Week 1 Big Ten Power Rankings
Isaiah Hole of Wolverines Wire has his week 1 power rankings up.
https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/lists/big-ten-power-rankings-after-week-1-a-new-team-on-top/
He has OSU, Michigan, and Wisconsin as his 1, 2, 3. I'm not sure why he has Penn State at 6 and Purdue at 11 when that game could have easily gone the other way. How would you rank the teams? Where do you think Isaiah is spot on or way off in his assessment?
September 4th, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^
Purdue as #11? They were solid last year and should be this year.
September 4th, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^
Yeah, he clearly put a lot of weight on simply whether a team got a W or L in the first week because very doubtful Northwestern or Rutgers will be better than Purdue this year, but both did look improved.
And Purdue lost at home so it's fair to have a gap between them and PSU but both seem too low. Minnesota and Maryland at 4/5 is a joke. I agree with his top three and then you probably have to put PSU 4th and then some combo of MSU/Iowa/Minn/Purdue for 5-8. I know Iowa's win was ugly but they also almost lost to CSU last year. They have a great defense and will do what Iowa does.
Maryland is 9th at best.
September 4th, 2022 at 11:53 AM ^
Purdue wins 6 conference games and wins the West on a bunch of tie-breakers with 2-3 others (MN, WI, maybe IA). He's sleeping on PSU, but they're still 4th. I have OSU, UM (only because of Columbus and their refs), MSU, PSU, PU, WI...the rest is just a muddle.
September 4th, 2022 at 1:11 PM ^
I hate the refs as much as anyone, but you can’t honestly look at OSU’s roster and rank it below Michigan. I hope Harbaugh out schemes Day and has his players ready to go that day, but for a power ranking any honest observer has OSU 1
September 4th, 2022 at 3:29 PM ^
I'm sure you would have said the same thing last year after week 1. I'm not ranking rosters. I'm ranking teams (rosters, coaches, performance). Neutral field it's a toss up to me. In Columbus, it's them.
September 4th, 2022 at 4:38 PM ^
I would have. It’s a power ranking, not who is going to win on this day.
September 4th, 2022 at 6:29 PM ^
That’s the easy answer, but OSU wasn’t that impressive yesterday. If ND’s offense wasn’t crap, then their defense wouldn’t have worn down as much and OSU might not have even scored 21. Maybe ND’s defense is really, really good, but 21 points from an “all-world” offense is pretty meh. They also lost their top receiver for an unknown length of time.
September 4th, 2022 at 11:53 AM ^
His top 7 are
1. OSU
2. UM
3. UW
4. Minnesota
5. Maryland
6. PSU
7. MSU
September 4th, 2022 at 12:02 PM ^
I think the top 3 are correct, anything after that is up in the air imo. Purdue I think should be in the top half after holding PSU 3/4 of the game.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:05 PM ^
Purdue ended up handing that game to PSU on a silver platter.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
Clock management at the end was sure suspect. I remember texting a friend saying why is Purdue continuing to throw the ball.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^
I agree. This early, put UM/tOSU at the top, Nebraska at the bottom, and shuffle the rest.
BTW, I doubt Nebraska's really the worst but listing them last feels right.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
Maryland at 5 is typical September Maryland.
They will fall apart starting in October and be scraping to make a bowl game in the final few weeks of the season.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:28 PM ^
Im just going to come out and say it. September Murrland concerns me.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:48 PM ^
Will definitely be a big test for the defense to see how much they’ve actually progressed. But by the same token, it’s hard to envision their defense being able to stop Michigan from getting what it wants.
September 4th, 2022 at 1:58 PM ^
No disagreement here. MSU looked terrible (one score game in the 4th against a depleted WMU), and PSU has a dreadful o-line for like the eighth consecutive year. Maryland actually looked solid and Minnesota looks strong.
September 4th, 2022 at 2:41 PM ^
Both PSU and MSU hit multiple over the top bombs that blitz heavy defenses are prone to allow…those are exactly the teams that one worries about given our scheme (albeit early in the season to do anything but note the risk).
September 4th, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^
Looking through the list and after watching the games this weekend - kind of reminds me of the 70's: there is the Big 2 and the Little 12.
But we have to kick Sparty's ass this year to prove it.
Also - love seeing the Frosty Cornholes at #14. Well deserved for those long-term chokers.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:00 PM ^
I don't get those vibes at all, interesting.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:20 PM ^
Overall, the conference seems weaker. The west especially looks bad when their defending champ has yet to score a touchdown.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
I would have
1. OSU
2. UM
3. MSU
4. Minnesota
5. Wisconsin
6. PSU
No idea why Maryland is in his top 5, they looked awful against Buffalo.
September 4th, 2022 at 1:42 PM ^
That’s pretty much my exact order also. Sparty is better than they are getting credit for. And wisco is way overrated. They benefit from having played a soft schedule year in and year our for the past decade. If they were in the East, they have would pick up 2-3 extra losses a year most years.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:30 PM ^
I still don’t understand why people think MSU is so bad. They are top 3 and will give M their best game.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:47 PM ^
MSU is expected to look better; that is the issue. That game was much closer than it ever should have been. Western could have easily had the lead in the fourth if they didn’t have some bad turnovers. They did not look like a top Big Ten team in that game. Thorne looked mediocre at best, and there is no Kenneth Walker to save them.
We should beat them this year; but we are their Super Bowl and weird things always happen in that game.
September 4th, 2022 at 3:28 PM ^
I looked at preseason SP+ rankings and WMU came in 97th while CSU was 96th. Again, it's a first game and all but MSU clearly lacked the explosiveness they had last year with Walker and their offensive line still looks mediocre.
