College Football Rankings: Big Ten Defensive Rankings Going Into Week 3
Offense wins games, defense wins championships...
Hopefully the Big Ten takes this saying to heart this season.
Some of the defenses in the conference were opportunistic and made plays this week, while others allowed cupcake opponents to have their way...as a matter of fact, one team allowed a tight end to score a 97 yard touchdown...a TIGHT END!
It doesn't matter how good he is, tight ends don't score touchdowns that long...especially when they have to outrun a corner-back to do it...
Anyway, let's move on to the rankings going into week three.
T-10. Indiana Hoosiers
1 of 11
Indiana did not play this week, but their single game against Towson last week saw them allowing 392 yards of offense...enough said.
T-10. Minnesota Golden Gophers
2 of 11
In this picture, Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster is clearly saying, "just get off the field before you embarrass me anymore".
No seriously, after Minnesota allowed 41 points and 444 yards of offense to FCS opponent South Dakota in a loss, they deserve not other spot in the rankings than this one.
9. Michigan Wolverines
3 of 11
Michigan escaped South Bend with a win over the Irish Saturday, but it certainly was not because of their defense. The Wolverines allowed 535 yards of offense to Notre Dame, but managed to come up with 3 interceptions in the victory.
When ND's starting quarterback, Dayne Crist was in the game, the Irish moved the ball with the ease of a hot knife moving through butter.
The injury decimated secondary of the Wolverines is a huge cause for concern, as the Wolverines are the aforementioned offenders that allowed a tight end to score a 97 yard touchdown.
If anyone ever figures out how to contain Denard Robinson, the Wolverines are going to be in trouble, because they allow a ton of yards.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
8. Purdue Boilermakers
4 of 11
Yet another Big Ten team that struggled to put away inferior competition on Saturday, Purdue managed to survive Western Illinois.
The Leathernecks managed to hang on to the ball for over thirty minutes against the Boilers, and the Purdue defensive line had trouble generating a pass rush.
And no pass rush, coupled with less than spectacular coverage by the secondary, puts Purdue firmly at # 8 in this week's power rankings.
7. Michigan State Spartans
5 of 11
The Spartans allowed less than 2 yards per carry in their contest with the FAU Owls, but the secondary looked less than effective.
Should Sparty want to play dark horse in this year's conference race, they will have to do something about the apparent Achilles' heal they have in the defensive backfield...
6. Northwestern Wildcats
6 of 11
The Wildcats have allowed only 3 touchdowns in their two games so far this season, all of them in their first game against Vanderbilt.
In week two, against Illinois State, the Wildcats managed to allow only three points and are averaging only 5.2 yards per play this season.
Without defensive end Corey Wooton, who left for the NFL, the Wildcats will have to generate a solid pass rush without him, They have been at least semi effective so far, posting four sacks and tying them for second place in the category.
5. Penn State Nittany Lions
7 of 11
After a stellar performance by the Lion's defense against Youngstown State, they looked a little shaky against Alabama.
'Bama scored 24 points in the game, so PSU's defense wasn't awful, but allowed 5.3 yards per carry and 9.5 yards per pass.
The Lions would have probably looked better if they hadn't had to go against the returning National Champs.
4. Illinois Fighting Illini
8 of 11
Illinois held Southern Illinois to 230 total yards last Saturday, and are now fourth in the conference in total yards allowed and tied for first with five sacks.
Illinois' defense is on the upswing with the return of linebacker Martez Wilson, the Illini may sneak up on a few teams this season...
3. Wisconsin Badgers
9 of 11
The Badgers are second in the conference in total defense, but could drop this week if they continue the mediocre showings.
A lackluster performance against a weak San Jose State team keeps them here.
The Badger's d-line was solid and the linebackers were effective, but the secondary left a bad taste in most people's mouths. At times, the Badger's secondary looked like Swiss cheese.
The Badgers allowed 2 touchdowns to a team they should have held scoreless...
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
10 of 11
Yes the Buckeyes were opportunistic on defense and battled a solid Miami team to a 36-24 victory, but there were some concerns.
The 'Canes moved the ball very well, and if Jacory Harris had completed as many passes to his own team as to the Buckeyes, the 'Canes would have escaped with a victory.
Shoulda, coulda, woulda, Harris was awful the Buck's defense held enough times, and the Buckeyes are at #2 in the power rankings.
1. Iowa Hawkeyes
11 of 11
Iowa made a statement against rival Iowa State last Saturday, dominating the game, 35-7.
The Hawkeyes held the Cyclones to only 275 total yards, and forced 3 interceptions by terrorizing Iowa State quarterback, Austen Arnaud all day long.
Led by stellar play along the d-line, the Hawkeyes take the top spot this week...
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
