Time continues to tick away at the 2019 college football season, and we’re starting to see the real pretenders vs. contenders now, especially with teams within the Big Ten beginning matching up in full earnest going forward.
As stated in past versions of this piece, it is indeed still relatively early and things can — and will — change.
For now though — here’s your Big Ten football power rankings after five weeks. As always, give me a break on these, I’ve been investigating the mysterious transfer portal and I believe I’ve found the meaning of life deep in the recesses of it.
14. Rutgers – (Last week 14)
Yep. It’s true, and that is all.
13. Illinois – (Last week 13)
Lovie Smith is still trying to turn this program around. He must be pushing it by his lonesome because it’s the slowest turn in the history of turns.
12. Purdue – (Last week 12)
Boy, one more game week and we might just see the Boilers fall down further. Boiler down if you will.
11. Maryland – (Last week 9)
Have you ever seen a college football team digress so much? Why yes, we have come to think of it. These same Terrapins seem to do it every year.
Next … 10 thru 6
10. Indiana (Last week 11)
Once again the Hoosiers almost upset a team that would signal an arrival of sorts. Once again, there’s no ripple effect because it’s just Indiana being Indiana.
9. Northwestern (Last week 8)
I know the record isn’t that great at 1-3, but we both know this team is going to get better, knock off someone it shouldn’t and make a run for bowl eligibility. The Wildcats looked a lot better against Wisconsin, losing closer than many anticipated.
8. Nebraska (Last week 8)
I really want it to be true that the Cornhuskers are a resurgent program under head coach Scott Frost. What I saw Saturday though says it would only be 1997 again if the same players at their current age are still playing for Big Red.
7. Minnesota (Last week 10)
At some point we have to give credit where credit is due. Nothing has really been all that impressive about the victories for Minnesota this year, but they are all just that … victories. The boat may just row itself to a 5-0 record after a game against the Illini this weekend.
6. Michigan (Last week 6)
There’s really not much to say here. I do believe this team will improve, but there’s just a long way to go. And we can’t take too much from a whitewashing of Rutgers. Let’s see what happens with the consistently inconsistent Hawkeyes this week.
Next … 5 thru 1
5. Michigan State (Last week 6)
The Spartans are 4-1 but have been all over the map more than a broken Garmin. The defense was fantastic until last week, and it’ll get a stiff test in the ‘Shoe this weekend.
4. Iowa (Last week 4)
The Hawkeyes are quietly putting together quite the season. Win at Michigan this weekend and I’ll be a real believer — sort of. Until Iowa loses the following week because that’s what Iowa does.
3. Penn State (Last week 3)
The Nittany Lions have looked fantastic most weeks but had that weird donnybrook against Pittsburgh. We think they’re more the former than the latter, but we’ve yet to see James Franklin take his crew against a measuring-stick opponent.
2. Wisconsin (Last week 2)
The Badgers just keep on rolling, though it wasn’t as dominant against Northwestern. The truth is, October 26 against Ohio State will tell us whether Wisconsin is good enough for really big things or not.
1. Ohio State (Last week 1)
Many experts are now coming around to the notion that the Buckeyes are not only the best team in the Big Ten, but perhaps the country. There’s still a lack of a true test to observe, but boy this team looks as athletic, hungry and thirsty as the crowds now hanging out at Urban Meyer’s Pint House.
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