After a Week 7 in which we saw some unexpected results, we've had to reshuffle our Big Ten football power rankings.
Six weeks of the college football season are complete, and that means we're starting to see separation among some of the pretenders (Clemson) and contenders (Ohio State and Miami). What we thought we knew at the beginning of the season was fantasy. Now we are dealing with reality, not only across the country, but in the Big Ten as well. Each week lets us know a little more about where things stand.
Now that we've had a few weeks to assess what's going on in the conference, we feel like we have a better handle on what teams are playing well -- maybe as we expected -- and which ones might be in for a long, long season. We're even starting to have some surprise teams emerge (hello, Indiana once again).
So, we share with you our weekly Big Ten football power rankings. After a week of some surprising results, it still looks like Ohio State and Indiana are the class of the league, but teams like Oregon, Washington, Iowa, and USC may still have something to say about which teams make it to Indianapolis.
Here's a look at our Big Ten football power rankings after a tumultuous Week 7. We start from No. 18 and make our way down to No. 1 as usual.
No. 18 - Wisconsin Badgers (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten)
Last Week's Result: Lost 37-0 vs. Iowa
Last Week Ranking: 17 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: vs. Ohio State
What goes into the ranking
Wisconsin is reeling after four losses in a row, including forgetting to get off the bus at home against Iowa this past weekend. No offense, no defense, no way out of the downward spiral with Ohio State coming to town next. It's hard to see a path where Luke Fickell keeps his job at this point.
No. 17 - Purdue Boilermakers (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
LastWeek's Result: Lost 43-27 vs. Illinois
Last Week Ranking: 18 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Northwestern
What goes into the ranking
Purdue has looked very competitive at times and gave Minnesota everything it could handle on the road, but the defense couldn't keep the Gophers from making two touchdowns late to win a hard-fought contest. We don't hand out brownie points or participation trophies in this column, so no credit given for a close game. Instead, Purdue moves up a spot because Wisconsin looked so hapless.
No. 16 - Penn State Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Lost 22-21 vs. Northwestern
Last Week Ranking: 8 ⇩ (down eight spots)
Next Game: at Iowa
What goes into the ranking
The wheels have officially fallen off in Happy Valley, and now starting quarterback Drew Allar has been lost for the season with an injury. A season so full of hope couldn't have gone any worse, and you have to wonder how the season can be salvaged from here. Do the Nittany Lions even make a bowl?
No. 15 - Michigan State Spartans (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten)
LastWeek's Result: Lost 38-13 vs. UCLA
Last Week Ranking: 14 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: at Indiana
What goes into the ranking
Michigan State had looked pretty competitive, but couldn't seem to pull one out in the Big Ten, and the showing against UCLA was a regression. It's back to the drawing board in East Lansing.
No. 14 - Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten)
Last Week's Result: Lost 38-19 at Washington
Last Week Ranking: 13 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: vs. Oregon
What goes into the ranking
Rutgers is well coached and looks good at times, but it just doesn't have the talent to compete consistently and find itself in the upper half of the league. Getting bowl eligible at some point seems like a realistic goal, but don't look for momentum in that direction with the Oregon Ducks flying in for a game next weekend.
No. 13 - Northwestern Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 22-21 at Penn State
Last Week Ranking: 15 ⇧ (up two spots)
Next Game: vs. Purdue
What goes into the ranking
Northwestern has gotten up off the mat after a pretty poor start to the season. Now, after three wins in a row, including an improbable win at Penn State, things are really looking up in Evanston.
No. 12 - UCLA Bruins (2-4, 2-1 Big Ten)
Last Week's Result: Won 38-13 at Michigan State
Last Week Ranking: 16 ⇧ (up four spots)
Next Game: vs. Maryland
What goes into the ranking
The UCLA team we saw at the beginning of the year is not the same UCLA team making life difficult on opponents now. Nico Iamaleava is starting to heat up and make the offense a much more dangerous one that's going to create some issues from here on out for some of the contenders in the league.
No. 11 - Maryland Terrapins (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten)
LastWeek's Result: Lost 34-31 vs. Nebraska
Last Week Ranking: 11 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: at UCLA
What goes into the ranking
The Terps look like they are going to spoil someone's party at some point, but the close losses in the Big Ten are starting to become a trend. We'll see if Maryland can right the ship out west against a resurgent UCLA team next weekend.
