Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 5

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Eight in-conference games got played in Week 5, creating major havoc in this week’s power rankings. The Big Ten’s top dogs asserted their dominance, with No. 5 Ohio State routing Iowa by 17 and No. 6 Indiana smashing Rutgers by 32. However, the week also saw its share of breakout performances, with Minnesota and Northwestern taking down perennial Big Ten powerhouses Penn State and Michigan, respectively, in front of raucous home crowds. With these outcomes, here’s where things stand:

1. Ohio State (AP No. 5, Coaches No. 6)

4-1 | 2-0 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 1

Movement: 0

Ohio State left no questions to answer in their 31-14 win over Iowa. Of course, the headline is Jeremiah Smith’s otherworldly performance, posting 11 receptions, 206 yards and two touchdowns. There is no doubt in my mind that he should be the favorite for the Heisman Trophy right now. However, the fact that Ohio State did this against Iowa’s defense is the most impressive and scary part. After the Buckeyes’ collapse against Texas earlier in the season, there was some serious cause for concern for the tougher matchups on the schedule, such as USC and Oregon. But now, they look unstoppable. The only team I really think poses a threat to Ohio State at this point is the number-two team in these rankings.

2. Indiana (AP No. 7, Coaches No. 5)

5-0 | 2-0 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 2

Movement: 0

What many called a close call against Northwestern that Indiana escaped is now looking like an incredibly quality win for the Hoosiers. I am incredibly high on this Indiana team and think it’s kind of crazy that they’re ranked below teams like Miami and Notre Dame in the AP Poll. The defense has looked incredibly strong, especially as a run-defense unit. The Hoosiers took down Rutgers 47-15 on Saturday, holding Rutgers to 59 yards on the ground on a 1.7 average, while holding a Northwestern team that just ran for 413 yards against Penn State to 32 yards last week. And, I haven’t even mentioned the two-headed beast the Hoosiers have in their backfield: junior running back Turbo Richard and Senior running back Lee Beebe Jr., who each have run for 200 yards in games this season. If Indiana continues to control the trenches on both sides of the ball this season, it will be hard to add a lose to its record.

3. Oregon (AP No. 13, Coaches No. 13)

3-1 | 1-0 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 4

Movement: +1

After an incredibly convincing 41-27 win last week against USC, a bye week could not have come at a better time for the Ducks. Not only will it allow players to rest and get healthy, but it also gives time for transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola to get the reps he needs after Dante Moore suffered a devastating concussion; thankfully, Head Coach Dan Lanning said Moore is “trending in the right direction.” If Oregon continues to put up strong performances on offense, and the defense continues to trend toward what was expected prior to the season, there is no reason the Ducks can’t find themselves in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title game. However, there are no easy wins the rest of the season, and one or two slip-ups could have them on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff.

4. USC (AP No. 19, Coaches No. 17)

5-1 | 2-1 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 5

Movement: +1

Yet another season where I have no idea what to make of USC. Let’s start with the obvious: the offense is elite. Senior quarterback Jayden Maiava continues to look outstanding, putting up numbers that could get him in New York for the Heisman ceremony. The run game leaves a bit to be desired, but it can explode any given week, as it did against Rutgers. These aspects are not surprises with teams led by head coach Lincoln Riley. The not-so-obvious is the defense. 30 points to Louisiana, 35 to Rutgers and 41 to Oregon. Looking at that, I thought Washington was easily going to score over 30 points. However, USC held the Huskies to 21, holding on late for a four-point victory. Now I have no idea what to think. If the defense continues to perform like this, the Trojans could be a scary sight for Ohio State or Indiana. However, I don’t think that’s happening. I think the defense will return to its old ways, and Lincoln Riley’s seat will only get hotter.

