Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 6
Even though it took a while for Ohio State’s offense to get rolling on Saturday night against Michigan State, the Buckeyes proved once again that they are the class of the league after a 34-10 win.
The Spartans played hard, but Ohio State’s talent on offense can be overwhelming when it gets cranking. That happened again, even though it was still just a three-point game five minutes into the second quarter.
The Buckeyes finished with a whopping 323 yards rushing against a Michigan State team that was No. 1 in the country against the run a year and in the top-five again this year.
That proves enough for me. The Bucks are still No. 1
There was some shuffing behind them, and some big games coming up this week.
Here are my rankings after the games of Oct. 5, with last week’s ranking and this week’s opponent included:
1. Ohio State (6-0) *** Last week: 1
Last week: Beat MIchigan State 34-10
This week: Bye week
The skinny: Anytime you can run that easily on Michigan State, that says a lot about what Ohio State’s offensive line is doing these days. Sure, the skill guys are awesome, but this entire unit is clicking because that O-Line is so good. The Buckeyes get a much-needed bye week now.
2. Penn State (5-0) *** Last week: 2
Last week: Beat Purdue 35-7
This week: Penn State at Iowa (4-1), 7:30 p.m. ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Penn State just keeps rolling along, roughing up the teams that are struggling at the bottom of the league. That defense continues to prove it’s the best at Penn State in many years, allowing just 104 yards against the Boilermakers and recording 10 sacks. This week at Iowa will be a test, though, so we’ll see if the Nittany Lions can keep rolling along.
3. Wisconsin (5-0) *** Last week: 3
Last week: Beat Kent State 48-0
This week: Michigan State (4-2) at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Wisconsin is off to a great start this season, and has three shutouts on the year in five games, which is really something. Jonathan Taylor keeps making Heisman Trophy noise, rushing for 186 yards and four touchdowns. He had a fifth TD with a catch for a score.
4. Minnesota (5-0) *** Last week: 6
Last week: Beat Illinois 40-17
This week: Nebraska (4-2) at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. ET, (TV: FoxSports1 or BTN)
The skinny: OK, it’s time to finally give the Gophers some props here. I’ve often said that I haven’t been overly impressed by their wins, but they do just keep on winning, and that’s saying something. Beating Illinois isn’t necessarily a chest-pounding moment, but watching Minnesota rush the ball for 332 yards was impressive. Up they go, for now.
5. Michigan (4-1) *** Last week's ranking: 7
Last week: Beat Iowa 10-3
This week: Michigan at Illinois, Noon ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Michigan righted the ship on Saturday, beating an unbeaten Iowa team at home with a great defensive effort. This team still has issues, but let’s be honest — that was a huge win. Iowa is tough and a loss would have sent the fan base into delirium. Maybe this team will still find its ways this season after all.
6. Iowa (4-1) *** Last week: 4
Last week: Lost to Michigan 10-3
This week: Penn State (5-0) at Iowa, 7:30 p.m. ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Iowa laid an egg on offense against Michigan, and that was really disappointing. When you have a veteran quarterback like Nate Stanley, it’s unacceptable to watch him throw three interceptions. Michigan’s defensive line lived in the Iowa backfield, and the Hawkeyes’ O-Line failed miserably. It won’t get any easier this week with Penn State coming to town.
7. Michigan State (4-2) *** Last week: 5
Last week: Lost to Ohio State 34-10
This week: Michigan State at Wisconsin (5-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Michigan State had lived off of a strong rush defense the past few years, but Ohio State gashed them for 323 yards on Saturday. That was bad, and the offense turning the ball over didn’t help either. Another big test against Wisconsin is going to force that run defense to turn it around quickly.
INLIN
8. Indiana (3-2) *** Last week: 9
Last week: Bye week
This week: Rutgers (1-4) at Indiana, Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Indiana’s bye week comes at a good time and now here comes Rutgers, the Big Ten’s most dysfunctional team. Getting that fourth win shouldn’t be an issue. But getting some things fixed on defense will be.
9. Nebraska (4-2) *** Last week: 8
Last week: Beat Northwestern 13-10
This week: Nebraska at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports 1 or BTN)
The skinny: Nebraska’s offense is still a mess and thankfully one last drive was enough to beat Northwestern on a last-secon field goal by Lane McCallum from 24 yards out. This was a slugfest, and getting a win is always good. Still, there are far more questions than answers coming out of Lincoln
10. Maryland (3-2) *** Last week: 10
Last week: Beat Rutgers 48-7
This week: Maryland at Purdue (1-4), Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Maryland gets Rutgers and Purude back-to-back, which is the perfect elixir for curing their ills. The Terps were solid in the blowout win, and they’ll need to continue to put things together.
11. Northwestern (1-4) *** Last week: 12
Last week: Lost to Nebraska 13-10
This week: Bye week
The skinny: A third quarterback on the season — Aiden Smith — still didn’t make a difference for a Northwestern offense that just can’t find its way. A bye week will be huge to get some things fixed.
12. Purdue (1-4) *** Last week: 11
Last week: Lost to Penn State 35-7
This week: Maryland (3-2) at Purdue, Noon ET (TV: ESPN)
The skinny: The Boilermakers simply had no answers for Penn State’s rugged defense. Allowing 10 sacks in a game can never happen, especially with a young quarterback like Jack Plummer back there. Maryland got thumped even worse by Penn State two weeks ago, so Saturday might be a chance for Purdue to turn things around.
13. Illinois (2-3) *** Last week: 13
Last week: Lost to Minnesota 40-17
This week: Michigan (4-1) at Illinois, Noon ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Illinois was coming off a bye week, but the Gophers gashed them anyway, rushing for 332 yards on the ground. That upset talk? Well, it never happendd
14. Rutgers (1-4) *** Last week 14
Last week: Lost to Maryland 48-7
This week: Rutgers at Indiana, Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Chris Ash gets fired at Rutgers, but nothing is going to change overnight. Rutgers had no answer for Maryland, and it’s obivous they’re packing it in for the 2019 season now.
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Follow Tom Brew on Twitter @tombrewsports