No. 10 - Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
LastWeek's Result: Won 27-20 vs. Purdue
Last Week Ranking: 12 ⇧ (up two spots)
Next Game: vs. Nebraska
What goes into the ranking
Like a P.J. Fleck team often does, especially at home, Minnesota just found a way to win against Purdue. Quarterback Drake Lindsey didn't have the best game, throwing the ball 45 times in the game and only completing 21 of those, but he made plays when he had to. It feels like every week is going to come down to the wire with the Golden Gophers.
No. 9 - Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten)
LastWeek's Result: Won 37-0 at Wisconsin
Last Week Ranking: 10 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: vs. Penn State
What goes into the ranking
Iowa got out the whooping stick against Wisconsin and might be flying a bit under the radar. Remember, the Hawkeyes nearly knocked off Indiana and have a loss in a rivalry game. There are still some pretty tough tests ahead, and you can almost bank on them throwing a wrench into things somewhere along the way.
No. 8 - Illinois Fighting Illini (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten)
Last Week's Result: Won 34-16 vs. Ohio State
Last Week Ranking: 7 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Illinois didn't play too badly against the No. 1 team at home; it just made too many mistakes to expect to have a shot to shock the world. Two losses now are going to make it difficult to bet back in the Big Ten race and make the College Football Playoff.
No. 7 - Michigan Wolverines (4-2, 2-2 Big Ten)
LastWeek's Result: Lost 31-13 at USC
Last Week Ranking: 4 ⇩ (down three spots)
Next Game: vs. Washington
What goes into the ranking
At some point, Michigan has to find a way to generate some offense against more athletic teams after struggling to score against USC and earlier in the year at Oklahoma. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood still can't find a consistent passing game, and as we all know, a one-dimensional offense makes it hard to win a championship of any kind. Another loss and it'll likely kiss any chance of a College Football Playoff appearance goodbye.
No. 6 - USC Trojans (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 31-13 vs. Michigan
Last Week Ranking: 8 ⇧ (up two spots)
Next Game: at Notre Dame
What goes into the ranking
We'd be talking more about USC if it could have found a way to beat Illinois. As it stands, after beating Michigan, the Trojans are right in the thick of things in the Big Ten. You had better come ready to score some points against Lincoln Riley's squad.
No. 5 - Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten)
LastWeek's Result: Won 34-31 at Maryland
Last Week Ranking: 6 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Minnesota
What goes into the ranking
Don't look now, but Nebraska won a close game on Saturday. There's only one loss on the year, and that one was a close shave as well. There still seems to be something missing with this team, but all the 'Huskers have to keep doing is finding a way to win.
No. 4 - Washington Huskies (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 38-19 vs. Rutgers
Last Week Ranking: 5 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Michigan
What goes into the ranking
Washington's only loss is to No. 1 Ohio State, and it's probably about time the Huskies find their way into the Top 25 with the dynamic trio they have on offense. A big trip to Ann Arbor looms. Win that one, and it's game on in the conference.
No. 3 - Oregon Ducks (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten)
LastWeek's Result: Lost 30-20 vs. Indiana
Last Week Ranking: 2 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: at Rutgers
What goes into the ranking
This is still a very good team and don't expect the Ducks to go anywhere. The roster has more talent than any team not named Ohio State, and I still expect Oregon to be there at the end, contending for a trip to Indy and a College Football Playoff spot.
No. 2 - Indiana Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten)
LastWeek's Result: Won 30-20 at Oregon
Last Week Ranking: 3 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: vs. Michigan State
What goes into the ranking
What a statement win for Indiana over Oregon out in Eugene this weekend. It's the biggest win any team has had this season in the country, and now maybe folks will start taking the Hoosiers seriously. This is a good team with some fast-twitch athletes and a fantastic quarterback making the engine hum. Indiana does not play Ohio State, and has a much easier path the rest of the season than any other contender.
No. 1 - Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 34-16 at Illinois
Last Week Ranking: 1 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: at Wisconsin
What went into the ranking
It was another pretty complete performance for Ohio State. The defense did struggle against a faster-paced play from Illinois, but forced a bushel of turnovers. The offense looked pretty vanilla on the road and simply did what it needed to win a road game against a ranked opponent. This still looks like the best team in the country.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten football power rankings after Week 7: Upsets shuffle things
Category: General Sports
