Big Ten Football: Power rankings shakeout after Week 2
The Big Ten football season is officially rolling right along and with each game, we’re starting to see who are the real powers and who are the pretenders.
While the top and bottom of the conference are separating themselves quite nicely, there is a middle that has created quite the logjam among the Big Ten football teams.
Top of the heap in the Big Ten
1(-). Ohio State (2-0, 0-0)
Ohio State followed up its double-digit win over a Top 5 team in its first win with a 33-point win over Arkansas State in Week 2. Some might say that Notre Dame’s loss to Marshall makes the Buckeyes’ victory a bit less impressive, but the Buckeyes are just taking care of their business and, for now, deserve to be on top.
2 (-). Michigan (2-0, 0-0)
It seems likely that the top of the Big Ten football power rankings are going to have Michigan and Ohio State right at the top for most, if not the entirety of the season. It helps that the Wolverines opened the season with two very weak opponents. Yes, MIchigan whupped both, but a 56-10 win over Colorado State and then a 51-7 victory over a Hawaii team that got crushed by Vanderbilt is only going to carry a team so far.
Potential Big Ten challengers
3 (-). Penn State (2-0, 1-0)
The Nittany Lions followed up a come-from-behind win against Purdue with a dominating 46-10 win over Ohio. That allows the team to stay at number three, thanks to most of the rest of the Big Ten football teams playing equal pushovers.
4(-). Minnesota (2-0, 0-0)
Yes, it was against FCS school Western Illinois, but Minnesota came out and took care of business for the second straight week. Perhaps most surprising is that the Golden Gophers have showed offensive prowess on the ground and through the air. They rushed for 307 yards and seven TDs and also threw for 372 yards and a touchdown in their 62-10 victory.
5(-). Michigan State (2-0, 0-0)
If Michigan State looked a bit human at times in their season opener, they certainly looked dominant in their second game, a 52-0 win over Akron. Speaking of dual threat offenses, the Spartans ran for 260 yards and six touchdowns while throwing for 236 yards.
6(+1). Rutgers (2-0, 0-0)
Is Rutgers for real? It’s too early to tell, but the Scarlet Knights did follow up their come-from-behind win against Boston College with a blowout victory over FCS Wagner. There have been plenty of years where Rutgers might have allowed that to be a game if not lose it outright. They move up one spot this week thanks to holding serve and show shakeup in the middle of the rankings this week.
7(+5). Illinois (2-1, 0-1)
Illinois makes the biggest jump of the week by a lot in the Big Ten power rankings, thanks in large part to being one of the only teams that beat an opponent with a pulse. In particular, the Illini handled a decent if not great Virginia squad 24-3. Brett Bielema is three points away from having his team off to a 3-0 start this season.
8 (-). Purdue (1-1, 0-1)
Purdue followed up a very close loss to one of the best teams in the Big Ten, with a big win over a sacrificial lamb opponent. That means they get to stay where they were last week. The Boilermakers are actually dogs to Syracuse this week, so they’ll get to give some hint if they’re for real.
9(-). Indiana (2-0, 1-0)
Indiana has a big win over a team I actually think is better than them, but they also have a close win against an FCS school. That’s why the Hoosiers are stuck in the same spot they were last year.
10(+1). Maryland (2-0, 0-0)
Maryland has opened the season with a pretty easy schedule. That’s why they’re this low. On the other hand, they’re at least taking care of their business. That’s more than quite a few other Big Ten teams in the lower half of the rankings can claim.
Big Ten bottom feeders
11(-5). Wisconsin (1-1, 0-0)
Did I punish Wisconsin a bit too harshly, dropping them from 6th to 11th? Maybe. But this early in the season, it is hard to know just how good any team is. When you lose at home, to the first FBS team you’ve played this year, and only score 14 points, I’mma punish you. Their 17-14 loss to Washington State has people all over college football scratching their heads.
12(-2). Iowa (1-1, 0-0)
The only reason Iowa isn’t lower on this list is because of who is at the bottom. Following a win against South Dakota State where they scored 7 points despite not finding the endzone once, they lost to in-state rival Iowa State 10-7. Yes, the Hawkeyes have scored one touchdown in two games this year. The defense has clearly been stout. The offense has been abysmal.
13(-). Northwestern (1-1, 1-0)
Following their upset win over Nebraska, Northwestern had a bye. Apparently, they couldn’t keep the mojo going during their off week, because they lost to Duke, 31-23, despite getting more than 500 yards of total offense.
14(-). Nebraska (1-2, 0-1)
First team in the Big Ten to get to two losses on the season. First team in the Big Ten to fire their coach. A 45-42 loss to Georgia Southern at home. There’s very little doubt that so far, they’ve been the worst team in the conference. Of course, a win over Oklahoma this week could see them jump some spots.