Big Ten Power Rankings Week 6

14) Northwestern Wildcats

The Wildcats got mauled by an ever-improving Nebraska squad on Saturday. Northwestern can’t run the ball, and to make matters worse; they can’t stop the run as they gave up a jaw-dropping 427 yards on the ground to the Cornhuskers.

13) Illinois Fighting Illini

The Illini posted a solid win over a Charlotte team that brought a winning record into this game. However, if this team is going to make a run at a Bowl game Quarterback, Brandon Peters will have to play much better than he has been, and on Saturday, he was terrible.

12) Indiana Hoosiers

When I think of the Hoosiers, I remember the old Public Enemy song “Don’t believe the hype.” All I can say as a Hoosier is when does Basketball season start?

11) Wisconsin Badgers

At the start of the season, I would have never thought that the Badgers would be this bad. Sure the schedule has been challenging, but the Badgers offense has been non-existent, and it does not look like it will be improving anytime soon. Of course, the defense will keep them respectable, but that’s about as good as these Badgers can hope for.

10) Purdue Boilermakers

The Boilermakers looked like they were set up to have a great season, but after an upsetting loss to Minnesota, they look more likely to become the same old Boilermakers.

9) Maryland Terrapins

The Terps had a chance to prove they were for real this past Friday night. Hosting the red hot Hawkeyes was the moment they were looking for. But, unfortunately, they ran into a red hot Hawkeyes team that defensively is one of the best in the nation.

8) Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota is so up and down you never know what team will show up. Too bad for Purdue that they got the excellent squad this past weekend. QB Tanner Morgan, for the most part, this season has been a disappointment, but the defense stepped up at Purdue and won the game for the Gophers. If Morgan can get, rolling Minnesota could still make some noise in the Big Ten.

7) Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Knights put up a massive effort in Michigan, and they must have left their fight in Ann Arbor because the Buckeyes rolled them on Saturday.

6) Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska started the year badly in Illinois, but they have steadily improved since then, and the big test will come when they host Michigan on Saturday night. I feel the Huskers have the right coach in Scott Frost, and this program is getting ready to turn the corner. However, the Wolverines will be in for a fight on Saturday night.

5) Michigan State Spartans 

The Spartans are off to a fast start, but I think they will never go higher than number 5 on this list because the pass defense is not very good and, in the end, will lose them a couple of games.

4) Ohio State Buckeyes

Don’t look now, but here come the Buckeyes. C.J. Stroud returned as the starter and threw five touchdowns on 330 yards passing. On top of that, the Buckeyes also ran for over 200 yards. So reports of the Buckeyes demise may have been premature.

3) Michigan Wolverines

The Wolverines beat the brakes off the Wisconsin Badgers, and the biggest takeaway is that Cade Mcnamara is improving at the quarterback position. If McNamara keeps improving, the Wolverines will have a shot to go a long way.

2) Iowa Hawkeyes

The Hawkeyes are suffocating on defense, and the offense seems to be improving. The litmus test will come this weekend against Penn State.

1) Penn State Nittany Lions

The Lions are on fire and are so far the most complete team in the Big Ten. QB Sean Clifford is why the Lions are ranked number one here, and an excellent Performance in Iowa will mean this is a legit National Championship contender.