Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 5

Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0, 1-0)

Ranking: 1

LW: 1

Move: —

After a slow start, Barkley and squad got going against the Hawkeyes, taking a victory on the final play of regualation. With the win, Penn State improves to a perfect 4-0 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play.

Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1, 1-0 Big Ten)

Ranking: 2

LW: 3

Move: UP 1

Ohio State looked as advertised against UNLV this past weekend, winning in convincing fashion, 54-21. The Buckeyes once against look like one of the best teams in the Big Ten, as JT Barrett has begun to show flashes of brilliance on the field.

Michigan Wolverines (4-0, 1-1)

Ranking: 3

LW: 2

Move: DOWN 1

I have looked past the shortcoming of the Wolverines for the past few weeks but can no longer look past the lack of offensive firepower and slow starts. Now, if the injury to starting quarterback Wilton Speight is anything more than a few weeks out, the Wolverines may be on the outside looking in once again in the Big Ten.

Wisconsin Badgers (3-0)

Ranking: 4

LW: 4

Move: —

Wisconsin had the week off before taking on Northwestern next weekend.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-0)

Ranking: 5

LW: 5

Move: —

Minnesota had the week off before facing Maryland next weekend.

Maryland Terrapins (2-1)

Ranking: 6

LW: 6

Move: —

Maryland faced a tough UCF team this past weekend and did not have an answer for what they went up against. Losing to the Knights 38-10, the Terrapins will hope to rebound next week against Minnesota.

Northwestern Wildcats (2-1)

Ranking: 7

LW: 7

Move: —

Northwestern had the week off before taking on Wisconsin next weekend.

Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1, 0-1)

Ranking: 8

LW: 8

Move: —

Iowa was a single play away from taking down the top of the Big Ten this past weekend, but was unable to stop the Nittany Lions, thus ending their three-game win streak against top-five teams at home. Iowa did, however, show that they may be a legit threat in the Big Ten West.

Indiana Hoosiers (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten)

Ranking: 9

LW: 9

Move: —

Indiana hosted Georgia Southern in a Big Ten tune-up, throttling off a 52-17 win. The Hoosiers were able to control both sides of the ball and appear to be an up-and-coming team heading in to Big Ten play.

Michigan State Spartans (2-1)

Ranking: 10

LW: 10

Move: —

Michigan State came back down to Earth, dismantled by the fighting Irish 38-18 on Saturday. The Spartans were never really in this one, and the fans in East Lansing are beginning to get restless.

Purdue Boilermakers (2-2, 0-1)

Ranking: 11

LW: 11

Move: —

Purdue and new coach Jeff Brohm gave Michigan a fight, but 40 minutes of strong play was not enough to take down a top-10 team. Also, there’s a quarterback controversy brewing here after more inconsistent play from David Blough.

Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1)

Ranking: 12

LW: 12

Move: —

Illinois was off this weekend and host Nebraska to open Big Ten play next week.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-2, 1-0)

Ranking: 13

LW: 13

Move: —

Nebraska had to stave off Rutgers in the fourth quarter to pull off the victory. The Huskers enter a date with the Illini as 8-point favorites, but that may be a little generous for a struggling team.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-3, 0-1)

Ranking: 14

LW: 14

Move: —

After picking up its first win of the season, Rutgers nearly ended a 14-game Big Ten losing streak on the road in Lincoln, but they could not hold on in the second half.