14. Rutgers (1-1)
Last Week: BYE
This Week: vs. Boston College (Noon, BTN)
If Rutgers can find a way to beat Boston College, they may be finally exiting the No. 14 spot on the Big Ten power rankings. The Scarlet Knights desperately need a good win over a team in a good conference and that is exactly what Boston College is. It is a very winnable game at home and if they can grab a win, expect Rutgers to move up a spot on our rankings.
13. Illinois (2-1)
Last Week: 34-31 LOSS vs. Eastern Michigan
This Week: vs. Nebraska (8 p.m., BTN)
Illinois still hasn't taken that huge step forward since hiring Lovie Smith. I don't think 2019 will be any different and a loss versus Eastern Michigan further proves that. This team struggles to compete not only in the Big Ten but also in nonconference play and that is not a recipe for success in this conference.
12. Minnesota (2-1)
Last Week: 35-32 WIN vs. Georgia Southern
This Week: BYE
Say what you will about this Minnesota team, it's sure fun to watch. Another game coming down to the wire makes Minnesota 2-1. The downside: Minnesota has looked pretty bad against some pretty bad teams. The Gophers are getting the most of their season so far but I don't expect that to continue. The rigorous Big Ten schedule is going to hit them like a rock and it will get ugly.
11. Purdue (1-2)
Last Week: 34-13 LOSS vs. TCU
This Week: BYE
Another year, another 1-2 start for the Boilers. I'm all for a tough schedule to start the year, especially when you are in the Big Ten West. However, starting a year 1-2 automatically puts Purdue in a position to wrestle Indiana for bowl game eligibility in the final game of the season. While that has worked in their favor the past few years, it isn't a long-term recipe for success. The Boilers need to continue to grow and use their weapons on offense to really fulfill their goals in 2019.
10. Indiana (2-1)
Last Week: 51-10 LOSS vs. Ohio State
This Week: vs UConn (Noon, BTN)
Indiana had a rough week. First, you lose starting sensation quarterback Mike Penix to an undisclosed injury and then you suffer a blowout loss to Ohio State at home. Indiana finds itself in a critical point in the season. Indiana can either lose all confidence from the Ohio State game and prepare for another 5-win season, or the team can rebound, recollect and try to learn from what was a terrible game against the Buckeyes. The Hoosiers stand at 10th currently but the next two weeks should be very telling in whether or not they move up or down this list.
9. Maryland (2-1)
Last Week: 20-17 LOSS vs. Temple
This Week: BYE
All good things have to come to an end, right? The firepower of the Maryland offense was just a little too good to be true and that showed in week three against Temple. With this week being a bye for the Terrapins, it may be time to reevaluate and measure the strengths and weaknesses of the team before embarking on a tough Big Ten East schedule.
8. Northwestern (1-1)
Last Week: 30-14 WIN vs. UNLV
This Week: vs. Michigan State (Noon, ABC)
Northwestern continues to be one of the biggest question marks in the Big Ten. Numerous questions surround the program and whether or not the team is capable of making a return to the championship in Indy. A big win over Michigan State may solidify the answer for the Wildcats. If the Wildcats can find a way to upset Sparty, "Chicago's Big Ten team" can get a large confidence boost before playing teams like Wisconsin who will be their main competition for a trip to Indianapolis.
7. Michigan State (2-1)
Last Week: 10-7 LOSS vs. Arizona State
This Week: at Northwestern (Noon, ABC)
Two losses to Arizona State two years in a row is not a good look for Sparty. Losing on a missed field goal just makes it sting a bit more. Michigan State is struggling to stay back in the Top 25. However, like everyone else, the Spartans are in control of their own destiny. This week contains a new challenge with Northwestern. If Michigan State can find a way to win in Evanston, they can find themselves back in the conversation of the relevancy of college football.
6. Nebraska (2-1)
Last Week: 44-8 WIN vs. Northern Illinois
This Week: at Illinois (8 p.m., BTN)
Nebraska has one of the biggest jumps of the week after dominating Northern Illinois. It isn't as much as a Nebraska thing as much as it is a Michigan State and Maryland thing, but still a good week for the Huskers. This is the exact kind of game you want before your first road game in conference play as they play Illinois this Saturday.
5. Penn State (3-0)
Last Week: 17-10 WIN vs. Pitt
This Week: BYE
Weird week for Penn State. The team played an incredibly close game against Pitt and could never really pull away. I'm not saying we should use this game as a benchmark to look at the rest of the season, but carry heavy caution. This Penn State team has been very up and down over the past two years and a downward trend may be coming.
4. Iowa (3-0)
Last Week: 18-17 Win at Iowa State
This Week: BYE
After the in-state rivalry game between the Cyclones and Hawkeyes ended later than it should following numerous rain delays, Iowa took win No. 3 in clutch fashion beating a solid Iowa State team by just one. This won't be the Hawkeyes prettiest game of the 2019 season, but a win is, in fact, a win. With Iowa having a bye week this week, expect the Hawkeyes to come out fresh for a week four game against Middle Tennessee.
3. Michigan (2-0)
Last Week: BYE
This Week: Wisconsin (Noon, FOX)
This week should be very telling for the Wolverines. Not only is this a matchup between two of the top teams in the conference but also a matchup between two of the top teams in the country. The Badgers vs. Wolverines will tell us a lot about the rest of the Big Ten season. If Wisconsin can dominate the ballgame, the Badgers basically put themselves in the Big Ten championship game. However, if Michigan comes out and beats up on the Badgers, the Wolverines find themselves in a College Football Playoff conversation. We all know that Jim Harbaugh preforms poorly against ranked teams, but maybe this is the year that curse is broken.
2. Wisconsin (2-0)
Last Week: BYE
This Week: at Michigan (Noon, FOX)
It must be nice to be a football fan in Madison right now. The Badgers are coming off a solid first two weeks of the season and a week three bye, and they will be fresh for a big test in Ann Arbor this week in what could be one of the best Big Ten games of the year. A win against Michigan might put Wisconsin over the Buckeyes.
1. Ohio State (3-0)
Last Week: 51-10 WIN vs Indiana
This Week: Miami (Ohio) (3:30 p.m., BTN)
We have seen good Ohio State teams in the past few years but this year's squad has another level of excellence to it. Ryan Day is looking like a Coach of the Year candidate and Justin Fields shows flashes of being a Heisman-level quarterback. Ohio State will remain at the one spot this week and probably many more to come.
