakers team that is coming off of a bye week themselves, Iowa is looking to inch closer to clinching a bowl game, and a win against Purdue this weekend would be huge. The Hawkeyes have lost four of the last five games against the Boilermakers since 2017, but have only lost the two road games in West Lafayette by a combined six points since 2008.