Hoosier Huddle's 2020 Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 1

Written by Evan McShane

The first weekend of Big Ten football in 2020 was a wild one. There were upsets and blowouts. Excitement, disappointment and of course controversy involving officiating. Here is how our Big Ten power rankings shake out after week one.

1. Ohio State (1-0, Defeated Nebraska 52-17)

On a quest to defend the Big Ten title once again, the Ohio State Buckeyes won with an exclamation point on Saturday. Nebraska led by seven early and held a tie until 3:12 remaining in the first half. OSU scored 10 points in the final minute of the second quarter and never looked back, outscoring the Cornhuskers 28-3 in the second half. QB Justin Fields was pretty much perfect, completing 20-of-21 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes look to advance to 2-0 next week as they travel to Happy Valley.

Next Week @ Penn State (7:30pm ET)

2. Wisconsin (1-0, Defeated Illinois 45-7)

Wisconsin couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season, controlling Illinois from start to finish on Friday night. Freshman quarterback Graham Mertz completed 20-of-21 passes for 248 yards and five touchdown passes. The Badgers nearly doubled Illinois in yardage (430 to 218) and allowed just eight completed passes and eight first downs. With one week in the books, Wisconsin looks poised to defend their Big Ten West crown.

Next Week @ Nebraska (3:30 pm ET)

3. Michigan (1-0, Defeated Minnesota 49-24)

Could 2020 finally be the year Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines get over the hump? After falling behind 7-0 early against Minnesota, Michigan exploded for 35 first half points. Led by first-time starting QB Joe Milton, UM dominated with a balanced attack. The Wolverines out-gained the Gophers 478 yards to 326, including 225 yards through the air and 253 on the ground. The defense, loaded with NFL-caliber talent as usual, was up to the task allowing just seven second half point. Michigan hopes to carry this momentum into next week as they’ll host in-state rival Michigan State. 

Next Week vs. Michigan State (1:00pm ET)

4. Indiana (1-0, Defeated Penn State 36-35)

Your Indiana football Hoosiers are sitting at number four in the Big Ten power rankings after week one. They deserve it after their gut-wrenching one-point overtime victory over Penn State. After looking rusty for the first 58-minutes of the game, quarterback Mike Penix put together a legendary performance to lead the Hoosiers to their first win over a top-ten team since 1987. 

An accidental touchdown by the Nittany Lions gave IU new life despite trailing 28-20 with under two minutes to go. Penix promptly led his team 75 yards in seven plays, ending the drive with a TD and two-point conversion to send it into overtime. Trailing by seven in OT, Penix stayed calm and connected with Whop Philyor for a touchdown to make it 35-34. Head coach Tom Allen made the gutty call to go for two and the win. With a Space Jam-like stretch of his arm, Penix willed the ball over the plane of the end zone to give his team the upset victory. The Hoosiers will carry this momentum to New Jersey where they’ll play Rutgers next week.

Next Week @ Rutgers (3:30 pm ET) 

5. Penn State (0-1, Lost to Indiana 36-35)

Penn State looked like they had gotten the better of the Hoosiers yet again, only to lose by one point and less than one inch. The Nittany Lions struggled for most of the day with QB Sean Clifford throwing two ugly interceptions. Then in the fourth quarter, Penn State came alive and took a late lead. With a 99.9% win probability at one point, the Lions caved, giving up two touchdown drives and two two-point conversions in the final minute and overtime. Penn State’s showdown against Ohio State next week has lost all its luster as head coach James Franklin and company hope to avoid falling to 0-2. 

Next Week vs. Ohio State (7:30pm ET) 

6. Minnesota (0-1, Lost to Michigan 49-24)

Expectations are high in Minneapolis after the Gophers put together an impressive season in 2019. Unfortunately, Minnesota looked heavily overmatched on opening night and were dominated on both sides of the ball. After taking an early 7-0 lead, the Gophers were outscored 49-17 the rest of the game. Minnesota will need to rebound next week and they’ll have an opportunity to do so against a struggling Maryland squad.

