Iowa's defense ranks among nation's best

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa's defense was expected to be strong, so many people have largely overlooked the Hawkeyes success in that area.

It's doubtful the rest of the Big Ten hasn't noticed.

No. 17 Iowa is coming off yet another dominant defensive performance and appears to be peaking heading into league play. The Hawkeyes (3-1) held Ball State to just 112 yards of offense -- 56 on the ground, 56 in the air -- in thumping the overmatched Cardinals 45-0.

Iowa now ranks first in the nation with a paltry 227.5 yards allowed per game. The Hawkeyes have allowed just 14 points in three games at Kinnick Stadium this season, a daunting figure for No. 22 Penn State (3-1) to ponder as it prepares for Saturday's night league opener at Iowa.