BadgerBlitz.com's power poll is back for another season, where Jon McNamara, Jessi Schoville and I will rank the Big Ten teams after each week of action.
Our ranks following the latest round of conference play are included below.
No. 1 - Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) ... 2 first place votes (Veldhuis, Schoville)
The Buckeyes took care of business against the Hoosiers at home over the weekend, and now need to take a trip to Madison for what very well could be a top-10 matchup between the two teams.
No. 2 - Michigan (6-0, 3-0) ... 1 first place vote (McNamara)
I'm struggling to come up with an accurate description for what the Wolverines did to Rutgers in Piscataway (a 78-0 decision), so we'll just discuss the yardage. Michigan out-gained the Scarlet Knights 600-39. Yes, you read that right. Michigan's game against Ohio State should be one for the ages.
No. 3 - Wisconsin (4-1, 1-1)
Wisconsin was inactive on a bye week, and now they will welcome the No. 2 Buckeyes to Madison for the first time since 2012. Two ranked teams, under the lights in Camp Randall, with ESPN's College Gameday in town- what else could you ask for?
No. 4 - Nebraska (5-0, 2-0)
Nebraska also had a bye week, and now will head out on the road to take on Indiana. The Hoosiers will test Nebraska's defense, and the Cornhuskers need to win this kind of game to stay alive in the race for the Big Ten West crown.
No. 5 - Penn State (4-2, 2-1)
Well look who we have here! The Nittany Lions struggled during their non-conference schedule, but they've rebounded since then with two straight conference wins over Minnesota and Maryland. With Michigan State falling off, third place in the Big Ten East is definitely within reach.
No. 6 - Iowa (4-2, 2-1)
What a difference a week makes. Coming off of two disappointing conference games, the Hawkeyes rebounded with an ugly win over Minnesota on the road. They'll keep Floyd of Rosedale for another year, but will need to get their offense on track to compete with Nebraska and Wisconsin this year.
No. 7 - Maryland (4-1, 1-1)
Maryland dips down to No. 7 after reaching a high water mark of No. 5 in our poll last week. They lost their first game of the season to Penn State on the road, but will have a chance to rebound this weekend with a home game against Minnesota.
No. 8 - Indiana (3-2, 1-1)
Like Maryland, the Hoosiers got a dose of reality this weekend with the Buckeyes handling them easily. Still, with three wins already and games left against Northwestern, Rutgers, and Purdue, a bowl game is still definitely within reach- even if their margin for error isn't huge.
No. 9 - Northwestern (2-3, 1-1)
The Wildcats also had a bye this weekend, but moved up a spot in our poll thanks to a few teams disappointing in their games. We'll see just where they stand in the conference when they take on Michigan State on the road this weekend.
No. 10 - Michigan State (2-3, 0-2)
Boy, how the mighty have fallen. The Spartans don't look like anything close to a top-10 team now following three losses in a row to Wisconsin, Indiana and now BYU. Mark this down as a rebuild year, instead of a reloading one.
No. 11 - Minnesota (3-2, 0-2)
The buzz in Dinkytown during the offseason was that the Gophers were in position to win maybe 10 games this year, since they avoid the Big Ten East's heavy hitters. They took care of business during the non-conference, but their offense looked dreadful against the Hawkeyes.
No. 12 - Purdue (3-2, 1-1)
Purdue moves out of the basement in our poll after beating Illinois on the road. The Boilermakers will take them when they can get them- that was just Darrell Hazell's third Big Ten win in four seasons in West Lafayette.
No. 13 - Illinois (1-4, 0-2)
Thank goodness for FCS teams, am I right? Illinois' lone win this year came against Murray State in week one, and since then nothing has gone right for the Illini.
No. 14 - Rutgers (2-4, 0-3)
I don't care how high your opponent was ranked- when you lose 78-0 on your home field and gain just 39 yards of offense you're going to be in the basement of our poll.
