Big Ten Quarterback Power Rankings After Week 3
The Big Ten Conference bounced back after several embarrassing Week 2 losses, but did the quarterback manage to come back in Week 3 as well?
Click to find out where Denard Robinson, Braxton Miller, Taylor Martinez and even Reilly O'Toole stack up after impressive performances over the weekend. Additionally, fans will get to see how far Andrew Maxwell and Danny O'Brien fell after turning in some not so impressive stats in their most recent contests.
No. 12: Danny O'Brien, Wisconsin Badgers
1 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 9
Week 3 Result: Won 16-14 over Utah State
Week 3 Stats: 5-10, 63 yards and zero touchdowns.
After an efficient performance to start the season, Wisconsin Badgers' junior quarterback Danny O'Brien has failed to keep the offense moving, and his abysmal performance against the Utah State Aggies forced head coach Brett Beilema to go to freshman signal-caller Joel Stave for the second half on Saturday.
The Badgers ineffective passing game nearly wasted senior running back Montee Ball's 139-yard rushing effort, and given how bad O'Brien and Stave both looked over the weekend there may not be a Wisconsin quarterback in next week's power rankings.
No. 11: Caleb TerBush, Purdue Boilermakers
2 of 12Ranking Last Week: Not Ranked
Week 3 Result: Won 54-16 over Eastern Michigan
Week 3 Stats: 16-24, 158 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Eight carries, six yards and one touchdown.
The Purdue Boilermakers were forced to start senior quarterback Caleb TerBush in their Week 3 tune-up against the Eastern Michigan Eagles after their regular starter Robert Marve re-injured his ACL on Tuesday.
TerBush did not have to do much against the winless Eagles, who allowed the Boilermakers to rack up 576 yards of total offense.
With Marve expected to be out for "a while", according to the report released by ESPN.com last week, TerBush will have a great opportunity to move up the rankings next weekend when Purdue takes on the Marshal Thundering Herd at Ross-Ade Stadium.
No. 10: Kain Colter, Northwestern Wildcats
3 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 11
Week 3 Result: Won 22-13 over Boston College
Week 3 Stats: 16-20, 144 yards and zero touchdowns. Fifteen carries, 66 yards and zero touchdowns.
The Northwestern Wildcats have continued to phase in a two-quarterback system with dual-threat sophomore Kain Colter starting games and No. 2 signal-caller Trevor Siemian coming in as a spark plug when the offense is struggling.
Neither quarterback found the end zone in Northwestern's victory over the Boston College Eagles, but of the two Colter had the more impressive day and led the Wildcats on their only touchdown drive of the game in the fourth quarter.
Colter should once again be the Wildcats starting quarterback this weekend when Northwestern takes on the South Dakota State Coyotes.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 9: MarQueis Gray, Minnesota Golden Gophers
4 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 5
Week 3 Result: Won 28-23 over Western Michigan
Week 3 Stats: 3-6, 29 yards and one touchdown. Eleven carries, 57 yards and zero touchdowns.
Minnesota Golden Gophers senior quarterback MarQueis Gray got off to a slow start against the Western Michigan Broncos on Saturday before leaving the game with a high ankle sprain, which will sideline the Indianapolis, Ind., native for 2-4 weeks according to a report from TwinCities.com.
Future starting quarterback Max Shortell filled in for Gray and tossed three touchdown passes to lead the Golden Gophers past the Broncos and bring Minnesota's 2012 overall record to 3-0.
Gray will likely be left off of next week's rankings due to his injury, but the Golden Gophers signal-caller has done enough so far this season to remain in this edition of the power rankings.
No. 8: Cameron Coffman, Indiana Hoosiers
5 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 10
Week 3 Result: Lost 41-39 to Ball State
Week 3 Stats: 24-35, 251 yards and two touchdowns
After the Indiana Hoosiers lost starting quarterback Tre Roberson to a season-ending leg injury in their rout of the UMass Minutemen, sophomore Cameron Coffman stepped in and looked as though he would be an efficient replacement for the remainder of the 2012 campaign.
Coffman helped the Hoosiers take the Ball State Cardinals down to the wire over the weekend, but the Peculiar, Mo., product left with a minor knee injury after throwing for 251 yards and two touchdowns.
As of Sunday afternoon, Coffman is listed as questionable, according to a report from Indiana Public Media.
The Hoosiers are idle this weekend, so Coffman will get some extra time to rest his knee and more than likely be Indiana's starting quarterback in their Big Ten Conference opener in two weeks against the Northwestern Wildcats.
No. 7: Reilly O'Toole, Illinois Fighting Illini
6 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 12
Week 3 Result: Won 44-0 over Charleston Southern
Week 3 Stats: 26-31, 333 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Nine carries, 22 yards and zero touchdowns.
The Charleston Southern Buccaneers may not be the the best barometer to gauge how well a quarterback is playing, but the Illinois Fighting Illini finally got an outstanding performance from one of their signal-callers.
