By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team is at the midway point of the regular season and slightly above the middle of my latest Big Ten power rankings.

And much like Eli, the Buckeyes are Comin.'

1, Penn State, 6-0, 3-0 – The Nittany Lions are 6-0 for the first time since 2008 when that team started 9-0 before losing to Iowa on a last-second field goal by Daniel Murray at Kinnick Stadium. I wonder if Joe Paterno looked the other way as Murray's kick cleared the uprights.

2. Ohio State, 6-1, 4-0 – The Buckeyes shredded Nebraska 56-14 this past Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., and lead the Big Ten in scoring with a 47.3 per-game average. And they don’t have to face Iowa State, which defeated Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., approximately one month after Oklahoma had defeated Ohio State in Columbus.

3. Wisconsin, 6-0, 3-0 – Barry Alvarez is so impressed with Wisconsin's success that he now makes head coach Paul Chryst only check in with him four times a day.

4. Michigan State, 5-1, 3-0 – Iowa’s 17-10 loss at Michigan State on Sept. 30 has been beneficial in one way in that I’ve used the tape of the game twice to fall asleep.

5. Michigan, 5-1, 2-1 – Until his team improves on offense, Jim Harbaugh should consider having sleepovers exclusively with offensive skill players.

6. Iowa, 4-2, 1-2 – The Hawkeyes are 10 points from being undefeated, four points from being 3-3, averaging less than four yards per carry as a team, allowing more than four yards per carry as a team, led by a quarterback who has 15 touchdown passes and just two interceptions and by one of the best linebackers in college football. So it’s up to you whether your glass is half full or half empty.

7. Northwestern, 3-3, 1-1 – The Fighting Fitzgeralds are incredibly average until you get them in the classroom or up against Iowa, which will happen on Saturday.

8. Purdue, 3-3, 1-2 – The Boilermakers are arguably the best 3-3, 1-2 team from a Power Five conference in the country.  

9. Maryland, 3-3, 1-2 – There is a D in Maryland and in the initials of Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin, but no signs of it on his team. The Terrapins are ranked last in the Big Ten in total defense (439.0), scoring defense (36.5) and passing defense (264.7).

10. Indiana, 3-3, 0-3 – This year marks the 50^th anniversary of Indiana’s last trip to the Rose Bowl in the 1967 season and of the release of the Beatles’ classic album `Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.’ Fair to say the Beatles achieved a higher level of success than Indiana football has to this point.

11. Minnesota, 3-3, 0-3 – It's hard to row the boat when you’re taking on water faster than the S.S. Minnow.

12. Nebraska, 3-4, 2-2 – Look who’s in second place in the Big Ten West Division. But hurry because they won’t be there much longer.

13. Rutgers, 2-4, 1-2 – The Scarlet Knights have climbed out of the Big Ten basement and gone more than two weeks without losing a game, thanks to a 35-24 win at Illinois this past Saturday and to a bye week the week before.

14. Illinois, 2-4, 0-3 – Love Smith’s contract has up to $8 million in incentive bonuses that would seem beyond reach unless one was to finish no worse than 2-10.