Big Ten Power Poll: Week 4
Before conference play begins, staff writer Jonathan Mills breaks down who to fear, and who not to fear, in this week's rankings.
Over the weekend, most Big Ten teams gave off the impression their conference is formidable from top-to-bottom. However, some teams exemplified why there might be a sizable gap between the Big Ten’s best programs and the weak links.
Regardless, the BadgerBlitz.com presents this week’s Power Poll below:
1. Penn State (3-0; 56-0 W Against Georgia State)
It was a battle of the cats and the Penn State Nittany Lions flexed their claws once again. Offense and defense are shaping into the conference's best. Currently, the Lions are outscoring opponents, 141-14. On the defensive side, a +7-turnover margin is an equally impressive statistic. Iowa looms on Saturday evening and represents the Lions' first true test of 2017.
2. Michigan Wolverines (3-0; 29-13 W Against Air Force)
Head coach Jim Harbaugh's squad takes the No. 2 spot solely upon defensive performance up through Week 3. The team ranked fifth in the country in total defense (208 yards/game) and sixth in sacks. Offensively, it's been nothing short of a mess. Yet, I am still impressed by Michigan. Even when junior quarterback Wilton Speight is not on his A-game, the defense assures me this program is a conference contender in 2017.
3. Wisconsin Badgers (3-0; 40-6 W against BYU)
At this pace, if the Wisconsin Badgers continue to perform, they should battle Penn State and Michigan for the top spots in the power poll over the next three weeks. Sophomore quarterback Alex Hornibrook and true freshman running back Jonathan Taylor crushed BYU, picked apart FAU and outplayed Utah State. This double-headed offensive monster should continue to feast after a Week 4 bye.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1; 38-7 W against Army)
After Oklahoma left a sour taste in the mouths of Buckeye nation, Ohio State needed a step in the right direction. Head coach Urban Meyer should be pleased with a 38-point performance to complement a much-improved showing from quarterback J.T. Barrett. In all, 2017 hasn't been great for OSU, but it hasn't been bad either.
5. Iowa Hawkeyes (3-0; 31-14 W against North Texas)
The Iowa Hawkeyes are playing smart defense alongside an improved offense in comparison to 2016. A tough Penn State opponent looms in week four, but I expect the Hawkeyes to remain competitive.
(If you missed their new "Kinnick Wave" tradition, it is very cool. Check it out below.)
6. Maryland Terrapins (2-0; DNP in Week 3)
Despite their offense averaging 508 yards/game and 57 ppg, the Maryland fan-van hasn't hit the bumpy road yet. Their win over Texas was impressive, no doubt, but freshman quarterback Kasim Hill has yet to face any withstanding pressure in the pocket. Central Florida could put up a fight, should the Terrapins struggle offensively.
7. Purdue Boilermakers (3-0; 35-3 W against Missouri)
Head coach Jeff Brohm is doing just fine managing his developing offense. Indeed, three consecutive plus-25 point games read fine to me too. Additionally, Purdue rushed for 200-plus yards in consecutive games for the first time since 2012. On Saturday at 3 p.m., however, Michigan may restrict this. Nonetheless, Purdue is outperforming in 2017.
8. Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-0; 34-3 W against Middle Tennessee)
The early 2017 bandwagon, or should I say boat, is filling up in Minneapolis. A big game from senior running back Kobe McCrary (107 rushing yards on 23 carries with three touchdowns) helped the offense breeze past the Blue Raiders. On the contrary, the Gophers were miserable on third down conversions (3-14) and a stuttering first-half offense led by a mediocre performance from quarterback Connor Rhoda. If head coach PJ Fleck clogs up the holes on his boat, perhaps Minnesota could see a jump in the rankings.
9. Michigan State Spartans (2-0; DNP in Week 3)
MSU comes off its a bye week and welcomes the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the friendly confines of Spartan Stadium. This is an intriguing matchup in Week 4 and one the Spartans are capable of winning, barring big plays or injuries.
10. Northwestern Wildcats (2-1; 49-7 W against Bowling Green)
Welcome back, Wildcats. A convincing win against the Falcons brings a breath of fresh air to Evanston, Ill. Arguably one of the most intriguing Big Ten games kicks off on Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. CT when the Wildcats face the Badgers.
11. Indiana Hoosiers (1-1; DNP in Week 3)
The power rankings shuffled slightly, despite the FIU game cancellation. It will be interesting to see if freshman quarterback Peyton Ramsey can repeat his Week 3 performance against Virginia, though.
12. Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1; 47-23 L against South Florida)
A running game was nowhere to be found Friday evening as the Fighting Illini accumulated just 67 yards on the ground. During the post-game, head coach Lovie Smith acknowledged it wasn’t their best game. “Whatever you want to say about a bad game tonight, say that tonight,” he said. We’ll play better next week; we’re a better football team.” Only time will tell but a 2-1 start is not bad to begin the 2017 season.
13. Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-2; 21-17 L against Northern Illinois)
The defense is the glue to this 2017 team from spewing everywhere. A loss against a lowly opponent is not a good look as conference play kicks off. Up next for the Huskers are the Knights as the battle of the Big Ten’s bottom bunch will surely increase TV ratings. Quite a falling of grace for a team with lofty expectations in 2017 thus far.
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-2; 65-0 W against Morgan State)
At last, their 11-game losing streak is over. Last Saturday, the Knights began a new winning streak using an offensive blowout to shut down the Bears. Enjoy the 14-spot in the rankings! You earned it.
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Jonathan Mills is a staff writer and covers Wisconsin football/basketball for BadgerBlitz.com on the Rivals.com network. Follow him on Twitter at @realJ_Mills