Reilly O'Toole started in place of Nathan Shceelhaase, who sat out with an ankle injury, and threw for 333 yards, five touchdowns and one interception in Illinois rout of Charleston Southern.
The Fighting Illini may have a quarterback controversy on their hands next week if Shceelhaase is cleared to play against Louisiana Tech in Week 4.
No. 5 (Tie): James Vandenberg, Iowa Hawkeyes
7 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 6
Week 3 Result: Won 27-16 over Northern Iowa
Week 3 Stats: 18-28, 228 yards and zero touchdowns
The Iowa Hawkeyes did not pull away from the Northern Iowa Panthers of the Football Championship Subdivision until the fourth quarter, but senior quarterback James Vandenberg and sophomore running back Damon Bullock did just enough to earn a 27-16 victory at home.
Vandenberg has yet to throw a touchdown pass this season, however the 6'3", 212-pounder once again showed Hawkeye fans there are not any natural play makers in the Iowa receiving corps.
Sophomore wideout Kevonte Martin-Manley led the inexperienced group with five receptions for 101 yards.
Vandenberg and the Hawkeyes should finally be able to toss a touchdown pass next weekend when they take on the struggling Central Michigan Chippewas at Kinnick Stadium.
No. 5 (Tie): Andrew Maxwell, Michigan State Spartans
8 of 12Ranking Last Week No. 3
Week 3 Result: Lost 20-3 to No. 20 Notre Dame
Week 3 Stats: 23-45, 187 yards, zero touchdowns
Much like James Vandenberg of the Iowa Hawkeyes, the struggles of Michigan State Spartans starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell were not completely self-induced.
Although Maxwell's stats from Michigan State's lopsided defeat at the hands of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are far from impressive, those numbers do not necessarily reflect how much fault can also be assessed to the Spartans' receiving corps and offensive line.
Maxwell was sacked five times and several receivers dropped passes that would have given Michigan State's offense key first downs at various points in the game.
The junior signal-caller could not do much with Notre Dame defenders chasing him down all night, which is why the Midland, Mich., native is not plummeting down the power rankings this week.
Maxwell and the Spartans should easily bounce back from their first loss of the season against the Eastern Michigan Eagles this coming Saturday.
No. 4: Matt McGloin, Penn State Nittany Lions
9 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 7
Week 3 Result: Won 34-7 over Navy
Week 3 Stats: 13-21, 231 yards and four touchdowns
The Penn State Nittany Lions finally found some offense in the form of quarterback Matt McGloin and sophomore wide receiver Allen Robinson in their 34-7 blowout of the Navy Midshipmen in Happy Valley on Saturday.
McGloin found Robinson five times for 136 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman tight end Jesse James also caught a two-yard touchdown pass from McGloin in the second quarter.
The senior quarterback has now thrown for eight touchdowns and just one interception through three games this season. McGloin will look to continue his early success against the Temple Owls this Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
No. 3: Taylor Martinez, Nebraska Cornhuskers
10 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 4
Week 3 Result: Won 42-13 over Arkansas State
Week 3 Stats: 13-14, 180 yards and two touchdowns. Eleven carries, 54 yards and one touchdown.
Dual-threat signal caller Taylor Martinez dropped a few spots last week after he struggled in the Nebraska Cornhuskers loss to the UCLA Bruins, but the 6'1", 200-pounder bounced back with a remarkably efficient effort in a 42-13 victory over the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Martinez finished the game with three total touchdowns and helped Nebraska's offense rack up over 500 total yards.
Look for another strong performance from Martinez next weekend when the Cornhuskers take on the Idaho State Bengals in Lincoln, Neb.
No. 2: Denard Robinson, Michigan Wolverines
11 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 2
Week 3 Result: Won 63-13 over Massachusetts
Week 3 Stats: 16-24, 291 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Ten carries, 106 yards and one touchdown.
The Michigan Wolverines beat down the UMass Minutemen at the Big House over the weekend and Denard Robinson once again managed to steal the show in Ann Arbor.
Robinson was responsible for four total touchdowns, but also struggled with his accuracy at times and threw a pick-six with 9:49 remaining in the second quarter.
Overall, Robinson dazzled college football fans again and could get himself back in contention for the Heisman Trophy if the senior dual-threat quarterback can torch the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense for the third year in a row.
No. 1: Braxton Miller, Ohio State Buckeyes
12 of 12Ranking Last Week: No. 1
Week 3 Result: Won 35-28 over California
Week 3 Stats: 16-30, 249 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Twelve carries, 75 yards and one touchdown.
The Ohio State Buckeyes escaped a scare against the California Golden Bears on Saturday, because sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller turned in highlight reel runs and stuffed the stat sheet for the third consecutive week.
Miller almost became the goat of the game after tossing a fourth quarter interception, but the Ohio State defense bailed out their young signal-caller on the ensuing possession by forcing the Golden Bears to kick a field goal, which they missed.
Miller's individual performance was enough to keep him atop this week's rankings and unless Denard Robinson turns in an outstanding game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Huber Heights, Ohio, native should hold the No. 1 spot in next week's rankings.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
