B1G Rewind: Teams of destiny

Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa have taken three different paths and arrived at the same unblemished result after seven football games.

The Buckeyes remain top ranked by both polls after a 38-10 win Saturday against Penn State. Winning the national title last year led to incredible expectations. Ohio State was ranked No. 1 unanimously in the inaugural Associated Press poll but has looked less than impressive in most of its wins.

Michigan State also was expected to roll through its schedule without a hiccup. The Spartans rose to No. 2 after weeks four and five but injuries have led to questionable results, like a 24-21 home win against Purdue and needing a last-minute touchdown to beat Rutgers.

Unlike the other two, Iowa was considered an afterthought. The Hawkeyes were 19-21 in league play the previous five years and flopped as divisional contenders in 2014. But a fresh approach, a new quarterback and a manageable schedule helped guide Iowa to its best start in six years.

Fan bases for all three schools - certainly players and coaches would ignore such rhetoric - could claim this is a season of destiny. Michigan State scored an improbable 27-23 win at rival Michigan on Saturday. Michigan punter Blake O'Neill mishandled the snap with 10 seconds left, which allowed Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson to pick up the loose ball and rumble 38 yards for a touchdown on the game's final play.

Despite a ton of injuries, the Spartans' will has kept it perfect.

Michigan State has won 11 straight games, dating to last season. The Spartans are 7-0 for the first time since 2010 and by earning an epic win at Michigan, they proved they're up for any challenge.

'We've got a belief system,” Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio said according to the team's website. 'It doesn't mean it always happens, but we just find a way. I think it's a culture we have on our football team. Our guys just continue to play and we believe in each other. If we lost, we lost; I knew that we played as hard as we could and left it on the field and that's the most important thing to me. We've been involved in some crazy deals, I guess. We'll think of a good, catchy name.”

Ohio State's freight train keeps rolling after pounding Penn State. The Buckeyes now have won 27 Big Ten regular season games in a row, extending its own Big Ten record. After earlier scares against Northern Illinois and Indiana, in which Ohio State won by a touchdown in each game, the Buckeyes have won its last two Big Ten games by a combined seven touchdowns.

Immediately following his own game Saturday night, Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer was asked about the ending of the Michigan-Michigan State game. He was unaware of the particulars, but said, 'This league is tough. The East Division, Big Ten, lot of respect for those teams.”

Whether the East Division squads have respect for their West Division brethren remains to be seen. But Iowa has earned respect from those who have played it and see it play up close. The Hawkeyes steamrolled Northwestern 40-10 on Saturday, running for 294 yards on a team that allowed an average of 269 through its first six games.

The Hawkeyes moved up to No. 12 by AP and No. 13 in the USA Today/Coaches poll but face ridicule for their schedule. Iowa has beaten two ranked teams on the road - Wisconsin (5-2), Northwestern (5-2) - and held them to a combined one touchdown. Iowa handed No. 24 Pittsburgh (5-1) its only loss and stopped Illinois (4-2), Iowa State (2-4), North Texas (0-6) and FCS No. 4 Illinois State (5-1).

'I always feel we're always the underdog, no matter what,” Iowa wide receiver Tevaun Smith said. 'What we're going to do is ignore the noise.”

RANKING GAME

Ohio State stayed atop both polls, while Michigan State remained No. 4 in the USA Today/Coaches poll and No. 7 by the Associated Press. Iowa is 12th by AP and No. 13 by the coaches, Michigan fell to No. 15 by AP and No. 17 by the coaches. Northwestern dropped out of both polls but received votes in each, as did Wisconsin. Illinois picked up votes in the coaches' poll.

THUMBS UPS

Iowa put up 492 yards on Northwestern, which was giving up 269 yards a game. ... Ohio State recorded eight tackles for loss, including five sacks, against Penn State. ... Rutgers gained 200 yards, converted on 5 of 6 third downs and outscored Indiana 22-0 in the fourth quarter. ... Wisconsin generated 322 passing yards. ... Nebraska converted on 7 of 13 third-down opportunities. ... Michigan held Michigan State to 58 rushing yards on 33 carries. ... Michigan State kept Michigan to 62 rushing yards on 33 carries.

THUMBS DOWNS

Northwestern was outscored 24-0 and outgained 292-80 in the second half. ... Penn State was 1 of 11 on third down. ... Indiana blew a 25-point lead with less than 18 minutes remaining. ... Purdue ran for 55 yards on 29 carries. ... Minnesota was outrushed 203-65.

WEEKEND STARS

Iowa running back Akrum Wadley ran for 204 yards and four touchdowns. ... Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barnett rushed for 102 yards and two TDs, and passed for two others. ... Rutgers wide receiver Leonte Carroo caught seven passes for 157 yards and three TDs. ... Indiana quarterback Nate Sudfeld returned from injury to pass for 464 yards and four TDs. ... Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards had 16 tackles.

NOTEWORTHY

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 194 yards. ... Northwestern safety Traevon Henry had six tackles and an interception. ... Purdue cornerback Anthony Brown had 11 tackles and blocked a field-goal attempt. ... Minnesota punter Peter Mortell averaged 51.0 yards on his five punts and dropped three inside the 20. ... Michigan defensive lineman Willie Henry had three tackles for loss (two sacks) and two pass breakups. ... Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. passed for 261 yards and three TDs. ... Michigan State WR Aaron Burbridge caught nine passes for 132 yards.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Ohio State (2) 7-0 3-0

Finally displayed the sizzle to go with the steak

2A. Iowa (3) 7-0 3-0

If this team is healthy, it can compete with anyone

2B. Michigan State (4) 7-0 3-0

Final play goes down as legendary

4. Michigan (1) 5-2 2-1

Now is when program needs a coach like Harbaugh

5. Wisconsin (5) 5-2 2-1

Still searching for running attack

6. Illinois (9) 4-2 1-1

Best bye week in history of power rankings

7. Northwestern (6) 5-2 1-2

A lot of soul-searching this week

8. Penn State (7) 5-2 2-1

Showed positives despite beatdown

9. Nebraska (11) 3-4 1-2

Struggling vs. pass but made strides and won

10. Minnesota (8) 4-3 1-2

Really tough stretch to finish season

11. Rutgers (12) 3-3 1-2

Shows plenty of resolve in road win at Indiana

12. Indiana (10) 4-3 0-3

They count that fourth quarter thing, you know

13. Purdue (13) 1-6 0-3

Not a lot of progress under Darrell Hazell

14. Maryland (14) 2-4 0-2

Basketball season is almost here

STANDINGS

WEST DIVISION

Iowa 7-0 3-0

Wisconsin 5-2 2-1

Illinois 4-2 1-1

Northwestern 5-2 1-2

Minnesota 4-3 1-2

Nebraska 3-4 1-2

Purdue 1-6 0-3

EAST DIVISION

Michigan State 7-0 3-0

Ohio State 7-0 3-0

Michigan 5-2 2-1

Penn State 5-2 2-1

Rutgers 3-3 1-2

Maryland 2-4 0-2

Indiana 4-3 0-3

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Iowa 40, Northwestern 10

Wisconsin 24, Purdue 7

Michigan State 27, Michigan 23

Rutgers 55, Indiana 52

Nebraska 48, Minnesota 25

Ohio State 38, Penn State 10

Maryland, Illinois idle

NEXT SATURDAY

Northwestern at Nebraska, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)

Wisconsin at Illinois, 2:30 p.m. (BTN)

Indiana at Michigan State, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)

Maryland vs. Penn State at Baltimore, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Ohio State at Rutgers, 7 p.m. (ABC)

Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Purdue idle

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com