Big Jeff’s Week 6 Big Ten Football Power Rankings

Each week Big Jeff will give his take on the Big Ten football power rankings. The ratings will be a combination of year-to-date game performance and my expectations of how much each team can and will improve during the year. If one team is ranked over another it generally means I feel on a neutral field the higher ranked team would win.

Week 6 Big Ten Football Top Storylines – Big Jeff’s Football (bigjeffsfootball.com)

Week 6 Big Ten Football Power Rankings

Note: The teams power ranking change from last week is in parenthesis.

1. Ohio State (5-0, 2-0; Same)– Another slow start for the Buckeyes as they were up just 7-0 over Iowa at the half mostly due to two turnovers including the first for star WR Jeremiah Smith. In the second half Ohio State rolled to a 35-7 win. Ohio State ranks 2nd in the Big Ten in yards/game on offense and is 1st on defense. By the same metrics, nationally Ohio State ranks 1st on defense and 9th on offense.
2. Oregon (5-0, 2-0; +1) – Oregon continues to play better and better and easily dispatched Michigan State at home 31-10, so I moved them up over Penn State this week. Oregon ranks 6th on defense in the Big Ten giving up 263 yards/game and are 5th on offense at 459 yards/game, which surprises me they are not higher given all their firepower.
3. Penn State (5-0, 2-0; -1) – Star running back Nick Singleton sat out Penn State’s 27-11 home win over struggling UCLA and his absence was felt as the Nits had just 85 yards rushing at 2.8 yards/carry. Although they were in control of the game throughout, they still outgained the Bruins only 322 yards to 260, so I dropped Penn State down one spot. Lack of explosiveness is still a big question mark.
4. Indiana (6-0, 3-0; same) – Indiana and the Curt Cignetti hype train just kept rolling along on Saturday in Evanston where the Hoosiers beat Northwestern 41-24 for their 6th straight double-digit win. The Hoosiers rank 1st in the Big Ten on offense and 4th on defense so they are very well balanced. With USC and Michigan’s losses, it justified me having them 4th last week which is where I will keep them.
5. Illinois (4-1, 1-1; +2) – Illinois had a bye this week and moves up 2 spots with Michigan and USC losing. Going forward Illinois needs to run the ball better as they rank just 14th in the Big Ten in rushing at 132 yards/game which typically is not a winning formula in the rugged Big Ten. With Purdue visiting this week, it’s the perfect time to get the run game going.
6. Nebraska (5-1, 2-1; +4) – As expected, it was a rock fight against Rutgers on Saturday as the Huskers beat Rutgers 14-7 with Rutgers having just 264 yards of offense to Nebraska’s 261. But this is the type of close game the Huskers have struggled with in the past, so it was a good win and I move them up 4 spots. Nebraska has an off week before playing at 6-0 Indiana.
7. Rutgers (4-1, 1-1; +2) – Despite their 14-7 loss to Nebraska, I moved them up 2 spots with both Michigan and USC losing. To achieve a special 8- or 9-win season, this offense needs to be much better. The strong running game only averaged 2.4 yards/carry and Kyle Monangai gained just 78 yards. QB Athan Kaliakmanis was just 15-37 for 186 yards with 2 interceptions and 1 TD.
8. Washington (3-2, 2-1; +3) – After seeing them statistically dominate Rutgers the prior week in a road loss, I had written before this week’s games that Washington maybe had the highest upside of any team the second half of the year, and they helped prove that beating Michigan 27-17 Saturday night. I like this team, but they do have a tough remaining schedule including at #23 Indiana, #7 Penn State and #6 Oregon, and 2 home games.
9. Michigan (4-2, 2-1; -4) – Despite having no ability to throw the ball with the worst passing offense in the Big Ten, now #24 Michigan had managed to “win ugly” and eke out wins to go 4-1 and keep a #10 national ranking. They finally had to pay the piper in a 27-17 loss at Washington who exposed their weaknesses including a porous pass defense which is 3rd to last in the Big Ten despite All-American CB Will Johnson. QB Jack Tuttle provided a spark but unless the passing game dramatically improves this team could be looking at a 7-win season.
10. Iowa (3-2, 1-1; -2) – Iowa hung in there vs. Ohio State down just 7-0 with the help of 2 turnovers. But the Hawkeyes could not contain the Buckeyes offensive firepower in the second half in a 35-7 loss. The lack of a downfield passing threat allowed the Buckeyes to completely shut down the Iowa run game until some late success vs. OSU’s second unit. This was just not a good matchup for them so I only drop them 2 spots.
11. Minnesota (3-3, 1-2; +3) – After a close loss at Michigan, PJ Fleck stated Minnesota was the best 2-3 team in America. The Gophers comeback 24-17 win over USC that saw them overcome a 17-10 third quarter deficit makes PJ look like a prophet.  New QB Max Brosmer continued his good play and had 3 rushing TDs but most important was the emergence of the lost Gopher running game which piled up 193 yards at 4.8/carry led by Darius Taylor’s 144 yards. This win leaps the Gophers 3 spots over USC, Michigan State and Maryland.
12. USC (3-2, 1-2; -6) – USC came into the Minnesota game ranked #11 as 8-point favorites. They let Minnesota who had a struggling rushing attack, run the ball all over them for 193 yards at 4.8/carry, including 3 rushing touchdowns from quarterback Max Brosmer in a 24-17 loss. Michigan losing at Washington makes that close loss look worse, so I am dropping the Trojans six spots. Their fans will probably think that is punitive and it might be, but they have a chance to prove it when Penn State visits this week.
13. Wisconsin (3-2, 1-1; +2) – The Badgers were in bad need of a “get right” game to build some confidence for the team but also quarterback Braedyn Locke. Enter the Purdue Boilermakers. Lock had a big game throwing for 359 yards and 3 TDs as the Badgers romped 52-6. I am not sure if this win makes everything “right” but it was good enough to move them up 2 spots over Michigan State and Maryland.
14. Michigan State (3-3, 1-2; -2) – On paper it looked bad. A home game vs #3 Ohio State followed by a road game at #6 Oregon, with a first-year quarterback trying to settle in and play more efficiently. The result is what you might expect losing 38-7 to the Buckeyes then 31-10 to Oregon. Sparty has a needed off week before getting Iowa at home.
15. Maryland (3-2, 0-2; -2) – Maryland had an off week and has a good opportunity to get back on track with a home game Friday night vs. an offensively challenged Northwestern team.
16. Northwestern (2-3, 0-2; +1) – The Wildcats lost to surging Indiana 41-24 but they hung with the Hoosiers as it was 27-24 with just 11 minutes left in the game before the Hoosiers pulled away. On the bright side, they got some needed productivity in the passing game as Jack Lausch went 23-38 for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns. Four unranked teams are coming up so this will be a critical stretch to make a bowl game.
17. UCLA (1-4, 0-3; -1) – UCLA continues to fight despite piling up the losses. They lost 27-11 at Penn State but their defense held up well holding the Nittany Lions to just 322 yards, but they could only muster 260 yards on offense and 11 points which included a late touchdown with under a minute. The running game is the biggest culprit and is last in the Big Ten and was held under 100 yards once again. The Bruins have a home winnable game against Minnesota this week.
18. Purdue (1-4, 0-2; same) – I am not sure what to say here other than Purdue simply does nothing well and got destroyed by Wisconsin 52-6. The Boilermakers could be looking at a 1-11 season with the most winnable game a home date with Northwestern on November 2nd. Next up is at #23 Illinois.

Big Ten Football Power Rankings (Week 7): Hoosiers Soar and Upsets Galore (msn.com)