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Iowa football: Big Ten West shaping up after eight weeks

By Andrew Wade

IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 20: Defensive back Marcus Lewis #8 of the Maryland Terrapins breaks up a pass in the first half intended for tight end TJ Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 20, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 20: Defensive back Marcus Lewis #8 of the Maryland Terrapins breaks up a pass in the first half intended for tight end TJ Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 20, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 20: Rondale Moore #4 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs the ball and tries to fight off Jahsen Wint #23 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 20: Rondale Moore #4 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs the ball and tries to fight off Jahsen Wint #23 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Teams 3-4

These two teams are very much still in the race for the Big Ten West title, but I don’t believe they have what it takes to actually make a true run.

4. Northwestern Wildcats

Could there be a more up and down team than Northwestern?

They almost beat now #5 Michigan, then turned around and beat previously ranked Michigan State. The Wildcats followed those two games up with a narrow and lucky win over Nebraska and a close win over the worst team in the Big Ten, Rutgers.

What team is this? Well, we are about to find out. The Wildcats have a three game stretch against ranked teams including squaring off against Wisconsin at home, taking on #3 Notre Dame at home, and then heading to Kinnick to play against the Iowa football team.

Most teams in this situation would likely end up with a three game losing streak but somehow Northwestern always plays up to its competition so it remains to be seen what this bodes for them.

3. Purdue Boilermakers

Holy Purdue, what a win!

They just dominated previously #2 Ohio State 49-20 and showed the offensive explosion that makes this Boilermaker team extremely dangerous. Since starting off 0-3 to begin the season, Purdue has rattled off four straight wins.

Sitting at 4-3 with a  3-1 conference record, Purdue enters its toughest stretch of games playing Michigan State, Iowa, and Wisconsin in the next four weeks.

They are actually in control of their destiny. If they can manage to win out, they will likely be heading to the Big Ten Championship game.

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