Big Ten Power Rankings Week 2: Michigan sets high standard

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Saturday Blitz brings you the latest Big Ten power rankings after Week 2 of the college football season.

Week 2 of college football has come and gone. Although it wasn’t as nearly exciting as opening week, there was still loads of stories. As for the Big Ten, they’ve gone back to back weeks establishing themselves as a top conference in college football.

14. Northwestern

Week 2 result: 9-7 loss to Illinois State

Northwestern has completely lost all hope of another breakout season in just two weeks. Their 9-7 loss to Illinois State was classified as a “stunning” upset. Well, it was nothing close to an upset. Northwestern has shown over the last two weeks that all the potential this team showed last season is gone. It’s hard to say that a ranked team was a fluke, but that’s what the Wildcats have proved.

If Northwestern wants to escape this dreaded 2016 season, they’re going to have to change something. Their running game is going to have to develop quicker. Quarterback, Clayton Thorson, is the lone bright spot on this team. Their biggest concern needs to be providing him with support, and the running game is the best kind.

Two weeks into the season is early, but the Wildcats are quickly falling out of any contention for a bowl game.

13. Rutgers

Week 2 result: 52-14 win over Howard

Rutgers come back from a disappointing Week 1 to dominate Howard in Week 2. Their 52-14 victory was a major win for the Scarlet Knights. They didn’t want to end up like Northwestern and fall to the bottom of the Big Ten.

A 1-1 record isn’t what teams are looking for after Week 2. But it is a stepping stone for a team looking to break their way into the top 25 in the upcoming years.

Rutgers hasn’t proved much by beating Howard, but what they did was escape last place in the Big Ten. They’ll need to begin a winning streak if they want to move out of the bottom of the pile and make some noise come conference play this season.

12. Purdue

Week 2 result: 38-20 loss to Cincinnati

Purdue followed up their Week 1 victory with a loss to Cincinnati. Although a 38-20 loss isn’t a blowout, Purdue didn’t show any positives this week.

Their biggest issue this season has been turnovers. Five interceptions does not look good. However, it doesn’t look terrible when you realize David Blough threw the ball 57 times. That’s beyond crazy attempts for any player.

Purdue needs to bounce back in Week 3 if they want to avoid a major downfall this season. With Rutgers claiming a blowout victory in Week 2, and the rest of the Big Ten still building as a top conference in 2016, the Boilermakers are desperate to stay above .500.

11. Penn State

Week 2 result: 42-39 loss to Pitt

Penn State came out slow in Week 1 against Kent State, and came out even slower in Week 2 against Pitt.

The Nittany Lions’ offense actually looked impressive for how unknown they were coming into the season. With a new quarterback, no one had any idea what to expect from this offense in 2016. But, they proved the last two weeks that they’re the strong suit in Penn State.

On the other side of the ball, Penn State needs to improve drastically. Besides the linebacking core, there isn’t a piece of this defense that can compete in the Big Ten. This needs to change quick. Penn State had an opportunity to work their way back into the top 25, and if they don’t want to waste that opportunity they need to come back in Week 3 with a victory.

10. Illinois

Week 2 result: 48-23 loss to North Carolina

Illinois looked like they found the answer in Lovie Smith during Week 1, but that magic disappeared in Week 2. The Fighting Illini didn’t look like the flashy team they did in Week 1, which is concerning for a team that was hit or miss coming into 2016.

Moving forward, they can’t have another loss like this one. With the spark they started by hiring Smith, they have one incredible opportunity to turn this program around.

Illinois needs to continue winning. They may not finish above .500 this season, but in the next few years, they could become a top tier team in the Big Ten.

Right now, they still sit on the bottom half of the conference, but that could change as the season progresses.

9. Indiana

Week 2 result: 30-20 win over Ball State

Indiana has started the 2016 season much better than expected. 2-0 heading into Week 3 is an early season accomplishment thus far. Of course, that’s how every team wants to stand two games in, but for Indiana, it’s a chance to earn some wins before conference play.

Right now, they stack up pretty well for the bottom of the bunch teams in the Big Ten. They’ve impressed over the last two weeks, and they will continue to rise up the power rankings if they keep winning. Honestly, it won’t surprise anyone right now if Indiana turns a 2-0 start into a breakout season.

8. Minnesota

Week 2 result: 58-28 win over Indiana State

A win over Indiana State means nothing in college football. But 2-0 with two blowout wins does. The Golden Gophers are a team that each season has the ability to finish in the top of the Big Ten. This is another one of those seasons.

