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After the first week of college football, there weren’t a lot of surprises around the Big Ten. Wisconsin was the only team who pulled off an unexpected win, and frankly we should have seen LSU taking a crap coming. After the first week here is how I rank the fourteen Big Ten teams by both division and overall.
Big Ten East
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (LW #1)
The Buckeyes showed no hangover in putting up 77 points on an overmatched Bowling Green Team. JT Barrett looked like the potential Heisman candidate he can be. This week should be another drubbing of Tulsa before the hugely awaited matchup with Oklahoma.
#2 Michigan Wolverines (LW#2)
Michgan had no problem taking out Hawaii at the Big House. You can just imagine Harbaugh is ticked off they allowed three points. UCF might be a slightly stiffer task this week, but it will still be a huge yawner.
#3 Michigan State Spartans (LW #3)
MSU got off to a bit of a slow start in defeating Furman in their opener, but as some other teams have showed us, an ugly win is still a win. I have no doubt they will pick it up as the season goes on. The Spartans already get a week off this week before taking on a pissed off Notre Dame team.
#4 Penn State Nittany Lions (LW #4)
33-13 over Kent State seems about right. Nothing wrong with that. But nothing to blow away people either. The renewal of the rivalry series against Pitt this Saturday should tell us more about the Lions.
#5 Indiana Hoosiers (LW #5)
Getting paid to go into Florida International and get an easy win isn’t too bad a week one. Way to not yet disappoint Indiana. Ball State comes into Bloomington this week in what should be the game that gets Indiana one third of the way to bowl eligibility.
#6 Maryland Terrapins (LW #6)
Beating up on a FCS team at home. Take note Gophers. This is what you do. This week the Terps get to get paid to go into Florida International. Lets see if they can pull an Indiana.
#7 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (LW #7)
Well we all knew the opener at Washington would not be pretty, but oof...48-13 not pretty....that’s painful. The same Howard team maryland just destroyed comes to Jersey this week...should be some medicine.
Big Ten West
#1 Iowa Hawkeyes (LW #1)
Taking care of a MAC team at home....take note Gophers. No reason to drop here. This week....its baaaaaaaack
¡El Assico!
#27 Nebraska Cornhuskers (LW #2)
Fresno State was no match for the Huskers. They get a special ranking this week for this reason alone.
Wyoming comes into Lincoln this week...should be another easy one for the Huskers.
#3 Wisconsin Badgers (LW #3)
Arguably Wisconsin could raise all the way up to #1 for their win over an extremely overrated LSU team in Lambeau last Saturday. But this Badger defense is for real and Bart Houston was extremely Staveesque...which for some reason is just good enough for Wisconsin. They get to kill Akron this week.
#4 Minnesota Gophers (LW#4)
Well...after week one they showed me.....not a whole hell of a lot. Lots of questions remain. A drubbing of Indiana State would help push me in the right direction.
#5 Illinois Fighting Illini (LW # 6)
Again...an asskicking of a poor FCS team. Minnesota take note. North Caroline comes into Champaign this week in which will be a MUCH tougher task.
#6 Northwestern Wildcats (LW #5)
Not all roses now is it Wildcats? There was a bit of consternation when I ranked jNW lower that the Gophers last week. You can apologize in the comments. Looks like Coach Fitz needs to add more rowing workouts in practice. Illinois State should be a pretty easy get back on track game this week.
#7 Purdue Boilermakers (LW #7)
Because someone has to be last. Good week 1 win over directional Kentucky. Beat Cincinnati this week and then you have my attention.
My Rank 1-14
- Ohio State Buckeyes (LW #1)
- Michigan Wolverines (LW #2)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (LW #4)
- Michigan State Spartans (LW #3)
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (LW #5)
- Wisconsin Badgers (LW #6)
- Minnesota Gophers (LW #7)
- Penn State Nittany Lions (LW #8)
- Indiana Hoosiers (LW #10)
- Illinois Fighting Illini (LW #12)
- Maryland Terrapins (LW #11)
- Northwestern Wildcats (LW # 9)
- Purdue Boilermakers (LW #14)
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights (LW #13)