Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 2

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

Ranking: 1

LW: 1

Move: —

After a weak first half against Indiana, the Ohio State offense and defense turned things around in the second half against Indiana. JT Barrett finished with over 360 total yards and accounted for four touchdowns leading Ohio State to 1-0.

Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0)

Ranking: 2

LW: —

Move: —

Saquon Barkley showed exactly why he is a Heisman hopeful, totaling over 200 yards on the ground and receiving while tacking on 2 touchdowns. Penn State will need Barkley to succeed throughout the season if they anticipate a trip to the Big Ten Championship.

Michigan Wolverines (1-0)

Ranking: 3

LW: 4

Move: UP 1

Michigan showed grit and poise to cruise against Florida in their 2017 opener. After holding the Gators scoreless in the second half, Michigan looks to once again to one of the top teams in the Big Ten.

Wisconsin Badgers (1-0)

Ranking: 4

LW: 3

Move: DOWN 1

If Wisconsin’s last three quarters on Saturday are a preamble of their upcoming season, the rest of the Big Ten may want to be on high alert. After trailing by ten after the first, Wisconsin went on to score 59 unanswered points on the way to a drubbing of Utah State.

Northwestern Wildcats (1-0)

Ranking: 5

LW: 5

Move: —

Northwestern came out of the gate flat against Nevada, leaving many to wonder if their projections were a bit too optimistic. A week two matchup with Duke will be the first true test of 2017 for the Wildcats.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-0)

Ranking: 6

LW: 6

Move: —

Minnesota struggled against Buffalo in Coach PJ Fleck’s debut. Will Minnesota be ‘Rowing the Boat’ in 2017 or will the waves of implementing a new system sink their ship?

Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-0)

Ranking: 7

LW: 7

Move: —

Nebraska got in to an unexpected shootout with Arkansas State and won by virtue of an overthrow in the end zone, sealing a win for Coach Riley’s squad. If the Huskers will look to challenge in the Big Ten, they will need a better defensive effort than what was on display this past weekend.

Maryland Terrapins (1-0)

Ranking: 8

LW: 10

Move: UP 2

Texas is most definitely not back yet, and Maryland proved that on Saturday. Led by some solid special teams play, Maryland showed poise and determination to dismantle new Coach Tom Herman’s debut.

Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0)

Ranking: 9

LW: 8

Move: DOWN 1

Iowa was able to secure a 24-3 victory over Wyoming on Saturday, led by Nathan Stanley’s three touchdowns in the air and 100+ yards on the ground by Akrum Wadley. With the battle for the Cy-Hawk next weekend looming, Iowa is looking to get to 2-0 in 2017.

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

Ranking: 10

LW: 9

Move: DOWN 1

After a first half that had Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State sweating, Indiana came back down to Earth and was outscored 36-7 in the second half. Which team will Indiana be in 2017? The team the nation saw in the first half or the second half?

Michigan State Spartans (1-0)

Ranking: 11

LW: 11

Move: —

Michigan State showed signs of the team it was before the 2016 campaign, beating Bowling Green in every facet of their matchup. Can Coach Dantonio continue to lead this team forward, or will they falter down the stretch?

Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0)

Ranking: 12

LW: 12

Move: —

Illinois narrowly defeated Ball State (not a real state) to start 2017 with a winning record. Will the Illini find ways to fix the ailments of the O-Line and get the ball into the hands of their best playmakers, Mike & Mike?

Purdue Boilermakers (0-1)

Ranking: 13

LW: 13

Move: —

Purdue looked surprisingly well against Louisville, however they were unable to complete what would have been one of the biggest upsets in school history. Starting 0-1 after a matchup with Louisville is not surprising, and the team will continue to build on a great opening weekend.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-1)

Ranking: 14

LW: 14

Move: —

Rutgers, like several other teams in the Big Ten this weekend, showed high flashes of potential against Washington. Though a loss, Rutgers should at least be able to hold their heads high after a solid matchup with a Pac 12 stud.