Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, October 8, 2017
Michigan State is a fast-riser in my latest Big Ten Power Rankings, presented by ArcelorMittal. But Penn State and Wisconsin still rule the roost, while Ohio State continues to improve.
[ MORE: Week 6 video | Best of Week 6 | Week 6 predictions revisited ]
See my full post-Week 6 list below.
1. Penn State (6-0, 3-0). The Nittany Lions head into the bye week playing some of the best defensive football in the Big Ten. Oh, and they also have the No. 1 Heisman contender.
Last week: 1
Up next: off; Michigan Oct. 21
2. Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0). Has there ever been a better true freshman running back in Big Ten annals than Jonathan Taylor? Nope.
Last week: 2
Up next: Purdue
3. Ohio State (5-1, 3-0). The Buckeyes are essentially through their ?preseason? schedule. Time to see if that passing game really has improved since the Oklahoma loss.
Last week: 4
Up next: at Nebraska
4. Michigan State (4-1, 2-0). The redemption tour continues with a monster win at Michigan. The Spartans already have surpassed last year?s win total.
Last week: 9
Up next: at Minnesota
5. Michigan (4-1, 1-1). The wheels came off in a rain-soaked loss to Michigan State. Now what? Paging the offense ? paging the offense.
Last week: 3
Up next: at Indiana
6. Iowa: (4-2, 1-2). The two-game skid is over. And the offense showed a lot of life. How good will QB Nate Stanley be? Good.
Last week: 5
Up next: off; at Northwestern, Oct, 21
7. Purdue (3-2, 1-1). The wild win over Minnesota may be an impetus to a postseason bid. Go ahead and give Jeff Brohm the Coach of the Year trophy.
Last week: 6
Up next: at Wisconsin
8. Maryland (3-2, 1-1). Does any team have worse luck at QB? No shame in losing at Ohio State. Better days are ahead for this rising program.
Last week: 8
Up next: Northwestern
9. Nebraska (3-3, 2-1). A home loss to Wisconsin was a cold bucket of water over the head after opening 2-0 in the Big Ten.
Last week: 12
Up next: Ohio State
10. Minnesota (3-2, 0-2). P.J. Fleck is still looking for his first Big Ten win. The offense needs more from the pass game.
Last week: 7
Up next: Michigan State
11. Indiana (3-2, 0-2). The Peyton Ramsey era has begun in Bloomington. And it looks like things could be a lot of fun with a QB who fits with what Tom Allen wants to do.
Last week: 11
Up next: Michigan
12. Northwestern (2-3, 0-2). QB Clayton Thorson is struggling, tossing four interceptions in the last two games. Justin Jackson has just 91 combined yards rushing the last two games.
Last week: 10
Up next: at Maryland
13. Illinois (2-3, 0-2). Jeff George Jr. breathed some life into the offense and allowed the staff to utilize a strong group of wideouts.
Last week: 13
Up next: Rutgers
14. Rutgers (1-4, 0-2). The Scarlet Knights had the week off. They presumably worked on their offense. What?s gonna happen at quarterback?
Last week: 14
Up next: at Illinois