Hoosier Huddle’s Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 1

Written By Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)

1) Ohio State (1-0, defeated Oregon State 77-31)

If you follow the Big Ten you’ve likely heard about the plethora of talent on Ohio State’s roster. Without Urban Meyer on the sidelines, the Buckeye’s torched Oregon State for over 721 yards of offense (346 passing yards and 375 rushing yards). Sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins threw for an efficient 313 yards with five touchdowns while running back Mike Weber ran for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Ohio State’s defense was gashed by a few explosive plays: a 49-yard touchdown pass and two touchdown runs of 80 and 78 yards. The Buckeyes still look like the team to beat in the Big Ten East.

Next week: Ohio State will host Rutgers at 3:30PM ET

2) Wisconsin (1-0, defeated Western Kentcuky 34-3)

Wisconsin got off to a slow start on Friday, scoring only seven points through the first 25 minutes of a game they were favored by 36 points. However, the Badgers controlled the game from start to finish with strong defensive play while outgaining Western Kentucky 491 yards to 305. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin’s Heisman hopeful running back, posted 145 yards and two touchdowns, averaging over eight yards-per-carry. The Badgers have one of the best defenses in the Big Ten and arguably the best offensive line in college football. Because of that, Wisconsin will be considered one of the best two teams in the conference until proven otherwise.

Next week: Wisconsin will host New Mexico at noon ET

3) Penn State (1-0, defeated Appalachian State 45-38 OT) 

The Nittany Lions survived a serious scare in Happy Valley. 11 years after defeating Michigan in the Big House, Appalachian State almost pulled off an unthinkable upset against Penn State. Appalachian State simply wouldn’t go away as Penn State failed to build a lead larger than two touchdowns. The underdogs took a seven-point lead with under two minutes, before Trace McSorely marched Penn State down the field and tied the game. Appalachian State had a chance to win the game but missed a 56-yard field goal attempt before Penn State promptly won the game in overtime. Despite a questionable opening performance, Penn State still has a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball and a relatively favorable schedule.

Next Week: Penn State will be on the road against Pittsburgh at 8PM ET

4) Michigan State (1-0, defeated Utah State 38-31) 

Michigan State also found themselves in a dangerous situation. Utah State took a one-point lead with five minutes to play before Spartan quarterback Brian Lewerke mounted a game-winning touchdown drive. Michigan State racked up 452 yards of offense while giving up 344 to Utah State. Michigan State’s secondary surrendered 319 passing yards, but their defense only gave up 25 rushing yards. Lewerke played relatively well despite throwing a pick-six; he completed nearly 70-percent of his passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Michigan State returns a ton of talent from last year’s 10-3 team. Although week one was somewhat of a mess, the Spartans will remain near the top of the Big Ten until they are defeated.

Next Week: Michigan State will travel west to face Arizona State at 10:45PM ET

5) Michigan (0-1, lost to Notre Dame 24-17)

The final score doesn’t show how much Notre Dame dominated the Wolverines in South Bend. Although Michigan had a chance to tie the game down seven points with one-minute left, they never truly threatened the Fighting Irish, who jumped out to a 21-3 lead. Michigan’s offense line struggled mightily against Notre Dame’s talented front seven. The Wolverines managed a just 58 rushing yards and only 307 yards of total offense. Time will tell whether this game says more about Michigan or Notre Dame, but this loss is another stinger for Jim Harbaugh. Michigan hasn’t won a road game against a ranked opponent since 2006. The silver lining for the Wolverines is their vaunted defense, who only allowed three points in the second half. Michigan is in prove-it mode and lucky for them, they probably won’t face a ranked team until mid-October.

Next week: Michigan will host Western Michigan at noon ET

6) Northwestern (1-0, defeated Purdue 31-27)

Northwestern became the first Big Ten team to notch a conference win on Thursday as they withstood Purdue’s late push. The Wildcats raced out to a 14-0 lead before head coach Pat Fitzgerald benched quarterback Clayton Thorson in favor of TJ Green. Purdue managed to tie the game at 14, but Northwestern took control with a 31-17 lead at halftime. Despite having a potential NFL prospect at QB and reliable runner in Jeremy Larkin, Northwestern appears to suffer from a lack of playmakers on offense. Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the opener was that the Wildcats failed to score in the second half. Regardless, Northwestern hung on for a big road victory. A program known for slow starts has a chance to finally have a fast one. With Clayton Thorson under center and a disciplined defense, Northwestern must be taken seriously.

Next week: Northwestern will host Duke at Noon ET 

7) Maryland (1-0, defeated Texas 34-29)

For the second straight year Maryland has upset Texas. The Terrapins were 14-point underdogs at home, but they jumped all over Texas, building a 24-7 lead. The Longhorns stormed back to take the lead 29-24 in the third quarter, but Maryland controlled the entire fourth, outscoring Texas 10-0. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kasim Hill was impressive and a stable of running backs managed to post 143 yards. The Terrapins have an experienced offensive line and a handful of winnable games in the coming weeks. Although Maryland is unlikely to sustain this spot in the power rankings, their surprising victory earned it this week.

