Scroll below to find Cornhuskers Wire’s Big Ten Power Rankings for Week 6 of the college football season .
18
Purdue Boilermakers 1-4 (0-2)
Result: Loss at Wisconsin (6-52)
Next Week: at Illinois (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: Looking at the schedule for the rest of the season, it’s hard to see where any wins will come from. This team struggles in every aspect of the game, and you wonder if the Ryan Walters era will end at the conclusion of the season.
17
UCLA Bruins 1-4 (0-3)
Result: Loss vs Penn State (11-27)
Next Week: vs. Minnesota (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: DeShaun Foster is in the midst of a massive rebuild in Los Angeles, and there is clearly a long way to go. They may not win a game until Nov. 30 when they play Fresno State at the Rose Bowl.
16
Maryland Terrapins 3-2 (0-2)
Next Week: vs. Northwestern (Oct. 11)
Thoughts: The Terps have struggled early in the Big Ten season and hope to right the ship against Northwestern. After that, things get difficult with games against USC, Minnesota, and Oregon. They need to make next Friday’s game count.
15
Northwestern Wildcats 2-3 (0-2)
Result: Loss vs. Indiana (24-41)
Next Week: at Maryland (Oct. 11)
Thoughts: The David Braun era in Evanston has seen mixed results in year one. Inconsistency at the quarterback position has caused problems all season long. Going on the road this Friday will allow them to right the ship against Maryland.
14
Minnesota Golden Gophers 3-3 (1-2)
Result: Win vs. USC (24-17)
Next Week: at Maryland (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: Saturday’s win was a big victory for PJ Fleck’s program. He’ll have a chance to make it two in a row when they take on Maryland next weekend.
13
Wisconsin Badgers 3-2 (1-1)
Result: Win vs. Purdue (52-6)
Next Week: at Rutgers (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: After a turbulent week that saw running back Chez Mellusi leave the team to focus on his health, the Badgers were able to take advantage of their matchup against Purdue. Now, they prepare for a round of games featuring Rutgers, Penn State, and Oregon. It won’t be easy, and if the losses pile up, the heat will only build toward Luke Fickell.
12
Michigan State Spartans 3-3 (1-2)
Result: Loss at Oregon (10-31)
Thoughts: The Spartans have a brutal Big Ten schedule remaining, with games against Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, and Rutgers. They might not win another game until Nov. 22, when they host Purdue.
11
Iowa Hawkeyes 3-2 (1-1)
Result: Loss at Ohio State (7-35)
Next Week: vs. Washington (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: The Hawkeyes’ offensive woes continue. Until that changes, they’ll continue to be a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team led by stellar special teams and a stingy defense.
10
Washington Huskies 4-2 (2-1)
Result: Win vs Michigan (27-17)
Next Week: at Iowa (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: Washington is still finding their footing under new head coach Jedd Fisch. Four of their final six games will see the Huskies play ranked teams, and will give an indication of where this program currently stands.
9
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 4-1 (1-1)
Result: Loss at Nebraska (7-14)
Next Week: vs. Wisconsin (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: Rutgers has a great defense and an aggressive special teams unit, but without a passing game, it will be hard for the Scarlet Knights to move up in the rankings.
8
Nebraska Cornhuskers 5-1 (2-1)
Result: Win vs. Rutgers (14-7)
Next Week: Bye
Thoughts: The Huskers roll into the bye week with a 5-1 record. One more win in the second half of the season and Nebraska will be bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.
7
Michigan Wolverines 4-2 (2-1)
Result: Loss at Washington (17-27)
Next Week: at Illinois (Oct. 19)
Thoughts: Michigan struggled on the road during their loss to Washington on Saturday. A major showdown with Illinois is looming in two weeks and could determine the course of the Wolverines season.
6
Illinois Fighting Illini 4-1 (1-1)
Next Week: vs. Purdue (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: The Fighting Illini have looked impressive in their first half of the college football season. The next big test for Illinois will be in two weeks when the Illini welcome Michigan to Memorial Stadium.
5
Indiana Hoosiers 6-0 (3-0)
Result: Win at Indiana (41-24)
Next Week: Bye
Thoughts: The Hoosiers are 6-0 for the second time in program history (1967). They haven’t trailed for a single second this season, but the second half of the schedule is significantly tougher than the first, and Nebraska will start that second half on Oct. 19.
4
USC Trojans
Result: Loss at Minnesota (17-24)
Next Week: vs. Penn State (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: Things will not get any easier for the Trojans next week as they host the Penn State Nittany Lions in a game that will have significant implications for the Big Ten Title and the College Football Playoff.
3
Oregon Ducks 5-0 (2-0)
Result: Win vs. Michigan State (31-10)
Next Week: vs. Ohio State (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: One of the biggest games of the regular season is looming next Saturday when the Ducks host the Buckeyes in Eugene. While Oregon hasn’t looked as impressive as many had hoped in the preseason, a win on Saturday would change that tune.
2
Penn State Nittany Lions 5-0 (2-0)
Result: Win vs. UCLA (27-11)
Next Week: at USC (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: Penn State is taking a trip through the old Pac 12 with a win over UCLA and a game against USC on the horizon; the Nittany Lions have a chance to make a major statement to the committee for the College Football Playoff.
1
Ohio State Buckeyes 5-0 (2-0)
Result: Win vs. Iowa (7-35)
Next Week: at Oregon (Oct. 12)
Thoughts: The biggest game of the Big Ten regular season will take place next Saturday against the Oregon Ducks and give the Buckeyes a chance to place themselves in the driver’s seat for the College Football Playoff.