College Football Power Rankings: State of the Big Ten Teams After Week 3
There has been a whirlwind of emotions going through Big Ten Country during this third week of the college football season.
It started on Saturday with Michigan's surprisingly close game against the University of Massachusetts.
And as the clock was nearing midnight, it ended with a fake field goal in overtime that led the Michigan State Spartans over Notre Dame.
However, before all of the rankings were set and the ink was still drying on another fantastic week of college football, we are all reminded that this is just a game.
At around 12:30 last night, Michigan State's head coach Mark Dantonio suffered a heart attack and underwent a successful surgery that placed a stent in a blocked blood vessel.
This should serve as a reminder that even though most of us live and breathe our team colors, there are much bigger things in life than wins and losses.
And especially in the Big Ten, the rivalries are some of the fiercest in the nation. But no matter if we don the green and white or maize and blue, we are all keeping Coach Dantonio in our prayers.
No. 11: Minnesota Golden Gophers
1 of 11
Record: 1-2 (Win @ Middle Tennessee State, Loss vs. South Dakota, Loss vs. USC)
The Golden Gophers gave a valiant effort against the USC Trojans over the weekend, but ultimately became the Big Ten's only team with a losing record.
Quarterback Adam Weber performed well enough for a win, but the Gophers could not get their running game going to complement the passing game.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Northern Illinois
No. 10: Indiana Hoosiers
2 of 11
Record: 2-0 (Win vs. Towson, Win @ Western Kentucky)
The Hoosiers had a rare early-season bye week.
Their wins over Towson and Western Kentucky were both dominating performances, and quarterback Ben Chappell looks like a seasoned pro.
But they are going to have to beat a bowl-contending team to move up in the rankings.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Michigan
No. 9: Illinois Fighting Illini
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Record: 2-1 (Loss vs. Missouri, Win vs. Southern Illinois, Win vs. Northern Illinois)
Ron Zook's squad looked a little shaky in the first half of its victory over Northern Illinois, but the two-headed monster of quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase and running back Mikel Leshoure was too much for the Huskies.
This season is looking like Zook's make-or-break year, after a couple years of underperforming. He can clear that hurdle with a win in his next game.
Next game: Oct. 2 vs. Ohio State
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 8: Purdue Boilermakers
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Record: 2-1 (Loss @ Notre Dame, Win vs. Western Illinois, Win vs. Ball State)
Robert Marve has shown that he is worth the wait and is becoming a great game manager as the season goes on. In his opening week loss, he did not throw a touchdown and forced two interceptions.
In his two games since, he has thrown for three total touchdowns and an interception in each game.
What really hurts the Boilermakers' chances at making a bowl game is the loss of star wide receiver Keith Smith for the whole season.
Meanwhile, Cortez Smith showed he can fill in the void, by hauling in five receptions, 117 yards, and two touchdowns against Ball State.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Toledo
No. 7: Northwestern Wildcats
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Record: 3-0 (Win @ Vanderbilt, Win vs. Illinois State, Win @ Rice)
The Wildcats were picked as this year's sleeper to spoil the Big Ten conference picture, and are doing a great job so far.
With big wins at Vandy and Rice, Northwestern is just about ready to take a crack at the conference schedule.
Quarterback Dan Persa has been phenomenal so far, throwing for six touchdowns and running for two more. Even better are his zero turnovers.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Central Michigan
No. 6: Michigan State Spartans
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Record: 3-0 (Win vs. Western Michigan, Win @ Florida Atlantic at Ford Field, Win vs. Notre Dame)
It is being dubbed the "Call of the Year." Mark Dantonio, the historically conservative head coach, called the least conservative play in his playbook with the game on the line.
The fake field goal will go down as one of the best finishes in Michigan State football history.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has still not played to his potential, and that is a concern for Sparty.
Meanwhile, Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell continue to run over their opponents with ease.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Northern Colorado
No. 5: Michigan Wolverines
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Record: 3-0 (Win vs. Connecticut, Win @ Notre Dame, Win vs. Massachusetts)
UMass gave Rich Rodriguez and company quite a scare over the weekend. Through the first two weeks, many thought that the only reason Michigan's defense gave up so many yards to Notre Dame was because of the talent on the other sideline.
Well the Minutemen proved that theory wrong, raking up 439 total yards, and showed glaring holes in the Wolverine defense.
If they are going to prove critics wrong this year and make a run at the Rose Bowl, the Wolverines will need to fix those holes. And quickly.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Bowling Green
No. 4: Penn State Nittany Lions
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Record: 2-1 (Win vs. Youngstown State, Loss @ Alabama, Win vs. Kent State)
The Penn State offense was anemic last week against the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. That was expected.
But even after the Nittany Lions' shutout victory over Kent State, the biggest concern remains the future of star running back Evan Royster.
Through three games, he has only rushed for 110 yards and a single touchdown. To put things in perspective, Royster ran for 236 yards through his first three games in 2009 with four scores.
He is going to need to step up and alleviate some of the pressure off of true freshman quarterback Rob Bolden.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Temple
No. 3: Iowa Hawkeyes
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Record: 2-1 (Win vs. Eastern Illinois, Win vs. Iowa State, Loss @ Arizona)
The Hawkeye defensive line, which was supposed to be the best unit in the country, was just outperformed by the Arizona Wildcat defensive line. It was as simple as that.
In a seven-point game with four minutes left, the Hawkeyes were trying to drive to tie the game. On second, third, and fourth down, the Wildcats defense stormed quarterback Ricky Stanzi and sacked him on all three downs.
The Hawkeyes just could not run the ball against the dominating Arizona defense. Jewel Hampton and Adam Robinson combined for 35 total rushing yards.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Ball State
No. 2: Wisconsin Badgers
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Record: 3-0 (Win @ UNLV, Win vs. San Jose State, Win vs. Arizona State)
This game would have been the craziest game of the day if it weren't for Michigan State's call of the year. With four minutes to go, Arizona State scored a touchdown to pull within one point. Easy. Just kick the extra point and play for overtime.
The thing is that nobody told Jay Valai that plan. The senior defensive back came soaring off the edge and blocked what would have been the game-tying extra point.
John Clay continued his dominance, and now has over 100 yards in every game this season, totaling 383 yards and five touchdowns.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Austin Peay
No. 1: Ohio State Buckeyes
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Record: 3-0 (Win vs. Marshall, Win vs. Miami (FL), Win vs. Ohio)
Terrell Pryor is continuing to show his maturity as a quarterback and game manager, thanks to a blowout over in-state rival Ohio.
Pryor was so accurate, he set a school-record with 16 straight completions against the Bobcats. By the time the Bobcats got on the scoreboard, there were only about six minutes left in the game.
Semi-concerning are his two interceptions, though. Pryor completed 22 of his 29 attempts, but threw two interceptions to a vastly inferior defense.
He will need to cut down on those bad decisions that could lead to points for the other team, especially against the stout Big Ten defenses.
Next game: Sept. 25 vs. Eastern Michigan
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
