How does the Big Ten shape out heading into Week 3 of the college football season?
The Big Ten had some major games in Week 2 of the college football season, which saw a few teams impress and skyrocket, as well as a few more teams lose, leading to some questions.
Now, heading into Week 3, how does the Big Ten shape out? Let’s get into our power rankings for the week.
18. Northwestern (1-1)
Week 2: 26-20 loss vs. Duke
After a double-overtime loss to Duke, Northwestern is again at the bottom of the Big Ten power rankings. Quarterback Mike Wright failed to impress for the second straight week, and the Wildcats’ offense is searching for an answer. Against an easy opponent in Eastern Illinois, Northwestern will have the chance to move out of the bottom spot if the team can dominate in Week 3. For now, the Wildcats are immovable.
17. UCLA (1-0)
Week 2: N/A
The Bruins will have their first Big Ten conference game against Indiana, and the excitement is building. Indiana will travel to California to play UCLA, after smacking Western Illinois 77-3 in Week 2. With the weekend off, there’s hope that DeShaun Foster’s team will be fully prepared and ready to go against the Hoosiers. A conference win would make a statement in his first year of rebuilding the program.
16. Purdue (1-0)
Week 2: N/A
The Boilermakers will have their work cut out for them as they face Notre Dame on the road this Saturday. It should be a little more relieving that the Fighting Irish dropped from No. 5 to No. 18 after a crushing loss to Northern Illinois. Now that the college football world knows how vulnerable Notre Dame is, Purdue has the chance to give their opponent its second-straight upset loss.
15. Minnesota (1-1)
Week 2: 48-0 win vs. Rhode Island
Minnesota got a much-needed victory against Rhode Island, and the offense looked a lot different than it did in Week 1. Granted, Week 1 was against North Carolina, an ACC team, but Max Brosmer played far better than he did in the Golden Gophers’ opener, throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Facing Nevada this week, they’ll be expected to move to 2-1.
14. Indiana (2-0)
Week 2: 77-3 win vs. Western Illinois
Beating up on an FCS team isn’t anything to write home about, but 77 points while breaking the 123-year-old record for points in a game is impressive. Curt Cignetti’s team is doing all of the right things in his first year as Indiana’s head coach, and the Hoosiers will have the chance to capitalize on their momentum against UCLA on the road.
13. Maryland (1-1)
Week 2: 27-20 loss vs. Michigan State
Just when Maryland was looking good after a dominant win against UConn in Week 1, they got upset at home by a team in the basement of the Big Ten power rankings. Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles threw three interceptions, and the Terrapins still couldn’t find a way to win. The ground game was miserable, putting up just 86 yards total. The only bright spot was Tai Felton, who caught 11 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown.
12. Michigan State (2-0)
Week 2: 27-20 win at Maryland
While Aidan Chiles did throw three interceptions, he also tossed three touchdowns and 363 yards in an upset win on the road. While the run game wasn’t impressive, the passing game thrived, with Nick Marsh stunning everyone with 194 receiving yards and a touchdown. After an inspiring win, the Spartans will have a much easier opponent in familiar territory, as they take on Prairie View at home this Saturday.
11. Wisconsin (2-0)
Week 2: 27-13 win vs. South Dakota
Wisconsin pretty much did the same thing as last week, beating South Dakota by 14 points in an uninspiring win. Against an FCS opponent, the Badgers came out firing in the first quarter but regressed and played down to their competition for the rest of the game. Facing No. 4 Alabama this weekend, Luke Fickell’s group has the chance to pull off an all-time upset or watch the season plunge further. It relies on preparation (and a little bit of luck, too).
10. Washington (2-0)
Week 2: 30-9 win vs. Eastern Michigan
It’s tough to see where the Huskies place on the scale of the Big Ten because while losing their best weapons from last season warrants skepticism, they’ve been getting the job done against inferior opponents. Will Rogers had an even better performance in Week 2, throwing for 261 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Jonah Coleman went for 104 yards of his own as Washington marches into Week 3 for its highly-anticipated rivalry game against Washington State.
