No Change With Top Spot for Week 6 Big Ten Power Rankings

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Week 5 is over and the Big Ten Conference season is now in full swing. The biggest storyline is the emergence of No. 23 Indiana (5-0, 2-0 B1G) and Rutgers (4-0, 1-0 B1G) as teams that could make some noise in the B1G this year.

The No. 1 team from a week ago, Ohio State (4-0, 1-0 B1G), didn’t have much trouble in their first road contest. No. 11 USC (3-1, 1-1 B1G) had another terrible first half but unlike a week ago, battled back for the win. No. 10 Michigan (4-1, 2-0 B1G) won but didn't look good after a disappointing second half. It took a lucky offside call on an onside kick just for Wolverines to hold on.

The B1G has seven teams in the Associated Press Top 25 ranking following play in week 5. Indiana enters the Top 25 for the first time this season coming in at No.23. The B1G also occupies four spots in the top 10 with Ohio State at No. 3, Oregon (4-0, 1-0B1G) at No. 6, Penn State (4-0, 1-0) No. 7 and Michigan holding the No. 10 spot.

Here are the post-Week 5 power rankings as voted on by College Football Dawgs' Big Ten writers. 

1. No. 3 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0)

38-7 win over Michigan State (3-2, 1-1)

Previous ranking: 1

The Buckeyes faced their first road test this last week and the game ended up being not much of a test with the Buckeyes winning 38-7. Ohio State didn’t get off to the start they wanted but still had the game in hand by the end of the second quarter. The Buckeyes outgained the Spartans by 240 yards on the day. The game's story was true-freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith with his highlight reel catches. Against Michigan State, Smith had 6 catches for 83 yards and 1 touchdown, he also had 1 rushing touchdown. Smith is quickly becoming one of the top wide receivers in the country.

Upcoming game: Iowa (3-1, 1-0)

2. No. 6 Oregon (4-0, 1-0)

34-13 win over UCLA (1-3, 0-2)

Previous ranking: 3

Oregon Started the year slowly but after outscoring their opponents 83-27 in Weeks 3 and 5 the Ducks look to be flying. Oregon played another former Pac-12 Conference team in UCLA and beat them 34-14 to remain perfect on the season.  

Oregon opened the game by scoring on their first six drives before quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw an interception for a touchdown to take a 28-10 lead at the half. Gabriel was 31-of-41 for 278 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. Wide Receiver Tez Johnson had a huge game with 11 receptions for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns.   

Upcoming game: Michigan State (3-2, 1-1)

 3. No. 7 Penn State (4-0, 1-0)

21-7 win over No. 24 Illinois (4-1, 1-1)

Previous ranking: 2

James Franklin moves to 13-26 against the Top 25 teams after a 21-7 win over then-No. 19 Illinois (4-1,1-1). It wasn’t the scheduled White Out game for this season but after Franklin asked for the White Out energy, it became one and helped propel Penn State to the win.

Penn State leaned on their running game in the win with Nick Singleton running for 102 yards and a touchdown while Kayton Allen added 94 yards and a touchdown. The Penn State defense was great in Week 5 holding Illinois to 1 touchdown, 219 total yards and 17 first downs. Penn State's AJ Harris made one of the biggest plays intercepting Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer late in the fourth quarter. Penn State found the end zone on the ensuing drive to seal the game.

Upcoming game: UCLA (1-3, 0-2)

4. No. 11 USC (3-1, 1-1)

38-21 win over Wisconsin

Previous ranking: 5

USC, for the second straight week, found themselves down at halftime but unlike the previous week were able to battle back and win. Wisconsin walked into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with a backup QB and took a  21-10 lead into the half. Resembling the Michigan game, USC adjusted and looked like a completely different team in the second half outscoring Wisconsin 28-0 for the 38-21 win.

This was the second consecutive game USC was flat in the first half and dominant in the second. Quarterback Miller Moss lead the comeback in the second half throwing for 2 touchdowns and adding another one with his feet. In the game, Moss was 30-of-45 for 308 yards 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. USC's defense held Wisconsin to 286 total yards and only 13 first downs.

Upcoming game: Minnesota (2-3, 0-2)

5. No. 10 Michigan (4-1, 2-0 B1G)

27-24 win over Minnesota (2-3, 0-2)

Previous ranking: 4

Michigan beat Minnesota and USC by the same score, 27-24, but unlike the USC game, this one felt disappointing. Michigan had another Jekyll and Hyde performance—a good first half and a terrible second one. Michigan's offense had zero passing threat in the game as quarterback Alex Orji again showed little ability to consistently throw long, intermediate or short.

Michigan is a three-point underdog next week against an unranked Washington (3-2, 1-1). That tells you everything you need to know about this Michigan team.

Upcoming Game: at Washington (3-2, 1-1)

B1G Power Rankings: Nos. 6-18

6. No. 23 Indiana (5-0, 2-0)

42-28 win over Maryland (3-2, 0-2)

Previous ranking: 8

Upcoming game: at Northwestern (2-2, 0-1)

7. Rutgers (4-0, 1-0)

21-18 win over Washington (3-2, 1-1)

Previous ranking: 10

Upcoming game: at Nebraska (4-1, 1-1)

8. Iowa (3-1, 1-0)

Bye

Previous ranking: 7

Upcoming game: at No. 3 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0)

9. No. 24 Illinois (4-1, 1-1)

21-7 loss to No. 7 Penn State (4-0, 1-0)

Previous ranking: 6

Upcoming game: Bye

10. Nebraska (4-1, 1-1)

28-10 win over Purdue (1-3, 0-1)

Previous ranking: 9

Upcoming game: Rutgers (4-0, 1-0)

11. Michigan State (3-2, 1-1)

38-7 loss to No. 3 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0)

Previous ranking: 13

Upcoming game: at No. 6 Oregon (4-0, 1-0)

12. Washington (3-2, 1-1)

21-18 loss to Rutgers (4-0, 1-0)

Previous ranking: 11

Upcoming game: No. 10 Michigan (4-1, 2-0)

13. Minnesota (2-3, 0-2)

27-24 loss to No. 10 Michigan (4-1, 2-0)

Previous ranking: 11

Upcoming game: No. 11 USC (3-1, 1-1)

14. Wisconsin

38-21 loss to No. 11 USC (3-1, 1-1)

Previous ranking: 14

Upcoming game: Purdue (1-3, 0-1)

15. Maryland (3-2, 0-2)

42-28 loss to No. 23 Indiana (5-2, 2-0)

Previous ranking: 12

Upcoming game: Bye

16. Purdue (1-3, 0-1)

28-10 loss to Nebraska (4-1, 1-1)

Previous ranking: 18

Upcoming game: at Wisconsin (2-2, 0-1)

17. UCLA (1-3, 0-2)

34-13 loss to No. 6 Oregon (4-0, 1-0)

Previous ranking: 16

Upcoming game: at No. 7 Penn State (4-0, 1-0)

18. Northwestern (2-2, 0-1)

Bye

Previous ranking: 17

Upcoming game: No. 23 Indiana (5-0, 2-0)