Next Week: Maryland plays Bowling Green on the road at 6PM ET

8) Iowa (1-0, defeated Northern Illinois 33-7)

Some media outlets had the Iowa Hawkeyes on upset alert against Northern Illinois. Instead, they completely overwhelmed the competition with a convincing win. No one performed particularly well on offense for the Hawkeyes, but they still controlled the game from the opening kickoff until finish. Northern Illinois didn’t manage to score until the final two and a half minutes of the game. Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley was unimpressive, throwing for 103 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. However, the Hawkeyes racked up over 200 yards rushing and their defense nearly recorded a shutout. Iowa held their MAC opponent to just 211 yards of total offense. With improved quarterback play, Iowa will be a tough team to beat.

Next week: Iowa will host Iowa State at 5PM ET

9) Indiana (1-0, defeated Florida International 38-28)

Indiana did exactly what they were supposed to do against Florida International. Although there were certainly some inconsistencies, the Hoosiers won the game comfortably and had a ton of young guys get playing time. Indiana also saw two of their best players have fantastic games in their home-state of Florida. Donavan Hale recorded four catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns while safety Jonathan Crawford returned an interception for a touchdown and forced a fumble early in the game. Check out Hoosier Huddle’s game recap and for a deeper dive, read our weekly feature: What Worked and What Didn’t. Tom Allen wasn’t pleased with how the defense played, giving up 28 points and too many rushing yards by his standards. The Hoosiers also suffered from some clock management and substitution issues. Regardless, there was a lot to like about Indiana’s week one performance. With winnable games at home against Virginia and Ball State, IU has a great chance to start the season 3-0.

Next week: Indiana will host Virginia at 7:30PM ET

10) Purdue (0-1, lost to Northwestern 31-27)

The Boilermakers have plenty of things to be excited about for the future, although this season may feature some trying times. Purdue avoided a blowout when they rallied from an early 14-point deficit. True freshman Rondale Moore proved to be an electric offensive weapon, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter including a remarkable 76-yard touchdown run. The Boiler defense completely shut down Northwestern in the second half. Those were the positives, now for the negatives. Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar threw three interceptions before being benched in favor of David Blough. The Boilermakers lost a ton of contributors on defense and it showed early as Northwestern running back had 143 yards on the ground. Purdue’s pass rush failed to put any pressure on the quarterback and could not force a turnover. Much like Indiana, the Boilermakers have a lot of question marks on both sides of the ball. Purdue will need Jeff Brohm to work his magic if they want to go bowling again.

Next week: Purdue will host Eastern Michigan at noon ET

11) Nebraska (0-0, game against Akron was cancelled)

Scott Frost’s head coaching debut for the Cornhuskers was postponed due to weather. It is unclear who or when Nebraska will play to make-up this game. Since they are the only Big Ten team not to play, their ranking this week is based on preseason projections. Nebraska is one of several Big Ten teams starting a freshman quarterback this year. The S&P projects Nebraska to finish with a 5-7 record as their new head coach attempts to revamp their roster. Scott Frost did his best to bring depth to the program in a short amount of time. Many people expect Nebraska to finish with more than five wins despite many unknowns on the roster. Until they demonstrate otherwise on the field, Nebraska will remain near the bottom of the conference. 

Next week: Nebraska will host Colorado at 3:30PM ET 

12) Minnesota (1-0, defeated New Mexico State 48-10)

Minnesota is still in rebuilding mode under PJ Fleck. The Gophers dominated New Mexico State after falling behind early in the second quarter. Despite starting a true freshman walk-on at quarterback, Minnesota was still heavily favored to win the game. New Mexico State was playing on a short week after opening the season with a loss last week. Gopher fans had to be pleased with the convincing victory as their defense pitched a shutout in the second half and their offense and special teams erupted for 28 points in the second quarter. Minnesota still has a ton of question marks on the roster, but their schedule provides them a great chance to start the season 3-0. 

13) Rutgers (1-0, defeated Texas State 35-7) 

Rutgers is certainly more improved than years past, although that might not be saying much. In week one, the Scarlet Knights overpowered Texas State as many expected. Rutgers looked dominant, which isn’t something you can often say about them. They held Texas State to just 176 yards of total offense while racking up 423 yards themselves. A balanced attack comprised of 205 passing yards and 218 rushing yards propelled Rutgers to an easy victory. The program is still in the midst of rebuilding and they will undoubtedly experience growing pains. Freshman quarterback Artur Sitkowski threw three interceptions – something he will not be able to do during conference play. Rutgers is getting better, but it will take some time before they can climb out of the bottom of the conference. 

Next week: Rutgers will play Ohio State on the road at 3:30PM ET 

14) Illinois (1-0, defeated Kent State 31-24)

Illinois survived a nail biter at home in a game they were favored by 16 points. Kent State made things difficult for Lovie Smith and the Fighting Illini as they racked up 270 passing yards and 183 rushing yards. Kent State had a 17-3 lead at halftime and they also took a 24-17 lead late in the third quarter. However, Illinois answered with back-to-back 55-yard touchdown drives. After taking the lead, Illinois held their opponent scoreless. Kent State had a chance to tie the game late with first and goal at the five yard-line. However, an Illinois interception on fourth down sealed the deal. The Fighting Illini are in rebuilding mode and after struggling against a low-level Kent State team, it will be interesting to see how many more wins Illinois can manage.

Next week: Illinois will host Western Illinois at 7:30PM ET