BIG Power Rankings: 10/7
1) Michigan State: The best team in the Big Ten at the start of the season remains the best team as we near the midway point of the season. Their only loss was in Eugene to then-No. 3 Oregon. The Spartans have an offense led by quarterback Connor Cook, arguably the best quarterback in the Big Ten with Braxton Miller out, and dynamic running back Jeremy Langford. Michigan State’s only remaining game that could give them a problem is against Ohio State. Look for Michigan State to be cemented here for the rest of the season.
2) Ohio State: Braxton who? Sure the Buckeyes miss him, but they aren’t playing like it. After losing at home to Virginia Tech, the Buckeyes have won three straight, scoring 168 points in those three games. Also in those games, freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett has thrown 14 touchdowns and just one interception. Ohio State is a solid team, and a solid number two in the Big Ten
3) Nebraska: Now 5-1 on the season after a close loss to Michigan State, Nebraska still is a top team in the Big Ten. Led by Heisman candidate Ameer Abdullah, who has 878 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the year, Nebraska boasts one of the better offenses in the Big Ten. However, with no solid quarterback under center, the Cornhuskers do have a glaring hole. Shutdown Abdullah and you can beat them, still, that’s a lot easier said than done.
4) Northwestern: Maybe they are a little high on the list, but I don’t think so. After romping Penn State in Happy Valley, Northwestern returned home and went pound-for-pound with No. 17 Wisconsin, defeating the Badgers 20-14. Trevor Siemian is playing at a high level and the Wildcats defense has been unbelievable the past three weeks giving up just nine points per game. The Wildcats take on Minnesota next as they look to move to 3-0 in the Big Ten.
5) Minnesota: Any other year and a 30-14 win over Michigan may put you higher on the charts. Still, the Golden Gophers are a solid team with an above average defense, ranking in the top 20 nationally. They focus heavily on the rushing game, and in particular senior running back David Cobb, who has 722 yards and four touchdowns. We will see if Minnesota is for real this week as they take on a very hot Northwestern squad.
6) Iowa: The Hawkeyes are yet another 4-1 team in the Big Ten. Much like the others they haven’t played a very high level of competition and are largely unproven. Led by quarterback Jake Rudock on offense and a top 20 defense, Iowa could hang around all season. However, the decision to implement a two-quarterback system may topple the Hawkeyes mid-season if they aren’t careful.
7) Penn State: After a demoralizing 29-6 loss at home, Penn State needs a serious bounce back game. Christian Hackenberg has been less than stellar all season and the running game has been abysmal. The offensive line needs to step up big time if Penn State wants to beat some of the harder opponents they have coming up. A trip to the Big House to face a reeling Michigan team might be just what the doctor ordered for Penn State.
8) Wisconsin: Yes they have Melvin Gordon, but other than him the Badgers offense has been far from impressive. The lack of confidence in quarterback Tanner McEvoy showed last week when he only attempted 10 passes in their loss to Northwestern. Northwestern proved they were no slouch by beating Wisconsin, but by the same right, Wisconsin showed that they aren’t as good of a team as many may have previously thought.
9) Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights are 5-1 after coming off their first ever Big Ten victory against Michigan. Still, the team hasn’t played anyone too impressive and that loss at home to Penn State looms large with their upcoming schedule. They will face Ohio State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan State in four of their next five games. All these teams will be a real test for a Rutgers squad who hasn’t faced a top tier opponent yet.
10) Maryland: If that shootout with West Virginia had gone Maryland’s way, they would probably be ranked much higher. However, after a blowout loss to Ohio State, the team is 4-2 with a tough stretch of schedule. It’s no secret that the Terrapins can score, but it’s also no secret that they can’t stop teams from scoring on them. It’s hard to see the defense getting better; especially with the teams they play next. The worst may be yet to come for Maryland.
11) Indiana: This team is just confusing at this point. Lose to Bowling Green, beat No. 18 Missouri, get blown out by Maryland, and then blow out North Texas. Indiana’s season has been up and down to say the least. The Hoosiers have a potent rushing attack that ranks in the top 10 nationally, but they give up almost 30 points per game. If they want to stay consistent, they need to sure up their defense first.
12) Michigan: The Wolverines are not a good team this year. Now, it’s just going from bad to worse. They have dropped three straight and it seems everyone in Ann Arbor wants Brady Hoke out of his job. Things won’t get much easier for the Wolverines who welcome Penn State to the Big House this Saturday. To say Michigan needs a win this week would be an understatement. If the Wolverines want any hope of salvaging a season that may already be lost, it starts with a win Saturday.
13) Purdue: The Boilermakers snapped a nine-game Big Ten losing streak with their win against Illinois. This is little more than a moral victory for the team as their lack of depth at any position makes them a fairly easy matchup for other opponents. A bright spot for the team is sophomore quarterback Austin Appleby, who took over the starting role last year. His time has officially come.
14) Illinois: A loss to Purdue will put you at the bottom of the standings. That and the fact that they lost arguably their best player, quarterback Wes Lunt to a broken leg makes it seem like this season is fairly lost for the Fighting Illini.
Jack Milewski is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email him at jbm250@psu.edu.
