Big Ten Power Rankings after the opening weekend of the 2016 college football season.
If you needed any more evidence that the Big Ten is catching up to the SEC, look no further than Week 1. LSU vs. Wisconsin was supposed to be the Leonard Fournette show, a way for the future NFL running back to project his talent in front of one of the most famous football stadiums ever. Instead, Wisconsin put on a defensive masterclass and outplayed LSU in every facet of the game en route to a 16-14 win.
Outside of that game, though, the Big Ten had a great opening week. While upsets were the norm, with six ranked teams guaranteed to lose, the Big Ten went about their business, as they went 12-2 to start the season.
For many of these teams, they won’t get a real test until the conference schedule starts, but actually seeing them on the field is a better barometer of what their season will look like than any preseason poll.
But while it’s impossible to predict how a team’s season will shape up after one week, it’s definitely not too late to begin the weekly Big Ten Power Rankings.
Only two Big Ten teams faced a ranked opponent in Week 1. But while Wisconsin passed their test with flying colors, Rutgers looked flat and uninspiring, as they got blown out 48-13.
While Rutgers is the butt end of peoples’ jokes in the Big Ten, they do have a solid run game. Josh Hicks and Justin Goodwin form a solid tandem and bring lots of experience to the position. They had good days against Washington, but the Huskies’ vaunted defense kept them out of the end zone on the day.
And while Rutgers can run the ball very well, they can’t stop it. Even with Steve Longa, their run defense last season ranked 84th. Now having to replace his productivity, they gave up both a kickoff and punt return TD.
The Scarlet Knights are set to play three straight home games and have a date with Big Ten punching bag Howard in Week 2. But if they lose another non-conference game, fans will be in for a long season.
Despite playing a team that went 2-10 last season, Minnesota barely squeaked by and looked extremely undisciplined.
One of the Golden Gophers’ biggest strengths is their rushing attack, and they were able to kill the Beavers on the ground. Rodney Smith put up 125 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Mitch Leidner rushed for 76 yards and two touchdowns. The passing game for Leidner was a different story, though, as he only went 13 for 26 for 130 yards.
The Big Ten West is like the wild, wild West this year in that anyone can win it. But if Minnesota wants to compete for a spot in the Championship Game, they have to play a lot more disciplined. Three players got ejected for helmet-to-helmet hits, and overall committed eight penalties for 70 yards. Center Tyler Moore also snapped the ball over Leidner’s head twice during the game.
Credit the Gophers’ defense for holding Oregon State off the score sheet in the fourth, but their penalties kept their opponent in the game when they should’ve been killed off sooner.
The Big Ten season wouldn’t truly be underway without some MACtion. While Western Michigan beating Northwestern isn’t as big an upset as Southern Alabama beating Mississippi State, it was still a surprise considering the Wildcats went 10-3 last season. But it does keep alive a trend, as this game marks the 11th straight year a MAC team has beaten the Big Ten.
There were a lot of problems for Northwestern, particularly with regards to Clayton Thorson. While he didn’t have a great offense, seven touchdowns to nine interceptions isn’t a flattering metric in the slightest. And with the game on the line, he had a crucial turnover when Davontae Ginwright stripped him at the goal line. Then again, that play didn’t come without controversy.
There were some positives to take away. The most noteworthy one was Justin Jackson, who scored every Northwestern touchdown. With Ezekiel Elliott out, Jackson could very well stake a claim as the best running back in the conference.
But with Northwestern facing a difficult schedule, they had to take care of business, and this opening week loss could be crippling to their chances of winning the Big Ten West.
Next: Nos. 11-9