Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 5

14) Illinois Fighting Illini

The Illini started the season out strong with a win over Nebraska, and it’s been downhill since the Illini have lost four straight.

13) Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Gophers had high hopes entering this season, and those hopes are sadly, for the most part, gone. Minnesota entered this past weekend as a 30 point favorite over the Bowling Green Falcons and lost. The offense has been non-existent for the Gophers so far this season.

12) Northwestern Wildcats 

The Wildcats beat a terrible MAC team in the Ohio bobcats, but they didn’t lose to them!

11) Purdue Boilermakers

The Boilermakers struggled to get by the Fighting Illini 14-9, and even though they are 3-1, they don’t put fear in the hearts of anyone at this moment.

10) Indiana Hoosiers

The Hoosiers survived on the road against a solid Western Kentucky team, and Michael Pennix finally played the way he was expected to play. Still, this has been an under-achieving team this year, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

9) Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Cornhuskers have lost some challenging road games, but they look like a scary opponent for any team right now. They outplayed Michigan State but failed to finish the game.

8) Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin was blown out in the 4th quarter by Notre Dame, but the game was much closer than the score. With that being said, Wisconsin is not very good this year, and as usual with the Buckeyes, the offense is the issue.

7) Maryland Terrapins

Still not sure about Maryland; simply put, they haven’t played a formidable opponent yet.

6) Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Scarlet Knights gave the Michigan Wolverines all they could; however, there. The Knights are a tough, well-coached team and will pull off an upset or two before this season’s over.

5) Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans find ways to win, and teams like that are dangerous.

4) Ohio State Buckeyes

The Buckeyes could fall anywhere between before 2-4, and before it’s all over, they might be the best team in the Big Ten. First, however, the defense needs to improve.

3) Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines got a hard-fought win over a tough Rutgers team this past, however, then. But the important part was they were much more successful in the passing game this week.

2) Iowa Hawkeyes

The Hawkeyes did not look good in beating a sub-par Colorado. However, they still have a couple of big-time wins and will be a favorite to win the west.

1) Penn State Nittany Lions

The Nittany Lions are the best team in this league, and quarterback Sean Clifford has been a big reason. However, Indiana is up next, and Penn State will be looking to get revenge from last year.