Now that we have two weeks of the college football season in the books, we’re starting to get a little better idea of where teams land in the grand scheme of the conference.
We will point out however that it is still very early and teams will be very different two weeks from now, and certainly as things progress to later in the year. But still, this is how we see things right now.
Here’s your Big Ten football power rankings after one two. Give me a break too, it’s still early in the year and I’m trying to travel, dodge hurricanes and stay out of the wife’s doghouse. K? Good.
14. Rutgers
Well, there’s not much to say here. The place where college football was first played sure isn’t very good at it. There is something wrong and true about that all at the same time.
13. Illinois
The Illini are now 2-0 on the season, but it feels like a mirage somewhere in Lovie Smith’s beard. The Big Ten will be anything but an Oasis when that all heats up.
12. Purdue
Purdue got in the win column Saturday and looked pretty good doing it. This team has a long way to go if it has designs of contending in the West though. Toot! Toot!
11. Minnesota
The Golden Gophers are winning but by the skin of their large teeth. Minnesota doesn’t look like a contending team at the moment, but might get better as the season goes on. Row, row, row your boat, gently down the drain.
Next … 10 thru 6
10. Indiana
This looks like the Hoosiers of season’s past so far. It’s a solid unit but can’t hold a candle to the upper division of the Big Ten. Ohio State awaits next week and that’ll tell us more. More than Indiana probably wants to know.
9. Nebraska
So far, we’ve seen nothing to suggest that the Cornhuskers are going to meet all of those lofty expectations fans and experts heaped upon them. Frosty Corn anyone? Stay tuned …
8. Northwestern
The Wildcats sit at 0-1 and stopped the bleeding in the non-conference dating back to last year because it had a bye. The difference between this crew’s ability to win in the Big Ten but lose out of conference is more mind-boggling than Jim Harbaugh not wearing khakis.
7. Maryland
You could make a case for the ‘Terps to move up farther than this, but we’ve been burned by that one before. So no, things have looked good, but I’m still treating this one with oven mitts for now.
6. Iowa
We are going to know a whole lot more about the Hawkeyes after this coming week. So far though we’ll go out on a limb and say Iowa will beat teams it probably shouldn’t, and lose to teams it probably shouldn’t. It’s the Iowa way, and the universe just feels right when it happens.
Next … 5 thru 1
5. Michigan
It pains me to do so (cough, cough), but I have to do it. Even the local newspapers are calling the Wolverines overrated. Of course, that would be nothing new in Ann Arbor since the messiah came walking across Lake Michigan wearing khakis and a ball cap. At EVERY FUNCTION. But seriously, don’t sleep on this team yet.
4. Michigan State
It looks like the Spartan defense is going to be something to reckon with. Some offense might just crack a smile on Mark Dantonio’s face too.
3. Penn State
There hasn’t been too much competition yet, but the Nittany Lions look like they might be ahead of schedule. But can James Franklin finally call his team “elite?” We shall see.
2. Wisconsin
You could make a case for the Badgers taking the top spot from what we’ve seen so far. Then again, let’s wait until it plays a Power 5 opponent with a pulse — and no — USF isn’t anything close to that after many praised Wisconsin for going into the heat and humidity to win. This just in — heat and humidity have yet to win a game in the very young season.
1. Ohio State
Look, we’re not trying to be a homer here. That would be if we were a Rutgers site and tried to elevate the team anywhere in the top twelve of the league. Ohio State has looked like the class of the Big Ten once again with talent oozing from every position.
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