There was not a ton of change in the Power Ranking this week, but the Big Ten took it on the chin in some non-conference games involving the middle and bottom tiers. Big Ten play has started and really ramps up this week.
Conference Favorites
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0, 0-0) Last Week: 1
Ohio State took care of business, but it was a sluggish start. With each week Julian Sayin is getting better and the Buckeyes look like the class of the Big Ten. They get a bye week before heading to Washington.
Last Game: 39-7 Win vs. Ohio | Next Week: Bye
2. Oregon Ducks (3-0, 1-0) Last Week: 2
It took a while for the Ducks to wake up for this game with a 9am Pacific Time kick, but they took care of business. Up next is the Civil War game with Oregon State. Will the Ducks get caught looking ahead to the trip to Penn State
Last Game: 38-14 Win at Northwestern | Next Week: Sept 20th vs. Oregon State (0-3)
3. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0, 0-0) Last Week: 3
If Penn State was not a top five team, would they get flack for their schedule? The Nittany Lions rolled over Villanova. Do we know just how good Penn State is yet? Not really, but they are still in the top tier. The Nittany Lions have a bye week before hosting Oregon in primetime.
Last Game: 52-6 Win vs. Villanova | Next Week: Bye
Playoff Contenders
4. Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0, 0-0) Last Week: 5
Illinois got through the non-conference slate 3-0, which they were supposed to do. A sound win over the Broncos sets up a huge one under the lights in Bloomington next week.
Last Game: 38-0 win vs. Western Michigan | Next Game: Sept. 20th at Indiana (3-0)
5. Indiana Hoosiers (3-0, 0-0) Last Week: 6
Indiana will have a chance to really jump up this week as a top-10 Illini team. IU pummeled Indiana State 73-0 and the “narrow” win over Old Dominion is carrying some cache now.
Last Game: 73-0 win vs. Indiana State | Next Game: Sept. 20th vs. Illinois (3-0)
6. USC Trojans (3-0, 1-0) Last Week: 5
A cross country trip and a three-hour weather delay probably played into USC struggling a bit with Purdue. They kept the Boilermakers at arm’s length most of the day, but needed four red zone interceptions to put them away.
Last Game: 33-17 Win at Purdue | Next Game: Sept 20th vs Michigan State (3-0)
7. Michigan Wolverines (2-1, 0-0) Last Week: 7
No Sherrone Moore, no problem as Biff Poigi coached Michigan to a 63-3 win over Central Michigan. Moore is suspended again this week, but the opponent is much different as the Wolverines head to Lincoln to take on Nebraska.
Last Game: 63-3 Win vs. Central Michigan| Next Game: Sept. 20th at Nebraska (3-0)
On Solid Footing
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0,0-0) Last Week: 9
Nebraska looks good and is moving up our ranking. This week is a big test for the Huskers as Michigan comes to town. It’s a 3:30 CBS game and a good chance to see how the program has grown since failing in big spots last year
Last Game: 59-7 Win vs. Houston Christian | Next Game: Sept. 20th vs. Michigan (2-1)
9. Washington Huskies (2-0,0-0) Last Week 10
It’s Apple Cup week in September (Yuck!), but Washington has a chance to knock off whatever cobwebs have formed during the bye week with a game at Washington State before the Buckeyes come to town.
Last Week: Bye | Next Week: Sept. 20th at Washington State (2-1)
10. Michigan State Spartans (3-0,0-0) Last Week: 11
The Spartans’ offense looks really good, but the defense allowed 24 points to Youngstown State in a game that was still not closed out until late. This week Michigan State heads out west to take on USC for an 11pm ET kick.
Last Game: 42-24 Win vs. Youngstown St. | Next Week: Sept. 20th at USC (3-0)
11. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-1, 0-0) Last Week: 8
Minnesota went out west to face ACC foe California and came back with an uninspired ‘L’. The offense could only muster 14 points.
Last Game: 27-14 Loss at California| Next Week: Bye
12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-0,0-0) Last Week: 12
Rutgers is 3-0 and off to another hot start. They have a short turnaround to get ready for Iowa. If Rutgers offense can play well, the Scarlet Knights could be 4-0.
Last Game: 60-10 Win vs. Norfolk St. | Next Week Friday, Sept. 19 vs. Iowa (2-1)
Can They Take a Step Forward?
13. Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1, 0-0) Last Week 13
Iowa beat up on lowly UMass 47-7, but it wasn’t exactly pretty. They have a short week and a trip to Rutgers. Can the offense put up enough points to win?
Last Game: 16-13 Loss at No. 16 Iowa State | Next Week Friday Sept. 19th at Rutgers (3-0)
14. Wisconsin Badgers (2-1, 0-0) Last Week: 14
Is anyone surprised the Badgers got hammered at Alabama? No, but they need quarterback Billy Edwards back before this gets too ugly. Wisconsin gets Maryland at home next week. This used to be a no doubt win, now it’s a Luke Fickell better not lose type of game.
Last Game: 38-14 Loss at Alabama | Next Week: Sept. 20th vs. Maryland (3-0)
The Basement
15. Maryland Terrapins (3-0, 0-0) Last Week: 15
A blow out win over Towson doesn’t elevate you from the basement, but a win at Wisconsin will do it. Maryland looks like they’re starting to click on offense. Can they take that show on the road?
Last Game: 44-17 Win vs. Towson | Next Week: Sept. 20th at Wisconsin (2-1)
16. Purdue Boilermakers (2-1, 0-1) Last Week: 16
Purdue is better, but they still lost a game where they had plenty of chances to win. Four red zone turnovers doomed the Boilers in a game that was delayed about three hours. Can they rally and head up to South Bend to play an 0-2 Notre Dame team that desperately needs a win.
Last Game: 33-17 Loss vs. USC| Next Week: Sept. 20th at Notre Dame (0-2)
17. Northwestern Wildcats (1-2, 0-1) Last Week: 18
Northwestern was handled pretty easily by the Ducks, but they are not the absolute worst team in the Big Ten. They get a bye week before UCLA comes to town.
Last Game: 38-14 Loss vs. Oregon | Next Week: Bye
18. UCLA Bruins (0-3, 0-0) Last Week: 17
UCLA has fired their coach Deshaun Foster after an 0-3 start and a 35-10 home loss to New Mexico. This team, program and athletic department seem to be in shambles. They’ll get no sympathy as they chased the bag instead of staying in the Pac-12. A bye week could be good or it could let a whole bunch of players head to the portal. 0-12 is on the table if they lose September 27th at Northwestern.
Last Game: 35-10 Loss vs. New Mexico | Next Week: Bye