5. Iowa (AP No. 20, Coaches No. 18)

4-1 | 1-1 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 3

Movement: -2

The Hawks were flying high… for one week. After a last-second touchdown against Michigan, Iowa was embarrassed by Ohio State on its home turf, falling 31-14. After the game against Michigan, I was incredibly skeptical about Iowa. They hung around in that game, but much of that can be attributed to Michigan and its self-inflicted wounds. Iowa did not convince me with its offense at all, and it really showed against Ohio State. Senior quarterback Hank Brown looked pitiful with two turnovers. The run game did not give him any support either, as the Hawks only averaged 1.9 yards per carry. I know I sound really harsh, but there really is not much to be positive about. However, I still believe in this defensive unit immensely. It can take solace in the fact that Jeremiah Smith does what he does to everyone, and he won’t be on their schedule again. The schedule that is left is not easy, but Iowa has proven that if their offense gets rolling, they can hang with almost anyone.

6. UCLA (AP No. 21, Coaches No. 20)

4-0 | 2-0 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 6

Movement: 0

Not much to say about a team that is coming off a bye week. UCLA has looked dominant in the games they have played so far. The offense looks high-powered, led by senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava. However, the run game has been the core of this team. Senior running back Wayne Knight has had two straight games over 100 yards and has averaged 7.5 yards or more per carry in each game. Purdue game was a real big scare for this team, as the Boilermakers scored 38 points. However, as the season has gone on, it is clear that Purdue is a much better team than originally thought. The Bruins face their biggest test yet as they head to Eugene to play Oregon. UCLA is +11.5 going into the game, but it should be a much closer affair than that.

7. Nebraska

5-0 | 2-0 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 7

Movement: 0

I expected Nebraska to be 5-0 by this point, but I did not expect them to look as good as they have. Despite being down nine points at multiple moments in the matchup against Maryland, the Cornhuskers were able to battle back and get a big 48-23 win. The offense started incredibly sluggish, but figured things out as the game went on. After a first-quarter interception, senior quarterback Anthony Colandrea looked incredibly poised as he threw for three touchdowns on a 66.7% completion percentage. The defense was not helping out the offense through much of the first half, but it flipped a switch at the tail end of the second quarter when senior defensive back Dwayne McDougale III returned an interception 81 yards. The Terps went on to score zero points in the second half against Nebraska. Similar to UCLA, the Cornhuskers face their biggest challenge of the year against Indiana, whom they are +7 underdogs against.

8. Northwestern

3-1 | 1-1 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 10

Movement: +2

I fought the recency bias as much as I could. Northwestern put up as convincing a victory as they could against Penn State. First and foremost, the run game was absolutely unstoppable. Both Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon III went for over 150 yards on the ground, and the team as a whole rushed for 413 yards. Not much was asked of quarterback Aidan Chiles, but he made sure to not put the ball in harm’s way and delivered a solid enough ball to wideout Griffin Wilde the one time he was asked to throw downfield. He did take another foolish sack, but at this point I’ve come to expect that with him. The defense was the real revelation this game. It was gashed the week prior by Indiana as they let up over 200 yards to Lee Beebe Jr., and I was worried a similar performance could occur against the Nittany Lions. However, the defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and put pressure on Becht. The sky is truly the limit for the Wildcats. The next real test for the team is Oregon in three weeks.

9. Minnesota

4-1 | 2-0 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 11

Movement: +2

Woah. Surprised to see you here Minnesota. Well, not really, because I made the rankings, but it would have been a shock to me if I had told myself this five weeks ago. The Golden Gophers have strung together back-to-back quality wins against Washington and Michigan, winning the Little Brown Jug for the first time since 2014. After getting out to an early lead, junior quarterback Drake Lindsay not only threw a pick-six in Michigan territory, but also gave the lead up in the process. But due to a pair of Bryce Underwood interceptions in the second half, Minnesota reclaimed the lead. The offense went dormant after that, but the defense, as they had the whole game, held things down. And that’s what has been truly impressive about this Minnesota team: the defense. It only gave up one touchdown the whole game, forced three turnovers and had three sacks. If it can keep up this pace, this can be the best season Minnesota has seen in years.

