Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 7
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Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings for Week 7 of the college football season, compiled by Matt Charboneau.
Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings for Week 7 of the college football season, compiled by Matt Charboneau. David Guralnick, Detroit News
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1. Ohio State (6-0, 3-0) – The Buckeyes let Indiana hang around for a bit this week but in the end overwhelmed the Hoosiers thanks to 455 yards passing and six touchdown passes from QB Dwayne Haskins. It seems smooth sailing from here for the Buckeyes. Unless Michigan State suddenly starts to block people, OSU might not get challenged again until the season finale at home against Michigan. Last week: 1.
1. Ohio State (6-0, 3-0) – The Buckeyes let Indiana hang around for a bit this week but in the end overwhelmed the Hoosiers thanks to 455 yards passing and six touchdown passes from QB Dwayne Haskins. It seems smooth sailing from here for the Buckeyes. Unless Michigan State suddenly starts to block people, OSU might not get challenged again until the season finale at home against Michigan. Last week: 1. Jay LaPrete, AP
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2. Penn State (4-1, 1-1) – The Nittany Lions had the week off to try and regroup after last week’s tough loss to Ohio State. They’ll get Michigan State at home next week, a game that is starting to look like an easy one with the way the Spartans are playing. They’ll try to keep the heat on OSU in the East, but games against Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin remain. Last week: 2.
2. Penn State (4-1, 1-1) – The Nittany Lions had the week off to try and regroup after last week’s tough loss to Ohio State. They’ll get Michigan State at home next week, a game that is starting to look like an easy one with the way the Spartans are playing. They’ll try to keep the heat on OSU in the East, but games against Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin remain. Last week: 2. Chris Knight, AP
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3. Wisconsin (4-1, 2-0) – The Badgers came off their bye week by handing Nebraska yet another loss. It was nothing spectacular, which is par for the course for Wisconsin. Things get ramped up next week as the Badgers head to Michigan for the game of the week in the Big Ten, a matchup that could provide a clear path to a division title or create some suspense in the West. Last week: 3.
3. Wisconsin (4-1, 2-0) – The Badgers came off their bye week by handing Nebraska yet another loss. It was nothing spectacular, which is par for the course for Wisconsin. Things get ramped up next week as the Badgers head to Michigan for the game of the week in the Big Ten, a matchup that could provide a clear path to a division title or create some suspense in the West. Last week: 3. Morry Gash, AP
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4. Michigan (5-1, 3-0) – The Wolverines brushed aside any talk of upsets by physically controlling Maryland at home as QB Shea Patterson threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns. The Wolverines host Wisconsin next week, which offers them a chance to prove they’re the real deal as they begin the toughest stretch of the season with Michigan State and Penn State up next. Last week: 4.
4. Michigan (5-1, 3-0) – The Wolverines brushed aside any talk of upsets by physically controlling Maryland at home as QB Shea Patterson threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns. The Wolverines host Wisconsin next week, which offers them a chance to prove they’re the real deal as they begin the toughest stretch of the season with Michigan State and Penn State up next. Last week: 4. David Guralnick, Detroit News
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5. Iowa (4-1, 1-1) – Two turnovers didn’t bother QB Nate Stanley, who threw for four touchdowns in a victory over Minnesota as the Hawkeyes created four turnovers of their own. It was a quality bounce-back after the loss two weeks ago to Wisconsin as the Hawkeyes hope to keep the heat on the Badgers in the race for the West. Last week: 5.
5. Iowa (4-1, 1-1) – Two turnovers didn’t bother QB Nate Stanley, who threw for four touchdowns in a victory over Minnesota as the Hawkeyes created four turnovers of their own. It was a quality bounce-back after the loss two weeks ago to Wisconsin as the Hawkeyes hope to keep the heat on the Badgers in the race for the West. Last week: 5. Stacy Bengs, AP
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6. Northwestern (2-3, 2-1) – In a classic case of the record not revealing a team’s true character, the Wildcats won for the third straight time on the road against Michigan State this week, proving last week’s loss to Michigan, when it blew a 17-0 lead, wouldn’t linger. The key for the Wildcats is building off the win and remaining in the hunt in the Big Ten West. Last week: 11.
6. Northwestern (2-3, 2-1) – In a classic case of the record not revealing a team’s true character, the Wildcats won for the third straight time on the road against Michigan State this week, proving last week’s loss to Michigan, when it blew a 17-0 lead, wouldn’t linger. The key for the Wildcats is building off the win and remaining in the hunt in the Big Ten West. Last week: 11. Dale G. Young, Detroit News
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7. Michigan State (3-2, 1-1) – The Spartans simply can’t beat Northwestern at home, and much of the reason this time is because their offensive line continues to be overmatched. Quick fixes likely aren’t coming as the injuries have piled up for a team that expected to compete for a title but now finds itself on the brink with Penn State and Michigan up next. Last week: 6.
