Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 7
No. 1 Ohio State has the week off, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be some shuffling at the top right behind them.
I’ve been flopping back and forth between Penn State and Wisconsin for several weeks now in those No. 2 and No. 3 spots, and there’s a change again after Wisconsin’s wildly impressive 38-0 win over Michigan State. Penn State beat Iowa on the road, a good win, but those Badgers really are something else.
Here are my rankings after the games of Oct. 12, with last week’s ranking and this week’s opponent included:
1. Ohio State (6-0) *** Last week: 1
Last week: Bye week
This week: Ohio State at Northwestern (1-4), Friday 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports1)
The skinny: The Buckeyes got a much-needed week off and now head out on the road for a rare Friday night game against Northwestern. The Buckeyes have been drubbing everyone so far, so it will be interesting to see if that bye week affects their momentum in anyway. They’re the best team in the country in my book right now.
2. Wisconsin (6-0) *** Last week: 3
Last week: Beat Michigan State 38-0
This week: Wisconsin at Illinois (2-4), Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Wisconsin’s defense is simply amazing, recording its fourth shutout in six games with a complete blitzing of a decent Michigan State team. They’ve only allowed 29 points all year (a 4.8 average) and have scored 255 points.That’s a scary good combination. It’ll be interesting to see if they’re looking past Illinois this week with the huge showdown at Ohio State just a week later.
3. Penn State (6-0) *** Last week: 2
Last week: Beat Iowa 17-12
This week: Michigan (5-1) at Penn State, 7:30 p.m. ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Penn State got bumped down a notch, but that had a lot more to do with Wisconsin than it did with the Nittany Lions. That still was a good win at Iowa, which is a tough place to win, especially at night. It was James Franklin’s first-ever conference road win against a ranked team, which is saying something. This week is huge with Michigan coming to town.
4. Minnesota (6-0) *** Last week: 4
Last week: Beat Nebraska 34-7
This week: Minnesota at Rutgers (1-5) 3:30 p.m. ET, (TV: TBA)
The skinny: I’ve been careful to not gush too much on the Gophers because, even though they are undefeated, they’ve had a very easy schedule and they haven’t exactly been blowing people out. Well, that changed in a big way on Saturday night when they really laid it to Nebraska in that 34-7 blowout. One more easy week ahead with a road trip to Rutgers.
5. Michigan (5-1) *** Last week: 5
Last week: Beat Illinois 42-25
This week: Michigan at Penn State (6-0), 7:30 p.m. ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Michigan got a scare at Illinois before righting the ship late. This team still frustrated the heck out of me, and even though they are 5-1, I just don’t know how good they are. The Wolverines were able to beat a good Iowa team two weeks ago, but can they do that again on the road this time at Penn State? We’re been waiting a while to learn about both of those teams, and it should be a great game.
6. Iowa (4-2) *** Last week: 6
Last week: Lost to Penn State 17-12
This week: Purdue (2-4) at Iowa, Noon ET (TV: ESPN2)
The skinny: Iowa’s offense was disappointing for the second week in a row in the home loss to Penn State. Sure, the unbeaten Nittany Lions are legitimately good, but you still can’t gain 356 yards and only score one touchdown. Iowa’s running game was really disappointing, averaging only 2.3 yards per carry on 30 tries. Purdue has struggled to stop the run all year, so it will be interesting to see if the Hawkeyes can get it rolling next Saturday.
7. Indiana (4-2) *** Last week: 8
Last week: Beat Rutgers 35-0
This week: Indiana at Maryland (3-3), 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Indiana was really impressive against Rutgers on Saturday, dominating on both sides of the ball and outgaining the Scarlet Knights 557 yards to 75. That’s just crazy. Now the Hoosiers need to go on the road and keep this good play going next week at Maryland. The Hoosiers have struggled with the Terps in the past, so this will be a good test.
8. Michigan State (4-3) *** Last week: 7
Last week: Lost to Wisconsin 38-0
This week: Bye week
The skinny: Michigan State falls below the Hoosiers in the rankings despite beating them two weeks only because I’m seeing a trend here now with the Spartans and winning a lot of games down the stretch might be difficult. Sure, Wisconsin is really good, but to lose 38-0 to the Badgers is embarrassing. There’s work to be done in East Lansing.
9. Nebraska (4-3) *** Last week: 9
Last week: Lost to Minnesota 34-7
This week: Bye week
The skinny: Nebraska’s offense is still a mess and it didn’t get any better in the ugly loss at Minnesota. This was supposed to be a week where the Cornhuskers finally beat a good team, but they were never in this game. Anytime you allow 322 yards on the ground to anyone, that’s really saying something. Nebraska has been a big disappointment in Scott Frost’s second season.
10. Purdue (2-4) *** Last week: 12
Last week: Beat Maryland 40-14
This week: Purdue at Iowa (4-2), Noon ET (TV: ESPN2)
The skinny: The Boilermakers really needed a win, and they looked good doing it against the Terps. Purdue was a 4-point underdog, but there was never any doubt who the best team was out on the Ross-Ade Stadium field Saturday. Major props to quarterback Jack Plummer, who passed for 420 yards. There are a lot of freshmen really starting to step up for the Boilers.
11. Maryland (3-3) *** Last week: 10
Last week: Lost to Purdue 40-14
This week: Indiana (4-2) at Maryland, 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Maryland really laid an egg on Saturday at Purdue, and it was really a surprising result. Injuries are part or the game, and the Terps didn’t respond well with a lot of backups forced into action. When you’re trying to figure out where the six wins are going to come to get bowl eligibile, letting this one slip away might be very costly.
12. Northwestern (1-4) *** Last week: 12
Last week: Bye week
This week: Ohio State (6-0) at Northwestern, Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports1)
The skinny: Northwestern needed a bye in the worst way and hopefuly they’ve fixed some of their offensive woes with mighty Ohio State coming to town for a rare Friday night game. I’m not sure what’s going to be uglier, this game itself or the Friday rush hour traffic trying to get into Evanston.
13. Illinois (2-4) *** Last week: 13
Last week: Lost to Michigan 42-25
This week: Wisconsin (6-0) at Illinois, Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Illinois had a good shot at pulling off the upset against Michigan, but they just couldn’t finish. What a great comeback after falling behind 28-0 and not giving up, scoring 25 unanswered points. These kids are still playing hard for Lovie Smith, despite the 2-4 record.
14. Rutgers (1-5) *** Last week 14
Last week: Lost to Indiana 35-0
This week: Minnesota (6-0) at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: TBA)
The skinny: I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Power 5 team struggle so badly as I did with Rutgers Saturday in Bloomington. How do you complete 5 passes and only gain 1 yard? This team is a real mess and I’m not sure anyone can get hired to fix this dumpster fire in a hurry. They have literally no chance to win another game this year.
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