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The conclusion of week 5 has brought a clearer picture of who the top teams are in the Big Ten Conference. It has also given fans a better understanding of what teams have a realistic chance to play in Indianapolis for the B1G championship. No. 2 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0) looks to be the top team in the B1G, while No. 3 Oregon (5-0, 2-0) and No. 4 Penn State (5-0, 2-0) look to be the Buckeyes biggest threat.
Before the season started many believed that USC (3-2, 1-2) and No. 24 Michigan (4-2, 2-1) would be in the top 5 but both have looked disappointing after six weeks. Instead, it’s No. 18 Indiana (6-0, 3-0) and No. 23 Illinois (4-1, 1-1) rounding out the top teams. The Hoosiers are off to only their second 6-0 start in school history—first came in 1967—and are averaging 47.5 points a game. Illinois is another team that at the start of the season many didn’t expect to be here. Illinois' defense ranks 12th in FBS for points allowed a game (14.2) and 17th in turnover differential at plus-5.
The B1G has six teams in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll following play in Week 6 but are down one from the previous week. The B1G also three of the four top spots. Many fans were surprised that after a Week 6 loss to Washington (4-2,2-1) Michigan was still in the Top 25.
Here are the post-Week 5 power rankings as voted on by College Football Dawgs' Big Ten writers.
1. No. 2 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0)
35-7 win over Iowa (3-2, 1-1)
Previous ranking: 1
The Buckeyes played Iowa this past weekend and after a slow start pulled away on their way to a comfortable 35-7 win. The Buckeyes found themselves only up seven after the first half but outscored Iowa 28-7 in the second half. The story so far has been freshmen wide receiver Jeremiah Smith who is already trending to be one of the best WR in Ohio State history. The Buckeyes have yet to be tested but with No. 3 Oregon coming up we should finally know just how good the Buckeyes are.
Upcoming game: at No. 3 Oregon (4-0, 1-0)
2. No. 3 Oregon (4-0, 1-0)
31-10 win over Michigan State (1-3, 0-2)
Previous ranking: 2
Oregon played Michigan State this past weekend and won 31-10. Oregon never trailed in the game thanks to Aidan Chiles turning the ball over early on the 1-yard line to go up 7-0. If Michigan State took the lead it's possible this game might have played out a little differently. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel has been playing very well and does finds himself with the fifth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy at +1400.
Upcoming game: No. 2 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0)
3. No. 4 Penn State (4-0, 1-0)
27-11 win over UCLA (1-4, 0-3)
Previous ranking: 3
Penn State beat UCLA 27-11 in a game that seemed a lot closer than the final score showed. UCLA has found themselves at or near the bottom of the B1G since the start of the season. Yet, at the half they were only down 14 -3 to then-No. 7-ranked Penn State. Both teams missed opportunities in the first half, and it didn’t help Penn State being without leading rusher Nicholas Singleton. Penn State pulled away in the second half thanks to a 10-0 third quarter. Penn State's defense held ULCA to 260 yards in the game and only 14 first downs.
Upcoming game: at USC (3-2, 1-2)
4. No. 18 Indiana (6-0, 3-0)
41-24 win over Northwestern (2-3, 0-2)
Previous ranking: 6
Like the Ohio State and Penn State games, Indiana found themselves in a one-score game at the half up 17-10 at Northwestern (2-3, 0-2). But unlike OSU and PSU, it took a big fourth quarter to pull away and get the 41-24 win. The story has been how first-year head coach Curt Cignetti has taken a 3-9 team and turned them into a 6-0 team this season. A big part of that has been Ohio QB transfer Kurtis Rourke who is completing 23.8 percent of his passes and already has 14 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions. This past week Rourke was good again going 25-of-33 with 380 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win.
Upcoming game: Bye
5. No. 23 Illinois (4-1, 1-1)
Bye
Previous ranking: 9
Illinois had the benefit of resting this past week and watching the teams in front of them lose giving Illinois the chance to move up. Illinois' only loss came to Penn State in Week 5 and is now focused on playing a Purdue (1-4, 0-2) team that is off to a terrible start. Illinois' defense is only allowing 14.2 points per game and 310.2 yards per game and is the strength of the team. If the offense can find a way to put up more than the 27.2 points they are averaging per game, the Illini could become a big problem in the second half for the teams in front of them.
Upcoming Game: Purdue (1-4, 0-2)
B1G Power Rankings: Nos. 6-18
6. Nebraska (5-1, 2-1)
14-7 win over Rutgers (4-1, 1-1)
Previous ranking: 10
Upcoming game: Bye
7. Washington (4-2, 2-1)
27-17 win over Michigan (4-2, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 12
Upcoming game: at Iowa (2-2, 1-1)
8. No. 24 Michigan (4-2, 2-1)
27-17 loss to Washington (4-2, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 5
Upcoming game: Bye
9. USC (3-2, 1-2)
24-17 loss to Minnesota (3-3, 1-2)
Previous ranking: 4
Upcoming game: No. 4 Penn State (5-0, 2-0)
10. Rutgers (4-1, 1-1)
14-7 loss to Nebraska (5-1, 2-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Upcoming game: Wisconsin (3-2, 1-1)
11. Iowa (3-2, 1-1)
38-7 loss to No. 2 Ohio State
Previous ranking: 8
Upcoming game: Washington(4-2, 2-1)
12. Minnesota (3-3, 1-2)
24-17 win over USC (3-2, 1-2)
Previous ranking: 13
Upcoming game: at UCLA (1-4, 0-1)
13. Wisconsin (3-2, 1-1)
Win over Purdue (1-4, 0-2)
Previous ranking: 14
Upcoming game: at Rutgers (4-1, 1-1)
14. Maryland (3-2, 0-2)
Bye
Previous ranking: 15
Upcoming game: Northwestern (2-3, 0-2)
15. Michigan State (3-1, 1-2)
31-10 loss to No. 3 Oregon (5-0, 2-0)
Previous ranking: 11
Upcoming game: Bye
16. UCLA (1-4, 0-3)
27-11 loss to No. 3 Penn State (5-0, 2-0)
Previous ranking: 17
Upcoming game: Minnesota (3-3, 1-2)
17. Northwestern (2-3, 0-2)
41-24 loss to No. 18 Indiana (6-0, 3-0)
Previous ranking: 18
Upcoming game: at Maryland (3-2, 0-2)
18. Purdue (1-4, 0-2)
52-6 Lost to Wisconsin (3-2,1-1)
Previous ranking: 16
Upcoming game: at No. 23 Illinois (4-1, 1-1)
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