College Football Conference Power Rankings: Week 7

Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight (8) celebrates with his teammates after the win over the Tennessee Volunteers at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeated the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 1, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh during warm ups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Big Ten

As far as top two or even top four teams go, the Big Ten is tough to beat. However, it ranks third because things are getting ugly at the bottom of the conference.

Everything is pointing towards No. 4 Michigan’s trip to Columbus on Nov. 26 to take on No. 2 Ohio State being a play-in game for the semifinals, unless both teams are able to make it. The Buckeyes beat a game Indiana team 38-17, while Jim Harbaugh’s squad eviscerated Rutgers 78-0.

Meanwhile, No. 8 Wisconsin shouldn’t be overlooked, as a 14-7 loss in the Big House back in Week 5 was certainly nothing to be ashamed about. No. 10 Nebraska is also quietly sitting at 5-0, and faces a pair of bottom feeders before a huge trip to Camp Randall on October 29.

As impressive as those teams are, the dropoff afterwards is severe. Many thought Michigan State could be in for a bit of a down year, but a three-game losing streak capped off by a 31-14 home loss to BYU is still a shock.

Rutgers didn’t even have the most embarrassing loss of the week, as Illinois dropped a home game to Purdue. The small amount of hype Maryland was generating is also gone after the Terrapins lost 38-14 in Happy Valley.

While the Big Ten has a pair of title contenders that can stand up to anyone, the weakness of the bottom half of the conference drops its to third in the rankings.

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