10. Wisconsin

4-1 | 2-0 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 8

Movement: -2

After rattling off four straight wins, Wisconsin heads into its bye week feeling pretty good. It battled back from 17 to upset Penn State last week and then throttled Michigan State 31-3 this week. These were the performances that Badger fans expected when head coach Luke Fickell was hired. The wins, however, have been strange. Against Michigan State, Wisconsin didn’t look dominant by any means. Senior quarterback Colton Joseph only completed nine of his 20 attempts, but three were touchdowns. But he also ran for 141 yards and a touchdown. The offense was inconsistent but explosive, with three scoring drives mounted with five plays or less, while its defense didn’t face a test, taking care of an incredibly weak Michigan State offense. The Penn State win may also not be as encouraging as it once was after how the Nittany Lions looked against Northwestern. While this season has been a breath of fresh air for Wisconsin, the upcoming schedule looks scary, and Fickell is far from off the hot seat.

11. Washington

3-2 | 0-2 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 13

Movement: +2

Heartbreak once again for the Huskies. Washington took USC to the absolute brink, having the ball at the end of the game and driving to the USC 12-yard line, but it just could not punch it in for the score. However, it was the Huskies that gave this game away. After USC scored a touchdown in the third quarter to bring the game within five points, junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr. lost the ball, leading to a scoop-and-score that put and kept the Trojans ahead. If it were not for that fatal mistake, it is very possible Washington could be sitting at 4-1. The offense has shown flashes of brilliance, but Williams has not been consistent enough, and the run game just has not been there. The defense has been rock solid, having forced nine turnovers thus far, but the biggest thing holding it back is not getting enough pressure, as it has only posted one sack in each of their last two games. Washington is not an easy win for anyone and is a true showcase of the depth in the Big Ten. Next on the docket for them is Iowa.

12. Michigan

3-2 | 0-2 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 12

Movement:

Michigan could very easily have a losing record right now. After squeaking out wins against Western Michigan and Oklahoma, Michigan has dropped two in a row to Iowa and Minnesota. The elephant in the room must be addressed: Bryce Underwood has been beyond disappointing. In the matchup against Minnesota, he went 10-of-21 for 101 passing yards and 2 interceptions. With the game on the line, Underwood overthrew sophomore wideout J.J. Buchanan on fourth-and-5, with the ball floating straight towards the sideline. Every week, everybody on the Wolverine roster looks like they came to play, except Underwood. There have been moments when you think you see the five-star player Michigan thought they were getting, but it just hasn’t shown when it matters. As Michigan continues this season, head coach Kyle Whittingham might have to face reality and relieve Underwood of his duties. That is a conversation after the bye week, however.

13. Penn State

3-2 | 0-2 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 9

Movement: -4

Yikes! After being ranked 13th in the AP Poll just two weeks ago, Penn State did not receive a single vote this week. The score may have been 34-13 against Northwestern, but it felt much worse than that. The offense could not do anything. Rocco Becht looked uncomfortable at every moment, missing throw after throw. The run game was completely stunted from beginning to end, running for under 50 yards. And the defense. Man, oh man, the defense. Many, including me, thought the defense was something that, even if the offense was struggling, could keep Penn State in games. But if anything, it’s the reason the Nittany Lions lost. Giving up 400 rushing yards is inexcusable. The goal of this game should have been to force Aidan Chiles to beat you with his arm, but that cannot happen if he doesn’t need to throw. Growing pains were expected in head coach Matt Campbell’s first year, but it may be a bit before we see Penn State in serious conversations again.

