Big Ten Power Rankings: How far does MSU Football drop in our weekly power rankings?
For the first time this season, Michigan State will need to bounce back from a loss.
The Spartans dropped their first game of the 2021 season on Saturday, losing at Purdue, 40-29. With the loss, the Spartans will drop in our weekly power rankings, but how far will they slip?
See where I rank each of the Big Ten teams in our latest batch of Big Ten power rankings:
No. 14: Rutgers
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Previous power ranking: No. 12 (down two spots)
Record: 4-5 (1-5 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Loss vs. Wisconsin, 52-3
We really don’t know what we will get from week to week with a lot of the Big Ten bottom feeders and that includes Rutgers. This week we got the bad side of Rutgers, and they are back to the bottom of the league.
No. 13: Indiana
Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 10 (down three spots)
Record: 2-7 (0-6 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Loss at Michigan, 29-7
Indiana has yet to win a conference game this year and at this point, they may go winless in the Big Ten. Rough year for the Hoosiers.
No. 12: Northwestern
Quinn Harris/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 14 (up two spots)
Record: 3-6 (1-5 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Loss vs. Iowa, 17-12
Northwestern put up a fight against Iowa this week and was rewarded by moving up a few spots in the power rankings. It also helped their cause that Rutgers and Indiana were especially bad in their games.
No. 11: Maryland
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Previous power ranking: No. 9 (down two spots)
Record: 5-4 (2-4 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Loss vs. Penn State, 31-14
Another double-digit loss for the Terps this week — this time against Penn State. Maryland has lost four of their last five games and will need an improved performance to knock off Michigan State next week.
No. 10: Nebraska
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Previous power ranking: No. 10 (same)
Record: 3-7 (1-6 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Loss vs. Ohio State, 26-17
Nebraska was once again in a close game against a big-time opponent. And once again the Cornhuskers came up short. This team is better than their record suggests but just can never find a way to win the close games.
No. 9: Illinois
Matt Krohn/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 13 (up four spots)
Record: 4-6 (3-4 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Win at Minnesota, 14-6
Remember what I said about Rutgers earlier? The same thing applies for Illinois, but that the Fighting Illini are on the good side of things this week with another win over a ranked foe.
No. 8: Minnesota
Matt Krohn/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 5 (down three spots)
Record: 6-3 (4-2 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Loss vs. Illinois, 14-6
Minnesota appeared to be a team we could buy into for winning the Big Ten West Division at this time last week. Today, however, is a different story after a home loss to Illinois. Minnesota is a decent team but evidently not a great team with home losses to Bowling Green and Illinois now on the season.
No. 7: Iowa
Quinn Harris/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 7 (same)
Record: 7-2 (4-2 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Win at Northwestern, 17-12
Iowa got a much-needed win this weekend in the Windy City. But they weren’t particularly impressive in doing so — this means they’ll stay put in this week’s power rankings.
No. 6: Purdue
Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 8 (up two spots)
Record: 6-3 (4-2 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Win vs. Michigan State, 40-29
Purdue is bowl eligible with a pair of wins over top five teams on the season. Can they pick up a third this week against the Buckeyes? If they do, they may just jump to the top of these power rankings.
No. 5: Penn State
Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 6 (up one spot)
Record: 6-3 (3-3 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Win at Maryland, 31-14
Penn State snapped their three-game losing streak this weekend in a solid win at Maryland. The Nittany Lions still have arguably the second most talented roster behind only Ohio State in the Big Ten and will be a tough team to beat all season long.
No. 4: Michigan
Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 3 (down one spot)
Record: 8-1 (5-1 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Win vs. Indiana, 29-7
Michigan dominated Indiana but still dropped because another team from behind them jumped up the rankings. Michigan has a great opportunity to move up these rankings with a road test vs. Penn State coming up this week.
No. 3: Michigan State
Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 2 (down one spot)
Record: 8-1 (5-1 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Loss at Purdue, 40-29
Michigan State drops only one spot in this week’s rankings but I was originally inclined to move them behind the Wolverines. However, the head-to-head win from just last week gives the Spartans the slight edge despite the terrible performance in West Lafayette on Saturday.
No. 2: Wisconsin
Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports
Previous power ranking: No. 4 (up two spots)
Record: 6-3 (4-2 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Win at Rutgers, 52-3
The Badgers keep climbing up the power rankings with their fifth straight win. Wisconsin is looking pretty darn good again and clearly the top team in the West Division at the moment.
No. 1: Ohio State
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
Previous power ranking: No. 1 (same)
Record: 8-1 (6-0 in Big Ten)
Last week’s result: Win at Nebraska, 26-17
It wasn’t pretty but the Buckeyes were able to remain unbeaten in conference play with a road victory over Nebraska. Until someone knocks off Ohio State, they’ll remain the top team in these power rankings.
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