As the season progresses, Minnesota will need to continue this winning streak. They have a chance to surpass teams like Nebraska and Maryland in the Big Ten. All they’ll need to do is continue to play as well as they have so far.

A few more big wins and Minnesota can see themselves within the top 5 in the power rankings. Don’t be surprised to see them turn a 2-0 start into a major winning streak.

7. Maryland

Week 2 result: 42-14 win over Florida International

Maryland followed up one of the biggest blowouts of Week 1 with one of the biggest blowouts of Week 2.

For the first time in years, the Terps are making a statement that they are a team headed for a promising season. They may not win a National Championship, but they can compete with some of the better teams in the FBS.

Even with them being ranked 7th in the Big Ten, they are considered a “good” college football team. The Big Ten, as said before, is proving to be a top two conference in the college football this season. Being in the top half of this conference is a good thing. If they can keep winning, they’ll have a strong case when it comes to the later rankings.

6. Nebraska

Week 2 result: 52-17 win over Wyoming

Nebraska has stayed pretty low under the radar through two weeks. Even when Tommy Armstrong sets the school scoring record. This team is still a little iffy on whether they meet a Nebraska standard, but they haven’t lost yet so it’s hard to knock them.

Although they haven’t cracked the top 25 in college football just yet, they will soon. Nebraska is a team that will lay low all season. It’ll be their biggest component to keeping their winning streak going.

Look to Nebraska to keep their winning low key, but watch them start to pull in some key wins.

5. Iowa

Week 2 result: 42-3 win over Iowa State

Iowa didn’t even give their rival Iowa State a chance in Week 2. Their 42-3 win may not have been enough to keep them at No. 4 in the Big Ten power rankings, but that wasn’t necessarily their fault.

The Hawkeyes look like they belong in the top 15, which is where they’ll end up sooner than later. However, because the Big Ten has been so impressive this season, Iowa ended up with the short end of the stick.

They’ll continue to move up the AP Polls, but in the Big Ten, it’s going to be hard to jump the next four on this list.

4. Michigan State

Week 2 result: DNP

Michigan State didn’t get a chance to prove that Week 1 was just rust. Unfortunately, that’s going to give them the disadvantage in the power rankings.

Based solely off of how well the rest of the Big Ten played in Week 2, the Spartans have to be bounced form the top three. They didn’t prove enough in Week 1 and the rest of the conference proved that this is a football powerhouse.

Sorry, Michigan State, but you have to come back strong before you stop falling in the power rankings.

3. Wisconsin

Week 2 result: 54-10 Akron

Wisconsin’s upset win over LSU was no upset. The Badgers came back in Week 2 stronger than they did in Week 1.

Their 44 point victory over Akron showed the NCAA that it wasn’t a fluke that they beat LSU. Yes, Akron isn’t LSU, but a 44 point victory is still impressive. Wisconsin has the opportunity to break into the college football playoff picture over the upcoming weeks.

In the Big Ten, it’ll be hard to surpass the top two, but it could happen. Wisconsin has an opportunity to play the three other teams in the top four within the next four weeks. If they can pull off some wins they’ll easily work their way into the top four in college football and the top spot in the Big Ten.

2. Ohio State

Week 2 result: 48-3 win over Tulsa

The Buckeyes had yet another impressive win in Week 2. A 48-3 win over Tulsa helps their case to stay in the top four within the AP Poll and in the top two in the Big Ten.

This season, they’ve already proven that they have a shot at making their way back to the National Championship. After Week 2, they may have been bounced from the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten, but they certainly didn’t lose any respect in the NCAA.

Moving forward, it’s going to be a battle for the top four spots in the Big Ten. Right now, Ohio State has the upper hand on two teams. But that can change at any moment.

1. Michigan

Week 2 result: 51-14 win over UCF

Michigan moved into the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten because for the second straight week, they proved that they are the second best team in college football.

The Wolverines looks like men amongst boys. The way they are picking apart opponents is embarrassing. Simply, they are unstoppable right now.

If you aren’t a Michigan fan, then it’s bad news. This team may easy win the 2016 FBS National Championship. After two weeks, Michigan has taken all the criticism they received this offseason for being “attention hungry” and shoved it right in everyone’s faces.

Right now, there’s no stopping this team. When Big Ten play begins, they’ll need to prove this all isn’t show. But that shouldn’t be a problem considering how incredible they look this season.