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Big Ten Football 2014 post-spring power rankings

By Michael Collins

Oct 12, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; A general view of the Big Ten logo prior to the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Oct 12, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; A general view of the Big Ten logo prior to the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /
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LUCK BE A LADY TONIGHT

(Three teams that, given the right breaks and a little luck, could make a run)

Jan 1, 2014; Tampa, Fl, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz reacts on the sideline during the second half against LSU Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. LSU won 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2014; Tampa, Fl, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz reacts on the sideline during the second half against LSU Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. LSU won 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

#8 – Iowa Hawkeyes

The things that could have been…and could still be…for the Hawkeyes. The pieces are in place for Iowa to make a serious charge, if they can escape injuries to key players and, to be honest, play some near perfect ball.

Iowa is serviceable, even pretty good, offensively. They have a solid quarterback (Jake Rudock) and several good receivers to whom he can throw the ball. Their running game is good enough to bring a little balance, but nobody is going to mistake them for Auburn or Georgia Tech.

Defensively, the Hawkeyes have some fixing to do. The secondary is a bit on the slow side, and was beaten badly on big plays in 2013. The linebackers aren’t much on pass support, so that’s a liability as well. The defensive line is solid, if not pretty good against some opponents.

Either Iowa will make a serious run at the division title, or it will be another year of woulda-coulda-shoulda.

Nov 23, 2013; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback C.J. Brown (16) throws the ball during pre-game warm ups prior to the start of the game against the Boston College Eagles at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2013; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback C.J. Brown (16) throws the ball during pre-game warm ups prior to the start of the game against the Boston College Eagles at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

#7 – Maryland Terrapins

Some feel that in their first season in the Big Ten, Maryland is going to stumble, and stumble hard. But this is a squad that played some pretty tough games in the ACC and, unlike Rutgers, is used to playing in a deep conference with national contenders.

The Terps are returning nine defensive starters to a squad that wasn’t all that bad last season, and offensively they can put up some numbers with the best of them. Senior quarterback C.J. Brown is probably one of the better dual-threat QBs in the conference, and the Terps have some receivers to keep the defense from just playing run all day.

Another bowl game is probably in the cards, and if the Gods give a gentle nod Maryland’s way, they could surprise a lot of teams this season.

Dec 27, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Donnell Kirkwood (20) reacts after a play during the first quarter of the Texas Bowl against the Syracuse Orange at Reliant Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Donnell Kirkwood (20) reacts after a play during the first quarter of the Texas Bowl against the Syracuse Orange at Reliant Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

#6 – Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Gophers have a quarterback question to be answered with the transfer of Philip Nelson to Rutgers. As it stands now, the job is Mitch Leidner‘s to lose. Leidner had a nice spring, but it’s still not clear how he’ll do under the pressure of facing more than his own defense.

The Gophers will once again hang their hat on the defense this season, which could be an ever better squad than 2013 (who finished 4th in the conference in points allowed).

The questions on offense are just too broad to give the Gophers any higher ranking, but that’s not to say that they don’t have the ability to win the West division.

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