Big Ten Power Rankings After Week 4

The Big Ten opened conference play this week.

The conference had four Big Ten contests this week, while three other teams finished out their non conference slates.

There’s been some more movement this week in the top 5 because of the results. But again, even without playing, Ohio State occupies the top spot.

Ohio State Buckeyes

(3-0)

Last week: 3-0 recordLast rank: 1st

The Buckeyes won’t be penalized for not playing this week. They host Rutgers next Saturday in a game that might get out of hand quick.2

Michigan Wolverines

(3-0)

Last week: 3-0 recordLast rank: 3rd

Michigan dominated Penn State from the opening kickoff and went on to a 49-10 blowout victory of the Nittany Lions. They rushed for over 300 yards in the victory. This sets up a very nice matchup against the visiting Badgers next week.3

Wisconsin Badgers

(4-0)

Last week: 3-0 recordLast rank: 5th

Wisconsin walked into East Lansing Saturday afternoon and came away with a very impressive 30-6 victory against the Spartans. Many expected the game to be a close back and forth affair, but the Badgers completely smothered the Spartans and didn’t allow them much of anything. That’s now two top 10 victories for Wisconsin in four weeks. Next week they face their third top 10 opponent at Michigan.4

Nebraska Cornhuskers

(4-0)

Last week: 3-0 recordLast rank: 4th

Nebraska visited Northwestern Saturday night and came away with a 24-13 victory. While the score wasn’t overly impressive, Nebraska really shot themselves in the foot with turnovers. They need to clean those up moving forward, but winning a conference game on the road is never easy so good on them to come out with the victory. Up next week is a home game versus Illinois.5

Michigan State Spartans

(2-1)

Last week: 2-0 recordLast rank: 2nd

Michigan State followed up a win at Notre Dame with laying an egg at home against Wisconsin. The Spartans were absolutely smothered by Wisconsin’s defense and could only muster 75 total yards on the ground. They’ll look to regroup next week as they visit Bloomington to take on Indiana.6

Iowa Hawkeyes

(3-1)

Last week: 2-1 recordLast rank: 6th

Iowa needed a fourth quarter TD to put away a Rutgers team that isn’t very good. Maybe the ill effects were still lingering from the North Dakota State loss, but perhaps the Hawkeyes are not as good as once perceived. The Scarlet Knights even out gained the Hawkeyes, 383 yards to 355 yards. Regardless, a win is a win. Iowa returns home to face Northwestern next week.7

Minnesota Golden Gophers

(3-0)

Last week: 2-0 recordLast rank: 7th

Minnesota had another close victory, this time against Colorado State 31-24. How good are the Gophers? They could be a potential sleeper in the Big Ten West. They will hit the road for the first time this season next Saturday as they take on Penn State.8

Maryland Terrapins

(3-0)

Last week: 3-0 recordLast rank: 10th

Maryland didn’t even have to play this week and got the benefit of teams ahead of them losing. They open up Big Ten play at home this week against Purdue.9

Indiana Hoosiers

(2-1)

Last week: 2-0 recordLast rank: 8th

Indiana racked up over 600 total yards and still lost to Wake Forest, 33-28. That’s what happens when you throw 5 interceptions, which Indiana’s Richard Lagow did. One of those was returned for a Wake Forest touchdown. It doesn’t get any easier for the Hoosiers as they open Big Ten play against a reeling Spartans team that is looking to get back on track.10

Penn State Nittany Lions

(2-2)

Last week: 2-1 recordLast rank: 9th

Nothing went right from the opening kickoff for Penn State, as they were dominated by Michigan 49-10. The defense is even more banged up now than last week. Penn State does get the benefit of the next three games being all at the comfort of Beaver Stadium.11

Purdue Boilermakers

(2-1)

Last week: 1-1 recordLast rank: 14th

Purdue pulled off a quality win against Nevada 24-14. Boilermaker quarterback David Blough recovered from his bad performance against Cincinnati and threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Purdue did turnover the ball four times though. Still a 2-1 record in non conference play is a good start for Purdue and something to build on heading into conference play. They travel to Maryland next Saturday.12

Northwestern Wildcats

(1-3)

Last week: 1-2 recordLast rank: 11th

This year’s Northwestern team is a far cry from last year’s that won 10 games. They kept it close against Nebraska on the scoreboard, but that was due mostly to the Cornhuskers own mistakes. The Wildcat’s offense is just not getting it done as their 16.3 points per game ranks 125th in FBS. A road trip to Iowa next Saturday will most likely not cure those ills.13

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

(2-2)

Last week: 2-1 recordLast rank: 12th

Rutgers defense actually played well enough to win, but with their offense they couldn’t pull off the upset of Iowa, losing 14-7. The Scarlet Knights were hit with more bad news as star receiver Janarion Grant was carted off Saturday and is now lost for the season. A trip to Columbus awaits this week.14

Illinois Fighting Illini

(1-2)

Last week: 1-2 recordLast rank: 13th

Illinois had the week off to prepare for Nebraska. That won’t be an easy trip to Lincoln, but perhaps the extra week off provided some answers for Lovie Smith and company.