Power Rankings: Why does everybody have 2 wins?

Another week’s gone by and apparently we’re just making things up as we go now in the Big Ten! Good to know.

That being said, here are this week’s power rankings:

1. Indiana Hoosiers (6-1)

Last week: 14-6 win at Wisconsin

Up next: Covid Bye

SP+ Ranking: 23

Previous CQ Ranking: 2

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0)

Last week: 52-12 win at Michigan State

Up next: Covid Bye

SP+ Ranking: 3

Previous CQ Ranking: 1

Imagine only having five wins so far this season, the Hoosiers could never.

3. Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2)

Last week: 35-21 win at Illinois

Up next: Home vs. Wisconsin (UW -1.5)

SP+ Ranking: 16

Previous CQ Ranking: 3

Look at the Hawkeyes go! They seem to be genuinely good despite starting the season 0-2! They’ll get a chance to prove it once and for all this weekend against Wisconsin.

4. Northwestern Wildcats (5-1)

Last week: Covid Bye

Up next: Home vs. Illinois (NW -14)

SP+ Ranking: 31

Previous CQ Ranking: 5

The Fighting Rece Davises (read: farrrrrrrrrrrt) got a week off before what should be more or less another week off before they get a shot at Ohio State in Indianapolis — a thing that should not be happening but is because the Big Ten is a scam. Go Peyton Ramsey Go!

5. Wisconsin Badgers (2-2)

Last week: 14-6 loss vs. Indiana

Up next: Away vs. Iowa

SP+ Ranking: 8

Previous CQ Ranking: 4

W I S C O N S I N.

B A D D E R S.

6. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3)

Last week: Covid Bye

Up next: Away vs. Nebraska (NE -10.5)

SP+ Ranking: 48

Previous CQ Ranking: 9

*pulls on Gophers hat and t-shirt* If there were ever a time for Minnesota to Be Not Bad, it’d be this weekend. Go beat the Huskers! Row the boat, baby!

7. Penn State Nittany Lions (2-5)

Last week: 23-7 win at rutger

Up next: Home vs. Michigan State (PSU -14.5)

SP+ Ranking: 22

Previous CQ Ranking: 12

They did it! Again! Somehow they’re top 25 in SP+ again! It’s been a weird year for the Nittany Lions, but a win over Michigan State and then (insert bottom-tier B1G West team here) would certainly improve it.

8. Maryland Terrapins (2-2)

Last week: Covid Bye

Up next: Home vs. rutger (MD -7.5)

SP+ Ranking: 65

Previous CQ Ranking: 7

tfw you finally get to play a game

9. Illinois Fighting Illini (2-4)

Last week: 35-21 loss vs. Iowa

Up next: Away vs. Northwestern

SP+ Ranking: 85

Previous CQ Ranking: 8

If I were Illinois, I would simply not let Spencer Petras throw three touchdowns after throwing four in his previous six games.

10. Michigan State Spartans (2-4)

Last week: 52-12 loss vs. Ohio State

Up next: Away vs. Penn State

SP+ Ranking: 81

Previous CQ Ranking: 6

Here’s a snippet of what I had to say about the Spartans last week:

“Given their track record, they’re either going to beat Ohio State or lose by 40, no in-between.”

They lost by exactly 40 points. I am all-knowing, apparently.

11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-4)

Last week: 37-27 win at Purdue

Up next: Home vs. Minnesota

SP+ Ranking: 36

Previous CQ Ranking: 14

Apparently Adrian Martinez read last week’s power rankings, because he showed up against Purdue. He threw for 242 yards and a touchdown while also running for 45 yards and a pair of scores. The Hunkers also held Purdue to -2 rushing yards which is two less than zero, for anybody keeping track at home.

12. Rutger Scarlet Knights (2-5)

Last week: 23-7 loss vs. Penn State

Up next: Away vs. Maryland

SP+ Ranking: 106

Previous CQ Ranking: 10

13. Purdue Boilermakers (2-4)

Last week: 37-27 loss vs. Nebraska

Up next: Covid Bye

SP+ Ranking: 55

Previous CQ Ranking: 11

Nothing better than paying your head coach roughly $3 million per win, baby!

14. Michigan Wolverines (2-4)

Last week: Covid Bye

Up next: Covid Bye

SP+ Ranking: 39

Previous CQ Ranking: 13

Michigan coach...uh...Matt Patricia?