September 4th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^
I have MSU as a 6-6 team this year so the struggle with Western isn't a surprise.
September 5th, 2022 at 6:19 PM ^
I am sure you had them at 10-2 last year tho.
September 5th, 2022 at 6:18 PM ^
It takes time to integrate 35 transfers a year.
September 4th, 2022 at 3:23 PM ^
MSU is decidedly not the #3 team in the conference, but I agree they're better than people give them credit (count me in that group). But it was a 1-score game heading into the 4th, they couldn't consistently run the ball against WMU (1/4 of their yards came on a 50-yard Berger run), and Thorne was 50% on his throws and a lot of his biggest throws were plays where his WR made a guy miss or came back for an underthrown ball. Their front 6/7 looked strong but their secondary still looks limited. Now, if they can go into Washington and beat the Huskies we can talk but you can tell they're missing Walker's dynamic playmaking and so it's a lot more of a slog for them offensively.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:39 PM ^
Pretty sweet that our three crossover games this year are against #14, #13 and #10.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:45 PM ^
While I didn’t get to watch all the games yet (I DVR’d as many as I could). Here is my list:
1) OSU - barely. ND is not THAT good and their O was not a juggernaut…yet
2) Michigan - going to need to settle this QB thing sooner than later
3) Wisconsin- they have a feature back again.
4) Minnesota - as with most teams (competition caveat) but they handled their business
This is where it is a jumble mixed bag but…
5) Sparty - pulled away late but sludge their way through. No Walker to save their butts this time.
6) PSU - Clifford looked bad til Purdue went into Scout D 7v7 mode for the last drive
7-13 - a jumbled mess of meh. The fact that Rutgers moved up to this list is a sign they have a pulse
14) Nebraska - lose to NW and then struggled against a FCS team. Yay your last until further notice.
September 4th, 2022 at 3:25 PM ^
This is basically my list as well. I think you could swap Sparty and PSU and nobody would notice because both seem to have issues on the offensive line. I have more faith that PSU's talent on defense will win out but it's close.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:48 PM ^
Iowa is clearly #1, I don't know what anyone is talking about.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:56 PM ^
We do have some tricky games against September Maryland and Night Kinnick Iowa. Ordinarily those teams are meh in other environs but these force multipliers make them tougher. Should still beat them but we’ll finally get a decent idea of how good our team is.
September 4th, 2022 at 2:38 PM ^
Iowa does lead the conference in game-winning safeties.
September 4th, 2022 at 6:15 PM ^
Might be the most all time big ten win ! Ugly- it wasn’t even snowing/rainy, just shit all around
September 4th, 2022 at 4:46 PM ^
Little known fact, the team that has led the conference in safeties has won the Big Ten 94 out of the last 97 years. I like Iowa’s chances.
September 4th, 2022 at 1:19 PM ^
Michigan was the best team in the big ten last year and they look like the best this year so far
ND is a 4 loss team with a media-awarded #5 ranking for a coach that’s won 0 games ever. I’m used to Osu teams who would win road games at Oklahoma by 20+, not Osu teams who don’t take the lead for good until the 4th quarter at home vs ND. The drop off from urban is evident more and more each year
September 4th, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
Way too early to assume stuff like this. Time will tell.
I could be wrong but I believe that our beating of OSU was Day's first B1G loss while Urban got blown out in back-to-back years by Iowa and Purdue. Urban lost games he shouldn't have loss plus he's a scumbag
September 4th, 2022 at 1:57 PM ^
Michigan is #1 until proven otherwise.
September 4th, 2022 at 2:45 PM ^
Either OSU or Michigan could be #1. Sure, OSU beat a much better team, but Michigan did everything a top-tier team is supposed to do.
Northwestern is too high; should not be ahead of Iowa or Purdue. Just because NW barely beat #14 does not make them #9. Likewise, Rutgers too high at #8. Was glad to see them pull it out, but they & NW should not be higher than 10 & 11.
As for #3 through #9, let's allow the next couple weeks to determine for us.
September 4th, 2022 at 2:51 PM ^
At this point rankings are OK but still a whole season in front of us. My only - and biggest concern - is our easy OOC schedule - hope it doesn't come back to bite us. It doesn't matter - I guess - as everything will be settled in November in Columbus.
September 4th, 2022 at 4:38 PM ^
1.) Ohio- Defense is still a question mark. They did well against a first time starter, at home and lost his best receiver. Still can’t run the ball efficiently.
2.) Michigan- DLine comes in waves. LBs held up and weren’t exposed. Looks like Edwards will be our short yardage back. Will be good/great with either QB.
3.) Staee- Curious to see if msu can run the ball vs B1G opps. Has one of the top WRs in the league and Thorne is decent
September 4th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
Ohio ... Still can’t run the ball efficiently.
Hmm...maybe I shouldn't take the bait? ...what the heck, I'll bite.
- TreVeyon: 15/91 6.1 -- Take out the long of 16 and still averages 5.4
- Miyan: 14/84 6.0 -- Take out the long of 15 and still averages 5.3
...against ND's solid defense.
- Corum: 13/76 5.8 -- Take out the long of 19 and the average is 4.8
- Edwards: 12/64 5.3 -- Take out the long of 12 and the average is 4.7
...against CSU's defense.
...really?!?
September 4th, 2022 at 6:41 PM ^
You forgot to add J.J. McCarthy 3 rushes for 50 yards
C.J. Stokes 6 rushes for 35 yards
See you in November and we’ll see what happens against this front.
September 5th, 2022 at 6:17 PM ^
Too soon