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Big Ten Power Rankings, Week 1: OSU, Michigan roll; Wisconsin stuns LSU

By David Rouben

Sep 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players celebrate defeating the LSU Tigers by doing the Lambeau Leap following the game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players celebrate defeating the LSU Tigers by doing the Lambeau Leap following the game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Akrum Wadley (25) is chased by Miami (Oh) Redhawks defensive back Tony Reid (14) during the fourth quarter at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes won 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back Akrum Wadley (25) is chased by Miami (Oh) Redhawks defensive back Tony Reid (14) during the fourth quarter at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes won 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Iowa is coming off a season in which they captured the hearts and minds of America, but they want to be more like the team that started 12-0 and not the team that finished 0-2. They were efficient against Miami (Ohio), but their performance was nearly overshadowed by Josey Jewell committing attempted murder early in the game.

C.J. Beathard had a good, but not great, game when he finished 13-for-20, and threw a touchdown. The bulk of their offense, though, came on the ground, when LeShun Daniels and Akrum Wadley ran for two touchdowns each and combined for 204 yards.

At receiver, the Hawkeyes have a great number one option in Matt VandeBerg, who put up 99 yards on four catches. Their pass catching depth, however, is shallow beyond him and consists mostly of freshmen. But as long as the primary targets put in work, they should be okay on offense.

After finishing in the middle of the pack for so long, Kirk Ferentz has a great chance to build on his success from last year. Hawkeyes fans will hope that this season isn’t like 2010 when they followed up an 11-2 year with an 8-5 one. Although they started the season as the only ranked team in the Big Ten West, the competition will be fierce in that division, and they can’t afford to slip up.

Next: No. 4

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