Hoosier Huddle's Big Ten Power Rankings: Week Three
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Written by Evan McShane
The Hoosiers keep rolling in the Big Ten East, but there are a few more surprises as Maryland stomped Penn State and Michigan State returns to earth. In the west, is Wisconsin done? Is the race between Northwestern and Purdue?
1. Ohio State (3-0, Defeated Rutgers 49-27)
Last Week: 1
Quarterback Justin Fields continued his Heisman campaign with a dazzling performance against Rutgers. Fields had more touchdown passes (5) than incompletions (4) as he threw for 314 yards. The Buckeyes are once again the team to beat in the Big Ten and look to be in a league of their own. A road test against the red-hot Terrapins awaits next week.
Next Week @ Maryland (3:30pm ET)
2. Indiana (3-0, Defeated Michigan 38-21)
Last Week: 3
The Indiana Hoosiers look like the second-best team in the Big Ten – full stop. Indiana dominated Michigan at every level on Saturday to get their first win against the Wolverines since 1987. The IU defense held Michigan to an astonishing 13 yards rushing while forcing two interceptions. The offense controlled the entire game, posting 460 total yards and owning time of possession 39 minutes to Michigan’s 21. Quarterback Mike Penix Jr. threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns while Stevie Scott added 97 yards on the ground and two TDs of his own.
With two wins over top-25 teams, the Hoosiers are ranked #10 in the country, their highest ranking since 1969. IU hopes to keep their unprecedented start to the season rolling against Michigan State next week.
Next Week @ Michigan State (Noon ET)
3. Northwestern (3-0, Defeated Nebraska 21-13)
Last Week: 5
A convincing victory against lowly Nebraska has Northwestern as one of only three teams in the Big Ten to start the season 3-0. Saturday’s game against the Cornhuskers wasn’t pretty. The Wildcats trailed 13-7 at halftime before pitching a shutout in the second half. Quarterback Peyton Ramsey threw two touchdown passes including one to Riley Lees in the fourth quarter that would prove to be the dagger. Northwestern travels to West Lafayette to face off against Purdue in a showdown between two undefeated Big Ten West teams.
Next Week @ Purdue (7:30pm ET)
4. Wisconsin (1-0, Game Postponed)
Last Week: 2
The Badgers’ showdown against Purdue was cancelled. Wisconsin will travel to Michigan next week for their first game since the season opener.
Next Week @ Michigan (7:30pm ET)
5. Purdue (2-0, Game Postponed)
Last Week: 4
Purdue’s game against Wisconsin was cancelled. The Boilermakers hope to stay undefeated as Peyton Ramsey and Northwestern comes to town next week.
Next Week vs. Northwestern (7:30pm ET)
6. Maryland (2-1, Defeated Penn State 35-19)
Last Week: 8
Back-to-back huge upset victories for Maryland, this latest win against Penn State. The Nittany Lions have outscored the Terrapins 163-6 over the last three years. This year, Maryland had enough. The Terps raced out to a 35-7 lead and never looked back. Sophomore QB Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Is Maryland for real? We’ll find out next week when they host the Buckeyes.
Next Week vs. Ohio State (3:30pm ET)
7. Minnesota (1-2, Defeated Illinois 41-14)
Last Week: 11
Minnesota finally looked more like the team that went 11-2 just a season ago. After back-to-back losses, the Gophers dismantled the Illini in Champagne. Running back Mohamed Ibrahim ran for 224 yards and scored four touchdowns. Minnesota’s defense held Illinois to under 300 yards and just 14 points despite not forcing any turnovers. The Gophers look to get back to .500 next week with a game at home against the Hawkeyes.
Next Week vs. Iowa (Friday 7:00pm ET)
8. Iowa (1-2, Defeated Michigan State 49-7)
Last Week: 13
Iowa took care of business in a big way Saturday. The Hawkeyes embarrassed Michigan State, plastering 35 first half points on the Spartans en route to a 49-7 beatdown. Iowa’s defense force three turnovers and they outgained MSU 405 yards to 286. The Hawkeyes face off against Minnesota next week as both teams look to win their second straight game to get to 2-2.
Next Week @ Minnesota (Friday 7:00pm ET)
9. Michigan State (1-2, Lost to Iowa 49-7)
Last Week: 6
Michigan State’s up-and-down season continued with a non-competitive blowout loss against Iowa. The Spartans gave up an embarrassing 35 first half points. This comes after an impressive upset win against Michigan in the Big House last week. QB Rocky Lombardi, one week after shredding the Wolverines, threw three interceptions and completed less than 50% of his passes against Iowa. The only thing we know for sure is that Sparty is unpredictable. Another road test awaits as MSU head to Bloomington next week.
Next Week vs. Indiana (Noon ET)
10. Michigan (1-2, Lost to Indiana 38-21)
Last Week: 7
After a promising week one win against Minnesota, Michigan’s season already appears to be off the rails. After an embarrassing home loss against Michigan State, the Wolverines followed it up by getting overpowered by the Hoosiers for the first time in 33 years. Is head coach Jim Harbaugh on the hot seat? It’s too early to tell, but if the Wolverines don’t get back on track against Wisconsin next week, things could get noisy in Ann Arbor.
Next Week vs. Wisconsin (7:30pm ET)
11. Rutgers (1-2, Lost to Ohio State 49-27)
Last Week: 9
Rutgers couldn’t pull of a miracle upset against Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights kept the first quarter close before giving up 28 second quarter points to the Buckeyes. Rutgers is now 1-2 after picking up their first conference win since 2017 during week one. Next week, the Scarlet Knights can get back to .500 with a win over a struggling Illinois team.
Next Week vs. Illinois (Noon ET
12. Penn State (0-3, Lost to Maryland 35-19)
Last Week: 10
Not many people saw this disastrous start coming for Penn State. A gut-wrenching defeat against Indiana, a blowout loss to Ohio State, and now a beatdown against… Maryland. One year after defeating the Terrapins 59-0, Penn State got blown out by Maryland at home. The Nittany Lions trailed by as much as 35-7 before two garbage-time touchdowns brought it closer. James Franklin hopes to avoid a catastrophic 0-4 start as Penn State heads to Lincoln to face the winless Cornhuskers.
Next Week @ Nebraska (Noon ET)
13. Nebraska (0-2, Lost to Northwestern 21-13)
Last Week: 12
Scott Frost’s record at Nebraska fell to 9-17 on Saturday with a disappointing performance against Northwestern. One of three teams in the Big Ten still searching for their first win, 2020 is off to a nightmarish start for the Cornhuskers. Nebraska tried both Adrian Martinez and Luke McCaffery at quarterback, but both of them threw a interception and neither could put the Huskers over the top. Big Red went scoreless the entire second half, losing to the Wildcats 21-13. Nebraska’s next opportunity comes against the 0-3 Nittany Lions, equally hungry for their first win of the season.
Next Week vs. Penn State (Noon ET)
14. Illinois (0-3, Lost to Minnesota 41-14)
Less than a month into the season and Illinois is left looking for answers. The latest blowout loss at home against Minnesota offered a reminder the Fighting Illini have a lot of work to do. Last season offered some glimpses of hope under Lovie Smith with a pair of big upset wins, but 2020 has yet to provide any positives. The Illini didn’t give themselves much of a chance on Saturday, falling behind to the Gophers 28-7 in the first half. Illinois has five games left to right the ship, starting with a trip to New Jersey next week.
Last Week:14
Next Week @ Rutgers (Noon ET)