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Joel Klatt tabs Iowa as third best in B1G entering Week 5

Teddy Rydquist

By Teddy Rydquist

Published:

With both teams ranked in the top-eight, it is pretty clear the Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers have been the two most impressive teams in the B1G in 2019.

Looking past those two, there are a few teams that have a case as the conference’s third-best team. Ranked No. 12, Penn State is 3-0 and has an opportunity to pick up an impressive win over Maryland in College Park on Friday.

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CFB on FOX analyst Joel Klatt admitted that he sees a strong team in the Nittany Lions and considered them for his selection as the third-best team in the conference. However, he had a different answer: the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Here’s what Klatt had to say about Kirk Ferentz’s team, via the Big Ten Network:

Holding opponents to just 76 yards rushing on average, Iowa’s defense has been the backbone of their 3-0 start. While the team has only posted three sacks, they have also intercepted three passes and are among the B1G’s stingiest red zone defenses.

Senior Nate Stanley continues to establish himself as one of the best quarterbacks in program history, throwing for 689 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

The longest-tenured head coach in the FBS, Ferentz is in his 21st season at the helm of the Hawkeye program. Looking to remain unbeaten, Iowa hosts Middle Tennessee on Saturday (12:00 PM ET, ESPN2).

The second B1G opponent of the year for the Blue Raiders, they opened their season with a 40-21 loss to Michigan at Michigan Stadium.

Teddy Rydquist

A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.