9. Rutgers (2-0)
Week 2: 49-17 vs. Akron
It was the Kyle Monangai game, as the senior rushed for an incredible 208 yards and three touchdowns. Antwan Raymond impressed as well, going for 77 yards of his own and a touchdown. The Scarlett Knights are building something special, and if it wasn’t for an upset win from Illinois, they’d be a spot or two higher. They’ll have a week off before going down to Virginia Tech in a Big Ten-ACC showdown.
8. Illinois (2-0)
Week 2: 23-17 win vs. No. 19 Kansas
What a win for Illinois, beating a ranked opponent in Kansas and moving up three spots in the power rankings. It was all defense for the Fighting Illini, and Xavier Scott couldn’t have been more dominant. The junior defensive back had eight tackles, a sack, and two interceptions against Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels. Bret Bielema has had some major wins as head coach of Illinois, but this ranks at the top, with the team seeking its first 3-0 start since 2011.
7. Iowa (1-1)
Week 2: 20-19 loss vs. Iowa State
Just when we thought the Hawkeyes would build something after an offensive explosion in Week 1, Iowa regressed to its usual self. Cade McNamara failed to reach 100 yards passing and threw two interceptions, while the defense wasn’t even all that impressive. Kaleb Johnson was the only bright spot with 187 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but it doesn’t mean much as the Hawkeyes lost on a game-winning field goal. It was a costly loss, as Iowa falls out of the AP Top 25 and likely College Football Playoff contention.
6. No. 17 Michigan (1-1)
Week 2: 31-12 loss vs. No. 3 Texas
It wasn’t a game they were expected to win, but the Wolverines couldn’t muster up anything on either side of the ball to even compete with Texas. There are two major takeaways from this loss: Michigan is regressing more than we think, and the team has a terrible quarterback problem. Davis Warren couldn’t compete against the Longhorns’ defense, throwing two interceptions. Some confusion came from Donovan Edwards receiving just eight carries, as he was absent in Michigan’s offense. The Wolverines will have a chance to get back on track against Arkansas State.
5. No. 23 Nebraska (2-0)
Week 2: 28-10 win vs. Colorado
The hype surrounding Nebraska is very real. Matt Rhule deserves a lot of credit for building this defense, while the offense finds its way under freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. He didn’t have a great game, but it was enough to get the job done while the defense wowed with six sacks and an interception. As Nebraska finds itself in the AP Top 25, the hype and belief that this team can compete for the College Football Playoff grows.
4. No. 9 Oregon (2-0)
Week 2: 37-34 win vs. Boise State
Oregon squeezed out another shaky win in Week 2, posing some serious questions as the Ducks fall to No. 9 in the AP Top 25. Dillon Gabriel impressed once again, this time with his efficiency. The run defense was a big concern, giving up 221 yards and three touchdowns. Boise State is a solid FBS opponent, but the expectations were higher for Oregon heading into the season. Oregon State will be waiting for Dan Lanning and the Ducks.
3. No. 8 Penn State (2-0)
Week 2: 34-27 win vs. Bowling Green
Penn State got a lot of credit for defeating West Virginia on the road in Week 1, but it looked different this past weekend, just getting past Bowling Green by a score. The running back duo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen was impressive, combining for 220 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Drew Allar didn’t throw a ton, but Tyler Warren went for 146 receiving yards. The rest of the Nittany Lions’ receiving corps will need to step up if they want to move into that top tier.
2. No. 11 USC (2-0)
Week 2: 48-0 win vs. Utah State
USC continues to impress early in the season, shutting out Mountain West opponent Utah State. Miller Moss wasn’t all that great, but he didn’t need to be. Lincoln Riley continues to add to the Trojans’ case to make the College Football Playoff, as USC will have a week off before heading to Ann Arbor to face the defending champs.
1. No. 3 Ohio State (2-0)
Week 2: 56-0 win vs. Western Michigan
Ohio State moved down a spot in the AP Top 25 but stays at the top of the Big Ten after putting up 50-plus points for the second straight week. This time, the win comes with the defense giving us a shutout against Western Michigan. The story of the Buckeyes continues to be freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had another impressive performance with 119 yards and a touchdown.