14. Purdue

2-3 | 1-1 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 18

Movement: +4

Purdue has escaped the bottom of these power rankings after beating Illinois 24-17. Purdue was not super effective on the ground during this matchup, but it got the job done, as the team rushed for 90 yards, averaging 3.0 yards per carry, and scored a touchdown. Junior quarterback Ryan Browne has been surprising, to say the least, as he continues to be a positive for this team. He’s an incredibly efficient thrower, posting a 77.5 quarterback rating, and has only thrown one pick. The defense is what I worry about week to week. It played the ultimate version of bend-but-don’t-break against Illinois, as it gave up 345 yards of total offense, but only allowed those 17 points. Purdue has been incredibly fun to watch, especially in its matchup against UCLA, and I’m excited to see them against more Big Ten competition.

15. Illinois

2-3 | 0-2 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 15

Movement: 0

After finishing last year 10-3 and 16th in the AP Poll, Illinois has found itself 2-3 and near the bottom of the Big Ten. There have been positive aspects, like the run game. Headlined by senior running back Aidan Laughly, the Boilermakers have rushed for 120 yards against Purdue and 199 against Ohio State. The run game has provided a foundation for a good offense. For it to be great hinges on senior quarterback Katin Houser. He’s coming off of two poor performances, but if he can return to how he was during the game against Duke, the offense will come alive. Defensively, there’s not much to be positive about. It doesn’t get after the quarterback at all, and as a result, the secondary can’t hold up. We saw this on full display in the game against Ohio State, but it’s been present in the game against Duke and Purdue as well. There are concepts of a good team here; I just don’t think we’ll see it this year.

16. Michigan State

2-3 | 0-2 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 14

Movement: -2

Head coach Pat Fitzgerald’s team has looked pretty darn rough. The team scored just 3 points against Wisconsin this previous week, while it allowed 31 to be scored on them. It was a downgrade from the week prior, when they lost 31-13 against Nebraska. Despite controlling the ball for the majority of the game against Wisconsin, the Spartans only moved the ball a total of 235 yards. It was constant failure on third and fourth down, as the team went 5-of-18 on third down and 1-of-6 on fourth down. The offense didn’t even turn the ball over. The defense has been getting steamrolled the last two weeks, giving up over 360 yards of total offense in each game. The losing also doesn’t seem to have an end, as Michigan State faces tough Big Ten competition to close the year.

17. Maryland

2-3 | 0-2 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 16

Movement: -1

Maryland has been a punching bag for the last three weeks. The Virginia Tech game was way closer than it was; UCLA didn’t leave room to breathe; and Nebraska gave the Terps hope just to take it away. Every single week has been a humiliating embarrassment for Maryland. Sophomore quarterback Malik Washington has looked abysmal thus far. After having a game where he threw four interceptions and had a 3.2 QBR, Washington threw two interceptions against Nebraska, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and had a 23.1 quarterback rating. It is not all his fault, though. The running game should cause missing signs to be posted all over campus, and the defense refuses to generate any splash plays. There should be no world where head coach Mike Locksley is coaching next year, but that’s been the narrative for a while now and he’s still at the helm.

18. Rutgers

1-4 | 0-2 B1G

Last Week’s Ranking: 17

Movement: -1

Alright, I can’t really sugarcoat it; Rutgers has been bad. Other than looking like a shell of The Greatest Show on Turf against USC, there just hasn’t been much to be excited about. Starting off the season losing two non-conference games is hard enough, but playing in a conference as deep as the Big Ten, the losses are only going to pile up. The defense has been the driving force in the losses, as it just gave nearly 600 yards of total offense to Indiana. Like many of the other teams we have talked about, the defense can’t generate any pressure, stop the run or create any turnovers. This leaves the offense to fend for itself when it doesn’t have much to rely on. The one thing that has been really exciting for the Scarlet Knights is junior running back Antwan Raymond. Sure, he didn’t have a good game against Indiana, but who does? He ran for over 100 yards in three straight games prior and has been the engine for the offense. Rutgers can still find a way to not be last in these power rankings as they still have games against Michigan State and Maryland this season.

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