College Football Power Rankings 2011: Big Ten Conference After Week 2

Ranking (Last Week) 

No. 1 (1) Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) 

Week 2 Result: Win over Oregon State, 35-0 

The Badgers were not as impressive early in their Week 2 game against Oregon State, but put together a great game and earned a shutout. Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson had yet another efficient game and completed 17-of-21 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns.

No. 2 (3) Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0) 

Week 2 Result: Win, 42-29 over Fresno State 

Nebraska needed a 21-point fourth quarter to put away Fresno State at home, but move up in the rankings due to some of the struggles the other Big Ten teams faced against lesser opponents. Taylor Martinez once again put on a show with 385 total yards and three touchdowns. 

Two scary things happened to the Cornhuskers this weekend though: (1) They were out-gained 444 to 438 offensively by Fresno State and (2) Martinez once again did not complete 50 percent of his passes. 

No. 3 (4) Michigan State Spartans (2-0) 

Week 2 Result: Win, 44-0 over Florida Atlantic 

The Spartans had the most impressive Week 2 performance after struggling against Youngstown State in their season opener the week before. Michigan State's defense held Florida Atlantic to a lowly 48 yards of total offense and one first down. 

The impressive performance has moved them up in the rankings, but do not put too much stock into anything that happens against a Sun Belt Conference team. 

No. 4 (2) Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) 

Week 2 Result: Win, 27-22 over Toledo 

Ohio State made the Toledo Rockets look like a top 20 team last Saturday, which has caused the Buckeyes to fall two spots in this week's power rankings. 

The Buckeyes were trailing Toledo for much of the game and senior quarterback Joe Bauserman was erratic and inefficient. Running back Carlos Hyde never got it going on the ground and ran for just 76 yards on 20 carries. 

No. 5 (6) Michigan Wolverines (2-0)

Week 2 Result: Win, 35-31 over Notre Dame

Michigan won a thriller over the weekend and earned a one-spot bump in the rankings. Some Michigan fans probably think the Wolverines should be higher after beating Notre Dame, who were ranked in the preseason polls, but Michigan's performance was not overly impressive. 

The Wolverines needed 21 points in the fourth quarter and five Notre Dame turnovers to win the first night game in school history. Denard Robinson completed only 11-of-24 passes and constantly overthrew receivers and chucked the ball up for grabs. 

Michigan won a big game, but they are not one of the top teams in the Big Ten at this point in the season. 

No. 6 (5) Northwestern Wildcats (2-0)

Week 2 Result: Win, 42-21 over Eastern Illinois 

Northwestern won its second game of the season without star quarterback Dan Persa, but once again he is listed as questionable and may miss the Wildcats' upcoming game against Army. Sophomore quarterback Kain Colter had another solid performance in Persa's absence, but the Wildcats are not a top-tier Big Ten team without Persa under center. 

No. 7 (9) Illinois Fighting Illini (2-0)

Week 2 Result: Win, 56-3 over South Dakota State

The Fighting Illini had the second-best defensive performance in the Big Ten this weekend and held South Dakota State to under 100 yards of total offense and only gave up six first downs. 

Senior running back Drew Pollard led the Fighting Illini in rushing with 101 yards on only eight carries and freshman Donovonn Young found the end zone twice in Illinois' impressive blowout victory last Saturday. 

No. 8 (7) Penn State Nittany Lions (1-1)

Week 2 Result: Loss, 27-11 to No. 3 Alabama 

Quarterback play in Happy Valley is once again holding Penn State back and looks like it will be a major problem for the Nittany Lions going forward. 

Sophomore Rob Bolden completed just 11 of his 29 pass attempts for 144 yards and former walk-on Matt McGloin went 1-for-10. After an impressive opening game, running back Silas Redd recorded a mere 65 rushing yards on 22 carries and Penn State never had much of a chance against Alabama last weekend. 

No. 9 (8) Iowa Hawkeyes (1-1)

Week 2 Result: Loss, 44-41 to Iowa State in three overtimes

The Hawkeyes' inexperienced defense shined in Week 1, but the unit was gashed for 473 yards and caused Iowa's downfall in Week 2 against arch rival Iowa State. Quarterback James Vandenberg did not play poorly, but he did not play well enough for Iowa to win and running back Marcus Coker led the team with 140 yards on the ground. 

Iowa's defense will need to step up this weekend or Pittsburgh will run all over the field and deal the Hawkeyes their second loss of the season.

No. 10 (10) Purdue Boilermakers (1-1)

Week 2 Result: Loss, 24-22 to Rice 

Purdue had their game-winning field-goal attempt blocked and came up short against the Rice Owls in Week 2. 

The Boilermakers played a fairly clean game offensively and did not turn the ball over, but never established a consistent running game. Although Caleb TerBush completed over 50 percent of his passes, Purdue only gained 183 yards through the air.

No. 11 (11) Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-2)

Week 2 Result: Loss, 28-21 to New Mexico State 

Minnesota quarterback Marquise Gray racked up 321 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, but his two interceptions and lack of another offensive standout cost the Golden Gophers last weekend. Wide receiver Da'Jon McKnight had a breakout game with nine catches and 146 receiving yards.

The Golden Gophers regressed a bit in Week 2 and will need to return to the form they had against Southern California if they hope to pick up their first victory of the season against Miami (OH) on Saturday. 

No. 12 (12) Indiana Hoosiers (0-2)

Week 2 Result: Loss, 34-31 to Virginia 

The Indiana Hoosiers trailed Virginia, 23-3, in the third quarter, but stormed back and seized a 31-23 lead before they surrendered 10 points in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. Hoosiers quarterback Edwin Wright-Baker struggled and no one emerged out of the backfield as the top running back. 

Indiana has a long way to go before they will be able to win more than a few games per year.