7. Michigan State (3-2, 1-1) – The Spartans simply can’t beat Northwestern at home, and much of the reason this time is because their offensive line continues to be overmatched. Quick fixes likely aren’t coming as the injuries have piled up for a team that expected to compete for a title but now finds itself on the brink with Penn State and Michigan up next. Last week: 6. Dale G. Young, Detroit News
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8. Purdue (2-3, 1-1) – The Boilermakers had the week off after beating Nebraska last week for their second straight win. They’ll have a good chance to make it three in a row next week with a trip to Illinois before a visit from Ohio State offers a chance for a monumental upset. Last week: 9.
8. Purdue (2-3, 1-1) – The Boilermakers had the week off after beating Nebraska last week for their second straight win. They’ll have a good chance to make it three in a row next week with a trip to Illinois before a visit from Ohio State offers a chance for a monumental upset. Last week: 9. Nati Harnik, AP
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9. Indiana (4-2, 1-2) – The Hoosiers were game as they headed into the Horseshoe to take on Ohio State. But in the end, they simply didn’t have the firepower to hang with one of the best teams in the nation. The tough road for the pesky Hoosiers continues next week against Iowa followed by Penn State. The silver lining is both games are at home. Last week: 8.
9. Indiana (4-2, 1-2) – The Hoosiers were game as they headed into the Horseshoe to take on Ohio State. But in the end, they simply didn’t have the firepower to hang with one of the best teams in the nation. The tough road for the pesky Hoosiers continues next week against Iowa followed by Penn State. The silver lining is both games are at home. Last week: 8. Jay LaPrete, AP
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10. Maryland (3-2, 1-1) – The Terrapins entered this week’s game with Michigan with some expecting them to put a scare into the home team. However, the Terps were never truly in the game, managing just 220 total yards. There’s a good chance they rebound quickly, though, as Rutgers comes to town. Last week: 7.
10. Maryland (3-2, 1-1) – The Terrapins entered this week’s game with Michigan with some expecting them to put a scare into the home team. However, the Terps were never truly in the game, managing just 220 total yards. There’s a good chance they rebound quickly, though, as Rutgers comes to town. Last week: 7. David Guralnick, Detroit News
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11. Illinois (3-2, 1-1) – The Fighting Illini ended a two-game skid by virtue of Rutgers being the next team up on the schedule. It provided a glimmer of hope as the Illini fight to become bowl-eligible under Lovie Smith. Three more wins and they’ll be there, though there aren’t any real sure things left on the schedule. Last week: 12.
11. Illinois (3-2, 1-1) – The Fighting Illini ended a two-game skid by virtue of Rutgers being the next team up on the schedule. It provided a glimmer of hope as the Illini fight to become bowl-eligible under Lovie Smith. Three more wins and they’ll be there, though there aren’t any real sure things left on the schedule. Last week: 12. David Boe, AP
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12. Minnesota (3-2, 0-2) – The perfect non-conference run is long gone for the Golden Gophers, who are showing they’re not able to stop anyone in Big Ten play. The Gophers threw four interceptions and gave up five sacks in a loss to Iowa and won’t get a break next week as they head to Ohio State, the top scoring offense in the conference. Last week: 10.
12. Minnesota (3-2, 0-2) – The perfect non-conference run is long gone for the Golden Gophers, who are showing they’re not able to stop anyone in Big Ten play. The Gophers threw four interceptions and gave up five sacks in a loss to Iowa and won’t get a break next week as they head to Ohio State, the top scoring offense in the conference. Last week: 10. Stacy Bengs, AP
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13. Nebraska (0-5, 0-3) – The Cornhuskers still are looking for that first victory under coach Scott Frost after losing at Wisconsin. Getting a win in Madison wasn’t terribly likely for the rebuilding Huskers, but it won’t get much easier next week at surging Northwestern. Minnesota is next but Bethune-Cookman is waiting in a few weeks, so all hope is not lost. Last week: 13.
13. Nebraska (0-5, 0-3) – The Cornhuskers still are looking for that first victory under coach Scott Frost after losing at Wisconsin. Getting a win in Madison wasn’t terribly likely for the rebuilding Huskers, but it won’t get much easier next week at surging Northwestern. Minnesota is next but Bethune-Cookman is waiting in a few weeks, so all hope is not lost. Last week: 13. Morry Gash, AP
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14. Rutgers (1-5, 0-3) – Somehow, the Scarlet Knights won a game this season. Of course, that came against Texas State back in the opener. Since then, Rutgers has been getting beaten badly on a weekly basis, save for a seven-point loss to Indiana. Where a Big Ten win comes this season is hard to see, something that has coach Chris Ash on the hot seat. Last week: 14.
14. Rutgers (1-5, 0-3) – Somehow, the Scarlet Knights won a game this season. Of course, that came against Texas State back in the opener. Since then, Rutgers has been getting beaten badly on a weekly basis, save for a seven-point loss to Indiana. Where a Big Ten win comes this season is hard to see, something that has coach Chris Ash on the hot seat. Last week: 14. David Boe, AP
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