Big Ten baseball roundup: Rise and fall in this week’s power rankings

As we inch closer to the Big Ten Tournament (May 23-28, 2023), four Big Ten schools are two or fewer games out of first place. Which Big Ten school will be the number one seed heading into the tournament on May 23?

Heading into the week, seven Big Ten conference schools are still ranked in the baseball top 100 according to the NCAA rating percentage index.

Related

Where does Rutgers baseball rank among Big Ten teams?

According to the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll, no current Big Ten schools are ranked in the top 25, with Indiana having recently dropped out. Maryland (60 votes) and Indiana (11 votes) are the only Big Ten schools to receive votes for the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll. Baseball America Top 25 has the Terps (No. 22) as the only school representing the Big Ten conference in their top 25 rankings.

With Maryland remaining the conference’s top seed,Rutgers, Indiana and Iowa are in good positions to pursue a top seed for the Big Ten Tournament.

Here are the weekly Big Ten Conference power rankings:

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Big Ten baseball roundup: Weekly power rankings

No. 1 Maryland (Overall 33-16) (Big Ten 13-5)

Mayland’s offense stayed red-hot, scoring 57 runs in four games during the week. The Terps won another Big Ten series, beating Nebraska two out of three games. It has been two years since Maryland lost a Big Ten series, and they hold a one-game lead in the standings. Maryland will look to continue its hot streak this week with a game against Northeastern on Tuesday before hosting Minnesota on the weekend. Maryland is ranked No. 37 in the NCAA rating percentage index.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 2 Indiana (Overall 34-14) (Big Ten 12-6)

The Indiana Hoosiers had a perfect week, sweeping Northwestern over the weekend. Last week, Indiana was ranked third in the Big Ten standings, but after their sweep over Northwestern, the Hoosier surpassed Michigan State for the No. 2 ranking. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Indiana is ranked No. 34 in the nation.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 3 Rutgers (Overall 30-18) (Big Ten 11-7)

The Scarlet Knights had a perfect week, beating Princeton in a mid-week matchup and sweeping Penn State in a three-game weekend series. Last week, Rutgers was eight in the Big Ten standings, but with three Big Ten victories, the Scarlet Knights are third in the conference standings. Rutgers is battling for that number one seed, only two games back from No. 1 Maryland. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, the Scarlet Knights are ranked No. 44 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

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No. 4 Iowa (Overall 34-12) (Big Ten 10-7)

The Iowa Hawkeyes are another team in the mix for the number-one seed in the Big Ten Conference. Iowa captured two of three games from Ohio State this past week, moving two games behind Maryland in the loss column. Iowa has a three-game series scheduled against Michigan State this weekend as the Hawkeyes continue to climb the rankings. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Iowa is ranked No. 41 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 5 Michigan State (Overall 28-16) (Big Ten 10-8)

The Michigan State Spartans took the biggest hit in the Big Ten standings, dropping three spots from last week. The Spartans were second in the Big Ten standings, but after dropping two of three games to Illinois, Michigan State is now three games back from the number one spot. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Iowa is ranked No. 80 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 6 Nebraska (Overall 25-19-1) (Big Ten 10-8)

Last week, Nebraska was fourth in the Big Ten standings, but after a loss to North Dakota State and two losses to Maryland, the Cornhuskers find themselves in sixth place. Nebraska will try to gain ground in the Big Ten Conference as they prepare to face Penn State this week. The Cornhuskers are three games back from the number-one spot in the conference. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Nebraska is ranked No. 117 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 7 Michigan (Overall 23-22) (Big Ten 10-8)

After being fifth in the Big Ten standings last week, Michigan is now in seventh place heading into this week. Michigan had two tough losses against Minnesota, forcing them to fall three games behind Maryland for the number one seed. The Wolverines can gain ground in the conference as they prepare to face last-place Northwestern this weekend. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Michigan is ranked No. 106 in the nation.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 8 Purdue (Overall 23-23) (Big Ten 10-8)

With three non-conference games over the weekend, the Purdue Boilermakers didn’t gain ground in the Big Ten Conference. They dropped one spot in the standings after being the seventh seed last week. Purdue has another non-conference game and a three-game series against Indiana this week as they look to gain ground in the conference. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Purdue is ranked No. 196 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 9 Illinois (Overall 22-22) (Big Ten 11-10)

After being in ninth place last week, Illinois has not moved in the standings heading into this week. Illinois will travel to Rutgers for a three-game weekend match-up this week. Being behind five games from Maryland, Illinois has a lot of ground to make up with little time left. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Illinois is ranked No. 89 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 10 Minnesota (Overall 14-31) (Big Ten 7-11)

Minnesota swapped places this week with the Nittany Lions, as the Golden Gophers are now the tenth seed. Minnesota had two Big Ten wins over Michigan, improving their conference record to 7-11. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Minnesota is ranked No. 226 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 11 Penn State (Overall 24-18) (Big Ten 6-11)

The Penn State Nittany Lions had a rough week after getting swept by Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights outscored Penn State 26-3 in their three-game weekend series. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Penn State is ranked No. 116 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 12 Ohio State (Overall 23-25) (Big Ten 6-15)

Ohio State didn’t move in the Big Ten standings this past week after losing two of three games to Iowa. It will be difficult for the Buckeyes to gain ground in the Big Ten standings since they have no conference match-ups this week. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Ohio State is ranked No. 92 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

No. 13 Northwestern (Overall 8-34) (Big Ten 3-15)

The Northwestern Wildcats are going to play spoilers as the season comes to a close. The Wildcats will face Michigan this week as the Wolverines are still chasing the number one seed. According to the NCAA rating percentage index, Northwestern is ranked No. 258 in the country.

Past Week’s Games

This Week’s Schedule

Story originally appeared on Rutgers Wire