Next Week vs. Maryland (Friday 7:30pm ET)

7. Purdue (1-0, Defeated Iowa 24-20)

Without star wide receiver Rondale Moore it was the David Bell show in West Lafayette. The young wide out had a career day with 13 receptions 121 yards and three touchdowns. A back and forth battle required a game-winning touchdown drive from the Boilers. With an offense as explosive as Purdue’s, they could emerge as a contender for the Big Ten West following a disappointing 4-8 2019 campaign. Next week Purdue travels to Illinois where they’ll aim for 2-0.

Next Week @ Illinois (1:00pm ET)

8. Northwestern (1-0, Defeated Maryland 43-3)

Northwestern’s sluggish offense from 2019 has a new face in 2020. Former IU quarterback Peyton Ramsey guided the Wildcats offense to 537 yards of total offense and a 43-3 blowout victory. Northwestern’s defense was stout as usual, holding the Terrapins to just 207 yards of offense and forcing four turnovers. A tougher test awaits Northwestern next week as Ramsey and the Wildcats travel to Iowa.

Next Week @ Iowa (3:30 pm ET) 

9. Rutgers (1-0, Defeated Michigan State 38-27) 

Rutgers at number nine? They deserve it after their first conference win since 2017. An unpredictable 2020 got even weirder in East Lansing as the Scarlet Knights forced seven turnovers on their way to a 38-27 victory. Transfer QB Noah Vedral played well enough to get the win and Rutgers’ defense had their best game in years. The Rutgers play host to the red-hot Hoosiers next week to try and build off their stunning week one win. 

Next Week vs. Indiana (3:30 pm ET)

10. Iowa (0-1, Lost to Purdue 24-20)

In Iowa’s first game since 2016 without longtime quarterback Nate Stanley, the Iowa Hawkeyes offense couldn’t put them over the top against Purdue. New QB Spencer Petras played decently well but couldn’t make enough plays to outscore the Boilers. The Hawkeyes rushing attack was successful, racking up nearly 200 yards on the ground, but that wasn’t enough either. Iowa hopes to even up their record at 1-1 next week when Northwestern comes to town. 

Next Week vs. Northwestern (3:30 pm ET) 

11. Nebraska (0-1, Lost to Ohio State 52-17)

Nebraska came out of the gate looking like they might surprise the Buckeyes after a four-play 75-yard drive put them on top 7-0. OSU answered with two quick touchdowns, but Nebraska tied it up midway through the second quarter. Then the game got ugly as the Huskers were outscored 38-3 over the final 33 minutes. Head coach Scott Frost better hope Nebraska can turn things around quickly or this shortened season could be a long one in Lincoln.   

Next Week @ Wisconsin (3:30 pm ET) 

12. Michigan State (0-1, Lost to Rutgers 38-27) 

In their first season without head coach Mark Dantonio, the Spartans came out with a dud. Michigan State fell behind 14-0 early in the game and couldn’t catch up to the Scarlet Knights. Despite out-gaining Rutgers 369 yards to 276, MSU fumbled five times and threw two interceptions, totaling seven turnovers on the day. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Spartans as they have to travel to Ann Arbor next week to face off against Michigan.

Next Week @ Michigan (1:00pm ET) 

13. Illinois (0-1, Lost to Wisconsin 45-7)

Illinois couldn’t recapture the magic from their upset victory last year against Wisconsin. The Badgers steamrolled the Illini on Friday night, dominating in every facet of the game. Head coach Lovie Smith hopes this beatdown was an aberration as Illinois hopes to build off of last year’s surprise season. They’ll have a chance to right the ship next week when they host Purdue.

Next Week vs. Purdue (1:00pm ET)

14. Maryland (0-1, Lost to Northwestern 43-3)

Now in head coach Mike Locksley’s second season, the Terrapins hope to turn their football program around. Maryland’s season opener against Northwestern, however, was more of the same. Northwestern controlled the game wire to wire on their way to a 43-3 beatdown. The Terrapins usually explosive offense couldn’t get anything going and sophomore quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa struggled with three interceptions. Maryland will face another tough test next week when the Minnesota Gophers come to town. 

Next Week vs. Minnesota (Friday 7:30pm ET)