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College football conference power rankings – Week 6: Big Ten stays strong

By Nathaniel Reeves

PULLMAN, WA - SEPTEMBER 29: The Washington State Cougars celebrate with Jamal Morrow #25 after his touchdown in the second half of the game against the USC Trojans at Martin Stadium on September 29, 2017 in Pullman, Washington. Washington State defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
PULLMAN, WA - SEPTEMBER 29: The Washington State Cougars celebrate with Jamal Morrow #25 after his touchdown in the second half of the game against the USC Trojans at Martin Stadium on September 29, 2017 in Pullman, Washington. Washington State defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – SEPTEMBER 30: Quarterback J.T. Barrett #16 of the Ohio State Buckeyes carries the ball during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on September 30, 2017 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Ohio State won 56-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – SEPTEMBER 30: Quarterback J.T. Barrett #16 of the Ohio State Buckeyes carries the ball during a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on September 30, 2017 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Ohio State won 56-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

1. Big Ten

The elite quartet of Big Ten teams continued to take care of business in week five, helping the conference reign supreme in the power rankings.

No. 4 Penn State felt no ill effects from its hard-fought battle with Iowa last Saturday, as the Nittany Lions racked up 28 points in the first quarter of a rout against Indiana. Saquon Barkley is running away with the Heisman race after returning the opening kickoff of Saturday’s game for a score and even added a touchdown pass late for good measure.

Ohio State predictably waxed Rutgers 56-0 and has looked better offensively since losing to Oklahoma in week two, albeit against poor competition. Things weren’t so easy for No. 9 Wisconsin in a 33-24 victory over Wisconsin, but the Badgers are clearly the class of the Big Ten West and have to be happy with the emergence of running back Jonathan Taylor.

The Big Ten did lose a team from the undefeated ranks on Saturday, as Maryland earned a solid road victory over Minnesota despite being down multiple quarterbacks yet again. Michigan State also topped Iowa to move to 3-1, matching its win total from a miserable 2016 campaign.

With four teams in the AP top 10 and a handful of competitive squads in the middle tier, the Big Ten has the No. 1 spot in the conference power rankings on lockdown through the end of September. Next week’s Big Ten schedule includes a rivalry showdown between the Spartans and Michigan, while Penn State will try to avoid a trap at Northwestern.

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