Big Ten: Football Power Rankings After Week Four

Every week here at Writing Illini, we’ll provide some serious #hottakes on the state of Big Ten football through our power rankings.

Raise your hand if you had Wisconsin marching into East Lansing last Saturday and dominating the Spartans? Oh yeah? LIARS.

With that victory, the Badgers can now arguably claim two of the best three wins by a Big Ten team in this still-young season, and it sets up an epic, top ten showdown this weekend in Ann Arbor. Count me in.

As for the rest of the Big Ten? It was a bit of a snoozer. It’s time to fully ramp up conference play.

Sep 10, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot Brutas performs at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (LW: 1 | ⇔)

With a bye, there’s not much to say right now. OSU’s next two games are at home vs. Rutgers and Indiana. Let’s hope they’re not mentally fast-forwarding to Oct. 15 when they travel to Madison, because I already am.

Sep 24, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Karan Higdon (22) breaks a tackle by Penn State Nittany Lions safety Troy Apke (28) in the second half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

2. Michigan Wolverines (LW: 2 | ⇔)

I’ve seen other power rankings jumping the Badgers ahead of the Wolverines, but I can’t penalize a team for winning by 39 in a conference game. They ran all over Penn State last weekend. Calling this week’s game “big” is an understatement.

Sep 24, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers tight end Troy Fumagalli (81) attempts to make a catch against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

3. Wisconsin Badgers (LW: 4 | ⇑1)

The D is real. Three picks and a scoop to the house. Not to mention they did it all with a first time starting QB (Alex Hornibrook) and on the road.

Sep 24, 2016; Evanston, IL, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers cornerback Joshua Kalu (10) celebrates an interception against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Ryan Field. The Cornhuskers won 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

4. Nebraska Cornhuskers (LW: 5 | ⇑1)

Nebraska avoided a letdown and won a tight contest in Evanston. Tommy Armstrong racked up a meager 378 yards of offense, and they get Illinois at home coming up. Life’s good again in Lincoln.

Sep 24, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back LeShun Daniels Jr. (29) runs with the ball during the second half at High Points Solutions Stadium. Iowa defeated Rutgers 14-7. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

5. Iowa Hawkeyes (LW: 6 | ⇑1)

It might not have been flashy, but Iowa got back in the win column with a road victory against Rutgers. I have a feeling Iowa’s not going quietly into the night.

6. Michigan State Spartans (LW: 3 | ⇓3)

We’ve established that Wisconsin is good. But MSU can’t be THAT bad, can they? I had a friend at the game, an alumnus, who said it felt like being at a game in 2009, the last time the Spartans had a losing record under Dantonio (6-7). Can they right the ship at Indiana?

7. Minnesota Golden Gophers (LW: 7 | ⇔)

The Gophers quietly keep on winning. They can be a real darkhorse in the West Division race if they pull out a victory in Happy Valley this weekend. PSU isn’t great, but they have one of the most intimidating home advantages in the Big Ten.

Illinois Fighting Illini

8. Maryland Terrapins (LW: 9 | ⇑1)

Maryland was off, but they’re moving up by virtue of not having a chance to lose, I guess. They host Purdue this weekend.

9. Penn State Nittany Lions (LW: 8 | ⇓1)

I know Michigan is a national title contender. I know the game was at the Big House. Whatever. That was an absolute thumping. I’ll tell ya what, Nittany Lions fans — if Wisconsin loses at Michigan by more than 39 points, and your team beats Minnesota at home by at least 14, I’ll bump your boys up to #6 regardless of every other outcome this week.

10. Purdue Boilermakers (LW: 12 | ⇑2)

Whoa, Purdue. What’s going on here? In reality, not much, but let’s allow the Boilermakers a bit of happiness. They have a winning record for the first time since Kyle Orton left. (Don’t fact-check me on that, my keyboard is defective.)

11. Northwestern Wildcats (LW: 11 | ⇔)

This was a game at half, and even after a bad third quarter the Wildcats were still in it. The Huskers outdid them in time of possession and steadily subdued any chance of a comeback.

12. Indiana Hoosiers (LW: 10 | ⇓2)

Yikes, Indiana. Wake Forest is 4-0 now, so they might not be ACC slobs any longer, but this was supposed to be a win. Where does IU find four more wins on their schedule in the East Division?

13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (LW: 13 | ⇔)

I’d like to give credit where it’s due, the Scarlet Knights hung tough against a Hawkeyes squad with a lot to prove. Still, only 7 points at home, and it took until the 4th quarter.

Next: Illinois Football: Preview of the Nebraska Cornhuskers Offense

14. Illinois Fighting Illini (LW: 14 | ⇔)

The Illini were off, thankfully for me. I had a really fun weekend planned and nothing on Saturday to ruin it. In fact, things were going really well until I forced myself to watch the Bears on Sunday night. Surprise me at Nebraska this weekend, if you dare.