UNDATED (AP) — No. 1 has been a particularly secure position during the College Football Playoff era. The last time No. 1 was beaten twice in a regular season was 2012, which was also the last time No. 1 went down in consecutive weeks. That November, Texas A&M and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel went to top-ranked Alabama and beat the Tide. The next week Stanford knocked off No. 1 Oregon in overtime. The Aggies have set the stage again with a victory against Alabama. No. 11 Kentucky will try to play the role of Stanford to Georgia’s Oregon on Saturday. Wildcats-Bulldogs is one of two games matching ranked teams in Week 7.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is trying to keep his team grounded after it achieved its highest ranking since 1985. The No. 2 Hawkeyes should have no problem staying focused when Purdue visits Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The Boilermakers have won three of the last four meetings. Purdue has hurt Iowa with deep balls. Many have gone to star receiver David Bell. Iowa leads the nation with 16 interceptions, 20 takeaways and its plus-15 turnover margin. Iowa will be without injured cornerback Riley Moss. His four interceptions are tied for first nationally. He hurt his knee against Penn State last week.
UNDATED (AP) — Indiana coach Tom Allen understands the stakes Saturday against No. 10 Michigan State. So he’s staying quiet about his starting quarterback choice. The Hoosiers have had two weeks to prepare to defend against Kenneth Walker, the nation’s leading rusher, and the unbeaten Spartans. But the bigger question as the surprise Big Ten East Division contender visits Bloomington is whether Allen will start injured starter Michael Penix Jr. or backup Jack Tuttle.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hints of that long-awaited breakthrough for Nebraska under coach Scott Frost have been apparent lately. Their record has yet to reflect the progress. Time to make this a feel-good season is running out. The next game at Minnesota is a must-have. The Huskers are 3-4. The Gophers are 3-2. Nebraska took one-score losses to Oklahoma, Michigan State and Michigan over the last four weeks. Those teams are all currently ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll. Minnesota is trying to overcome another season-ending injury to a standout tailback after Trey Potts was sidelined by a serious injury.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — No team in the country runs the ball a greater percentage of the time than Army. No team does a better job of stopping the run than Wisconsin. That sets up an intriguing matchup Saturday night when Wisconsin attempts to stop Army’s triple-option attack. Army will be attempting to beat a Power Five team for the first time since defeating Duke 21-16 in 2017. Wisconsin allows 41.4 yards rushing per game and 1.66 yards per carry to lead the nation in both categories. Army has run the ball on 90.8% of its snaps and has averaged 318.2 yards rushing.
UNDATED (AP) — Rutgers looks to bounce back from three straight losses to teams currently ranked in the top 10 when it visits Northwestern on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights got burned for big plays last week in falling 31-13 to Michigan State, which then moved up three spots to No. 8. So did Northwestern in a 56-7 thumping at Nebraska two weeks ago. Schiano sees perennial winner Northwestern as a blueprint for Rutgers. He says Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald has done an incredible job.
