Big Ten Power Rankings Through Week Seven
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Written by Sammy Jacobs
We are getting to the back end of the college football season. It flies by too fast. Here are Evan McShane’s Big Ten Power Rankings after the Week Seven games. I wrote the notes on the teams as Evan is dealing with a shoddy heater at home (Stay warm buddy!).
1. Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 defeated Minnesota 30-14)
The Buckeyes received another early scare from an inferior foe, but woke up to take a 30-14 win to move to 7-0 in a week that saw a handful of upsets. Ohio State has distanced themselves from the rest of the Big Ten halfway through the year. A trip to Purdue this week will be dangerous and the Buckeyes can’t afford to sleep walk through the first half again.
Next week: Ohio State travels to Purdue at 7:30pm ET
2. Michigan (6-1, 4-0 defeated Wisconsin 38-13)
After a precarious start to the season, the Wolverines have seemed to hit their stride rattling off six-straight wins. The defense dominated a Wisconsin offense that looks lost and the Michigan offense looked well oiled. However, in order to shake off all the doubters a win in East Lansing next week is vital.
Next week: Michigan visits Michigan State at Noon ET
3. Iowa (5-1, 2-1 defeated Indiana 42-16)
The Hawkeyes may be the best team in the West even with the loss to Wisconsin. Iowa rolled in Bloomington and showed off an explosive offense and an opportunistic defense. A home date with Maryland should be a good tune up before hitting the road to face Penn State and Purdue in back-to-back weeks.
Next week: Iowa hosts Maryland at Noon ET
T-4 Michigan State (4-2, 2-1 defeated Minnesota 48-31)
Michigan State’s roller coaster season continues as the Spartans have lost to a middle of the road Arizona State and a Northwestern squad who hasn’t lived up to their potential. However, a win in Happy Valley has the Spartans chomping at the bit for this week’s showdown with Michigan. Can MSU continue its dominance of UM? We’ll see.
Next week: Michigan State hosts Michigan at Noon ET
T-4. Penn State (4-2, 1-2 lost at home to Michigan State 21-17)
Penn State has lost two frustrating games in a row at home to Ohio State and Michigan State, but are still very talented. While they’re likely out of the Big Ten East race, they are good enough to be tied for fourth in the power rankings. A trip to Indiana hasn’t been easy in recent years, but Penn State may be catching the Hoosiers at the right time.
Next week: Penn State plays at Indiana at 3:30PM ET
6. Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1 lost to Michigan 38-13)
Wisconsin looked bad last week as Michigan dismantled their offense and shredded the defense. While they hold the tie-breaker over Iowa right now, the Badgers shockingly sit a half game behind Northwestern for the lead in the West. They’ll get a chance to lick their wounds and get back into the win column with Illinois coming to town.
Next week: Wisconsin hosts Illinois at Noon ET
7. Northwestern (3-3, 3-1, beat Nebraska 34-31 in OT)
After a slow start to the season, the Wildcats are starting to make some noise with back-to-back wins over Michigan State and Nebraska. With momentum, the Wildcats head to face a dreadful Rutgers team and look to get over .500 for the first time since the season opener.
Next week: Northwestern travels to Rutgers at noon ET
8. Maryland (4-2, 2-1 beat Rutgers 34-7)
Maryland continues their Jekyll and Hyde act. They knocked off Texas to start the year and got trounced by Temple. Last week they bombarded Rutgers to move just two games away from a bowl. They’ll be in for a test this week as the Terps head to Iowa City to face the red-hot Hawkeyes.
Next week: Maryland visits Iowa at noon ET
9. Purdue (3-3, 2-1 defeated Illinois 46-7)
Purdue has climbed out of an 0-3 hole to start the year and are playing good football. They blew the doors off of Nebraska and Illinois their last two games and are getting to face an Ohio State team that has been playing with fire the last two weeks. While that 0-3 start may catchup with Purdue in the long run, they have a chance in prime time to make their mark.
Next week: Purdue hosts Ohio State at 7:30pm ET
10. Indiana (4-3, 1-3 lost to Iowa 42-16)
The Hoosiers have lost two in a row after a 4-1 start and looked bad against Iowa. The road doesn’t get easies as IU hosts Penn State this weekend and has to travel to Minnesota on a short week after that. The next few weeks will determine if the Hoosiers will go bowling in 2018.
Next week: Indiana hosts Penn State at 3:30PM ET
11. Minnesota (3-3, 0-3 lost at Ohio State 30-14)
The Golden Gophers put up a fight at Ohio State, but injuries have taken their toll in 2018. The Gophers have to travel to Lincoln this week to face the 0-6 Cornhuskers. It’s a winnable game, but Nebraska is saying the same thing.
Next week: Minnesota travels to Nebraska at 3:30PM ET
12. Illinois (3-3, 1-2 lost to Purdue 46-7)
The bottom three in the Big Ten have just four wins between them and one of the four was Illinois’ win over Rutgers two weeks ago. The Illini season has slipped away after getting rocked by Purdue. A youth movement has been underway and while there has been improvement, the Illini still sit near the bottom of the West. A trip to Wisconsin isn’t going to change that.
Next week: Minnesota plays at Ohio State at 7:30PM ET
13. Nebraska (0-6, 0-3 lost to Northwestern 34-31 OT)
It has been a historically bad season for Nebraska. There was so much hype around Scott Frost and Nebraska being back (looking at you BTN). However, much like their opening game of the season, the Huskers haven’t got started. This week they host Minnesota and it feels like their best chance at a conference win (they did schedule Bethune-Cookman to make up for an earlier cancellation). However, Nebraska is staring 2-10 in the face and it is not pretty
Next week: Nebraska hosts Minnesota at 3:30pm ET
14. Rutgers (1-5, 0-4 lost to Maryland 34-7)
Rutgers has a win, so what are they doing back at 14? Well, if you saw their game against Maryland you’d know. Rutgers quarterbacks completed two passes for eight yards and FIVE interceptions. The enter a much-needed open week and have to look themselves in the mirror. After a small step forward last season, the Scarlet Knights have been awful and it may be time to move on from Chris Ash.
Next week: OPEN