Big Ten Power Rankings After Week 3

14) Northwestern Wildcats

I think everybody expected a down year at Northwestern this season, but not this down. In week one, the Wildcats were humiliated by Michigan State and beaten by a bad Duke team, adding a loss to Charlotte.

13) Illinois Fighting Illini

Losses to UTSA and Virginia; now you can add a loss to Maryland. The defense has been solid, and the offense below average.

12) Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Cornhuskers surprised most by putting up a fight in Norman against Oklahoma. I still don’t think the Huskers are very good yet, but they are showing signs of improvement, and I think Scott frost is the right man for this job; it’s just going to take another year or two to get it there.

11) Purdue Boilermakers

Losing running back Zander Horvath has been tough to overcome, but so far, the Boilermakers have exceeded expectations, but I am not convinced they are all that good yet.

10) Maryland Terrapins

Maryland barely beat a less than stellar Illinois team, and the competition has not been great so far, so I am reserving judgment for now.

9) Minnesota Golden Gophers

A 30 point win at Colorado has to get your attention! Tanner Morgan managed the game well, and the defense was suffocating. This team could be a dark horse in the West.

8) Indiana Hoosiers

The Hoosiers are just 1-2, but those two losses came against teams ranked in the top 8. The Hoosiers are still a good team, but they need to get it together fast. Is it Tuttle time in Indiana?

7) Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Head Coach Greg Schiano is working his magic once again at Rutgers. The offense has been spotty and inconsistent, while the defense has been dominant.

6) Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers at seems are always the same, great defense and bad offense. An upcoming battle with Notre Dame will tell the tale for the Badgers.

5) Michigan State Spartans

Spartan QB Payton Thorne had 261 yards passing and four touchdowns while Kenneth Walker III amassed 172 yards on the ground.

4) Ohio State Buckeyes

Offensively the Buckeyes are very good, but the defense needs to be addressed. I expect the Buckeyes to pull out of it; they are too well-coached and have so many quality athletes it’s hard to fathom a world where they aren’t contenders.

3) Michigan Wolverines

This Wolverines team has a different feel to it than the previous years under Jim Harbaugh. Will it continue? Who knows? But it’s fun watching Ohio State fans get nervous.

2) Iowa Hawkeyes

The Hawkeyes have dominated all three of the games they have played thus far. Indiana and Iowa State are the most significant wins. The Iowa defense is suffocating, but I worry about the Iowa offense as they have been inconsistent this season.

1) Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State sat at number two in these rankings last week. So what puts the Nittany Lions at Number one? That’s easy; the difference between the top two teams is at Quarterback, Penn State signal-caller Sean Clifford was excellent last Saturday against the Auburn Tigers as he went 28-32.