2011 College Football: Big Ten Conference Power Rankings After Week 5

Ranking (Last Week)

No. 1 (1) Wisconsin Badgers (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten Conference)

Week 5 Result: Win, 48-17 over No. 8 Nebraska 

The Badgers faced their first ranked opponent of the season and answered any questions about whether or not they are actually for real with a dominant victory over Nebraska. 

Russell Wilson continues to push his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation and Monte Ball ran all over the over-hyped Cornhusker defense. 

Wisconsin's defense also had an answer for the dangerous quarterback Taylor Martinez as they held him to 61 rushing yards on 20 carries and picked him off three times.

No. 2 (3) Michigan Wolverines (5-0, 1-0)

Week 5 Result: Win, 58-0 over Minnesota 

If nothing else, Michigan being ranked this high right now is a clear statement of just how weak the Big Ten Conference is as a whole and how much separation there is between Wisconsin and the next best team in the league. 

The Wolverines continued to improve defensively and forced two turnovers in addition to holding the Golden Gophers to a mere 177 total yards of offense. 

Denard Robinson sported a large bandage wrap, which was covering an abscess he had drained earlier in the week and may explain some of his accuracy issues over the past couple of weeks. Robinson had by far his best game throwing the football and went 15-of-19 for 169 yards along with three total touchdowns.

No. 3 (4) Illinois Fighting Illini (5-0, 1-0)

Week 5 Result: Win, 38-35 over Northwestern 

The Fighting Illini trailed 28-10 at one point in this game, but closed the game on a 28-7 run to secure their third consecutive three-point victory. 

Nathan Scheelhaase turned in his best performance of the season with 426 total yards and four total touchdowns against Northwestern last Saturday. 

Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins also showed why he is the team's top receiver and a potential All-Big Ten candidate after hauling in 12 receptions for 268 yards and three touchdowns.

No. 4 (5) Michigan State Spartans (4-1, 1-0)

Week 5 Result: Win, 10-7 over Ohio State

The Michigan State defense is once again the strength of their squad, but their offense needs to pick up its production if the Spartans hope to make it to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship Game. 

The Spartans held Ohio State to 35 yards rushing and sacked both Braxton Miller and Joe Bauserman a combined nine times in the defensive minded victory. 

Michigan State's offense struggled to produce points though against a defense which has been vulnerable against mediocre opponents such as Miami (FL) and Toledo, which is not a good sign as the Spartans head deeper into Big Ten play.

No. 5 (2) Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-1, 1-0)

Week 5 Result: Loss, 17-48 to No. 7 Wisconsin

The Cornhuskers got a rude awakening last Saturday as to where they stand in not only the Big Ten, but in the national rankings as well. 

Nebraska was clearly overrated and were no match for Wisconsin's offensive firepower even with the return of defensive tackle Jared Crick. The Cornhuskers surrendered close to 500 yards of total offense and Taylor Martinez struggled to do anything productive with the football in his hands. 

The good news for Nebraska is their next game is against Ohio State, which has struggled to move the ball on offense and has been susceptible to sub-par teams on the defensive side of the ball as well.

No. 6 (6) Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1, 0-0)

Week 5 Result: Idle 

The Hawkeyes may have been one of the bigger winners of the weekend and they did not even play a game. Iowa did not move up or down in this week's rankings largely because their performances so far this season have been more impressive than the teams behind them. 

Next up for Iowa is a tough road test against the Penn State Nittany Lions, who have had some quarterback problems this season and have not fared well against the Hawkeyes during Kirk Ferentz's tenure.

No. 7 (7) Ohio State Buckeyes (3-2, 0-1)

Week 5 Result: Loss, 7-10 to Michigan State 

Things went from bad to worse for Ohio State on Monday afternoon when they found out running back Dan Herron and wide receiver Devier Posey will both have their suspensions extended for taking extra money at a summer job.  

The two were expected to return this weekend against Nebraska and provide a spark for the Buckeyes' struggling offense, but now Braxton Miller and Joe Bauserman will have to find a new way to move the football. 

The Buckeyes' were once again hurt by the lack of a legitimate passing attack and a failing to convert on scoring opportunities in their most recent loss to Michigan State.

No. 8 (8) Penn State Nittany Lions (4-1, 1-0)

Week 5 Result: Win, 16-10 over Indiana 

When you allow the Indiana Hoosiers to hang around until the fourth quarter it is never a good sign for a football team like Penn State. The Nittany Lions are now 4-1, but looked abysmal against their only ranked opponent and have struggled against Temple and Indiana. 

Matt McGloin once again topped Robert Bolden on the stat sheet with 204 passing yards and a touchdown, but McGloin only managed to complete 10-of-22 passes.  

Meanwhile, Bolden was pulled after a 6-for-14 outing which also featured an interception.

If Penn State does not find a solution to their quarterback problem in a hurry they are going to struggle mightily in Big Ten play.

No. 9 (9) Northwestern Wildcats (2-2, 0-1)

Week 5 Result: Loss, 35-38 to No. 24 Illinois 

The return of Dan Persa brought new life to the Northwestern Wildcats and had them looking like a potential sleeper pick to win the Big Ten Legends Division, until he aggravated his previously injured achilles and was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter. 

Persa tossed four touchdown passes and completed 10-of-14 attempts, but after he left the game the Wildcats struggled offensively and the defense gave up a game winning drive in the final minute. 

The good news for Northwestern is that Persa will play this weekend against Michigan.

No. 10 (10) Purdue Boilermakers (2-2, 0-0)

Week 5 Result: Loss, 10-38 to Notre Dame 

The Boilermakers were clearly over their heads last Saturday against Notre Dame and the struggles of quarterbacks Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve did not help their cause. 

Running back Ralph Bolden was also limited to 17 rushing yards and six carries, but junior wide receiver Antavian Edison turned in a fine performance hauling in seven catches for 105 yards and Purdue's lone touchdown of the game.

No. 11 (11) Indiana Hoosiers (1-4, 0-1)

Week 5 Result: Loss, 10-16 to Penn State 

The Hoosiers' defense forced three Penn State turnovers and kept Indiana in the game up until the clock hit zeros, but the offense only managed 72 yards on the ground and had two giveaways of their own. 

Potential All-Big Ten wide receiver Demarlo Belcher was also limited to six catches for 60 yards and quarterback Dusty Kiel struggled with his accuracy in his first collegiate start.

No. 12 (12) Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-4, 0-1)

Week 5 Result: Loss, 0-58 to Michigan 

About the only thing positive for Minnesota last Saturday against Michigan was the fact that quarterback Max Shortell made his first collegiate start, unfortunately it was not a very good one. 

Shortell struggled under duress all day from Michigan's front four and only managed to throw for 104 yards and no touchdowns. 

The defense also struggled mightily and surrendered 580 yards of offense along with giving up 32 first downs.

Zach Dirlam is a Big Ten Columnist for the new website Sports at Work. Check out his blog, Dirlam’s Dirty Dugout Sports Blog, which features this story along with other articles and video reports on the major sports. You can also follow his blog on Twitter, which will provide you with the latest updates about what will be posted on the blog!