Big Ten football rankings: Wisconsin and Iowa 1 and 1a) this week

Since our president was in Japan Sunday and Monday, this week's Big Ten Performance Rankings are in haiku. Domo arigato. 

1. Wisconsin (6-0 Big Ten, 9-0 overall)

Badgers run and run

Running is always a rush

When you run to wins

1(a). Iowa (3-3, 6-3)

Twenty-point point-spread

Hawkeyes won by thirty-one

What? Buckeyes favored?

3. Michigan State (5-1, 7-2)

An East co-leader

Dantonio bounces back

And bounces Penn State

4. Northwestern (4-2, 6-3)

Three straight OT wins

Never seen in FBS

'Cats fit to be tied

5. Penn State (4-2, 7-2)

Three-hour delay

Lightning stops MSU game

Then the Spartans struck

6. Michigan (4-2, 7-2)

Record's not too bad

But best team Blue has beaten

Is merely Purdue

7. Ohio State (5-1, 7-2)

The scarlet-and-gray

Came roaring into Kinnick

But they left speechless

8. Rutgers (3-3, 4-5)

Rutgers has four wins

Lesson we can learn from this?

All is possible

9. Nebraska (3-3, 4-5)

Ah, remember when

Huskers had mighty defense?

Might has taken flight

10. Purdue (2-4, 4-5)

Is this haiku thing

A truly good idea?

Too late to stop now

11. Maryland (2-4, 4-5)

See remaining slate

Wolverines, Spartans, Lions

No more wins for Terps

12. Minnesota (1-5, 4-5)

Mum at Michigan

No Brown Jug for the Gophers/

Their offense was corked

13. Indiana (0-6, 3-6)

There's good Hoosiers news

Schedule says come Saturday

They're at Illinois

14. Illinois (0-6, 2-7)

Patience is virtue

Illini are virtuous

Just not very good

l Comments: (319) 368-8840; mike.hlas@thegazette.com