Hoosier Huddle’s Big Ten Power Rankings: Week Five
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Written by Evan McShane (@veryreasonable)
Week 5 Power Rankings
1. Ohio State (5-0, 2-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Defeated Nebraska 48-7
The Buckeyes are head and shoulders above everyone in the conference. Aside from Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma, Ohio State looks to be head and shoulders above the rest of the nation. In a game that was hyped to be a close battle, Ohio State absolutely blew the doors off Nebraska in their building. Quarterback Justin Fields is elite. He led the Buckeyes to a 38-0 halftime lead and finished the day with three touchdown passes and 72 yards rushing with another score on the ground. Ohio State will be heavily favored every week, but one of their tougher tests in Michigan State is coming to town.
Next Week: Michigan State @ Ohio State (7:30pm on ABC)
2. Wisconsin (4-0, 2-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Defeated Northwestern 25-14
In a game they were favored by more than 20 points, Wisconsin’s offense came out flat. Although not unexpected after a blowout victory over Michigan the prior week, the Badgers were able to hang on despite gaining just 243 yards of offense. The Badgers offense will need to improve if they want to be taken seriously as a top ten team in the country. Wisconsin hosts Kent State next week before plunging into seven straight Big Ten games.
Next Week: Kent State @ Wisconsin (Noon)
3. Iowa (4-0, 2-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Defeated Middle Tennessee State 48-3
Iowa steamrolled an inferior opponent to complete their hot start to the season. The Hawkeyes look to be up there with Wisconsin as the two favorites to win the Big Ten West. Iowa will face their biggest test next week in the Big House against Michigan.
Next Week: Iowa @ Michigan (Noon)
4. Penn State (4-0, 1-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
Defeated Maryland 59-0
In a regional rivalry that Penn State loves to dominate, this Friday’s game was no different. The Nittany Lions took the Terrapins to the shed. Penn State looks to continue their hot start next week as they take on a struggling and injured Purdue team at home.
Next Week: Purdue @ Penn State (Noon)
5. Michigan State (4-1, 2-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Defeated Indiana 40-31
Michigan State barely hung on for the victory at home over Indiana. Although the score indicates a nine-point margin, it was a last second field goal that sealed the deal for MSU. As strange as it may seem to say this, the Spartans need to shore up their defense. Michigan State’s perennially stout defense was picked apart by Indiana’s freshman quarterback Michael Penix. The Spartans defense must be sharper next week as MSU travels to Columbus to face Ohio State.
Next Week: Michigan State @ Ohio State (7:30pm on ABC)
6. Minnesota (4-0, 1-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Defeated Purdue 38-31
In a game that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate, quarterback Tanner Morgan nearly threw for 400 yards. The quarterback racked up four touchdown passes in a game the Gophers led 28-10 at half and 38-17 late in the game. Minnesota would let off the gas a bit, surrendering 14 unanswered in the fourth quarter to Purdue, but the Gophers hung on for their fourth straight single-digit victory. Minnesota will face a struggling Illinois team next week at home.
Next Week: Illinois @ Minnesota (3:30pm on BTN)
7. Michigan (3-1, 1-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
Defeated Rutgers 52-0
Michigan got back on track after a humiliating defeat against the Badgers last week. The Wolverines dismantled the Scarlet Knights at the Big House Saturday. Next week, a tougher test in Iowa comes to Ann Arbor to face Michigan.
Next Week: Iowa @ Michigan
8. Nebraska (3-2, 1-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Lost to Ohio State 48-7
Nebraska was embarrassed at home on Saturday night. The Buckeyes took a 38-0 lead into halftime and never looked back. Nebraska drops to 8th in the power rankings. The Cornhuskers have another home game next week against a struggling Northwestern team.
Next Week: Northwestern @ Nebraska
9. Indiana (3-2, 0-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Lost to Michigan State 40-31
Indiana suffered a heartbreaking loss, but the Hoosiers offense looked impressive putting up over 350-yards and 31 points on Michigan State’s vaunted defense. Read about the game, offense and defensive recaps, all at Hoosier Huddle. IU needs to iron out some deficiencies and shore up their defense as they enter a bye week. After that comes a winnable stretch of Big Ten games, at home against Rutgers and Northwestern and on the road against Nebraska and Maryland.
Next Week: OFF
10. Northwestern (1-3, 0-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Lost to Wisconsin 24-15
As Northwestern only managed to lose to Wisconsin by nine points on Saturday, their defense gave them a chance. Quarterback Hunter Johnson went down with an injury in the second half and backup Aidan Smith led the Wildcats to 12 fourth-quarter points. The hard-fought effort wasn’t enough, and Northwestern finds themselves toward the bottom of the Big Ten power rankings, joining Rutgers and Illinois as the only teams with just one win in the conference.
Next Week: Northwestern @ Nebraska
11. Maryland (2-2, 0-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Lost to Penn State 59-0
Maryland cancelled class so students could attend the game on Friday, but it did not matter. The Terrapins got steamrolled by Penn State in a game where quarterback Josh Jackson was benched for Ty Pigrome. After a red-hot start, Maryland has some work to do to avoid falling below .500. They’ll have a chance to get back on track next week as they travel to Rutgers.
Next Week: Maryland @ Rutgers (Noon on BTN)
12. Purdue (1-3, 0-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Lost to Minnesota 38-31
Saturday was ugly in West Lafayette. Minnesota jumped out to an early lead, with Purdue’s defense unable to stop anything. Then things to a turn for the worse when, on the very same play, Purdue quarterback and star wide receiver both suffered serious injuries that would keep them out the rest of the game. Gopher quarterback Tanner Morgan threw for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns. The Boilermakers did see some encouraging signs from redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Plummer, who led a 14-0 comeback in the fourth quarter to pull Purdue within a score. The Boilers head to Penn State to face the Nittany Lions next week.
Next Week: Purdue @ Penn State
13. Illinois (2-2, 0-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
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Illinois had a bye week to recover after a heartbreaking home loss against Nebraska. Next week they’ll travel to Minnesota to face the Gophers for their first road conference game.
Next Week: Illinois @ Minnesota (3:30pm on BTN)
14. Rutgers (1-3, 0-2)
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
Lost to Michigan 52-0
Rutgers did not show any signs of improvement during their trip to Michigan this week.
Next Week: Maryland @ Rutgers (Noon on BTN)