Has Penn State football moved up in the Big Ten power rankings?

Week number two in the Big Ten provided a whole slate of nonconference games with all 14 teams in action. There were some interesting games and enough surprises to cause some shakeup in this week’s power rankings. The Penn State football team took care of business against Delaware. The top three teams remain the same but do they remain in the same order? Read on to find out.

14. Nebraska 0-2 (Last week 10)

The Cornhusker defense has played fairly well through two games. It is just that quarterback Jeff Sims cannot keep from turning over the ball. Perhaps a change is in the offering soon?

Matt Rhule’s previous stints at Temple and Baylor did not start well but he turned around those programs. But because his team is the only winless team in the conference, they land at the basement of this week’s power rankings. The Cornhuskers will seek their first win next week against Northern Illinois at home.

13. Northwestern 1-1 (Last week 14)

The Wildcats were tied at seven a piece at halftime Saturday against UTEP. They proceeded to score the final 31 points of the game to put an emphatic end to their 12-game losing streak. Their last victory was the first game of the 2022 season in Ireland against Nebraska. They had not won a game stateside since October 2021.

Still think wins will be hard to come by for Northwestern this season. They face ranked Duke next Saturday.

12. Indiana 1-1 (Last week 13)

The Hoosiers got great quarterback play out of Tayven Jackson making his first career start. Jackson went 18 of 21 for 236 yards and had a 10-yard touchdown run as the Hoosiers crushed an overmatched Indiana State 41-7.

Like Northwestern, wins will likely be a rare commodity this season for Indiana so they will take this one no matter the opponent. Up next is a neutral site game versus Louisville in Indianapolis.

11. Purdue 1-1 (Last week 12)

With five minutes remaining in the first quarter of the Boilermakers game at Virginia Tech, a thunderstorm and torrential downpour ensued. Nearly six hours later the game restarted and the Boilermakers topped the Hokies 24-17.

Despite the long weather delay, Purdue played well in the victory. Hudson Card threw for 248 yards and added the game-winning score. The Boilermakers held the Hokies to 11 yards rushing and forced two turnovers. The Boilermakers play host to Syracuse next Saturday.

10. Rutgers 2-0 (Last week 11)

During the early fourth quarter Saturday night against Temple, the Scarlet Knights led only 13-7. Then their offense exploded for the game’s final 23 points. Running back Kyle Monangai ran for 165 yards and scored a touchdown.

Rutgers’ defense looks to be as good as they were a year ago. The offense will have to continue to improve for the Scarlet Knights to make some noise. They play host to Virginia Tech next week.

9. Illinois 1-1 (Last week 7)

For the second week in a row, Illinois was unimpressive but unlike last week they ended with a loss against Kansas. The Jayhawks were up 28-7 at halftime and never looked back.

The Illini defense has been uncharacteristically bad so far this season. Bret Bielema’s team did lose a lot on that side of the ball and it shows so far. It does not get easier this week as this hosts the Penn State football team.

8. Wisconsin 1-1 (Last week 4)

It was a rough road trip west for the Badgers as they were upset by Washington State 31-22. They had trouble establishing the run, with Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi combining for only 69 yards. Too much of the offense fell on Tanner Mordecai’s shoulders and the offensive line could not protect well.

There were probably going to be growing pains as the Badgers adjusted to the new schemes under Luke Fickell. They return home next Saturday to face Georgia Southern.

7. Michigan State 2-0 (Last week 9)

On the field, the Spartans were pretty solid against Richmond, scoring 38 unanswered through three quarters and rolling to a 45-14 victory. Quarterback Noah Kim was accurate, completing 18 of 22 for 292 yards and three touchdowns.

However, the Spartans are not winning off the field. It was announced Sunday that head coach Mel Tucker was suspended without pay while the school completed an investigation into a harassment complaint. Assistant Harlon Barnett takes over as interim head coach while former head coach Mark Dantonio returns to a role on the Spartan staff.

Where the Spartans go from here is anyone’s guess. None of this is obviously the fault of the players but it could become a huge distraction. Michigan State’s next opponent is eighth-ranked Washington.

6. Minnesota 2-0 (Last week 8)

It took over a half of football for the Gophers offense to get going, but their defense did its job Saturday night as Minnesota stifled Eastern Michigan 25-6. The Gopher defense suffocated the Eagles, holding them to 71 yards passing and 81 yards on the ground.

The Gophers will take their first road trip of the season as they travel to Chapel Hill to take on the Tar Heels.

5. Iowa 2-0 (Last week 6)

Iowa did just enough to earn Kirk Ferentz’s 200th win as a Division I head coach as they held off a late rally from in-state rival Iowa State. Offensively the Hawkeyes were held under 300 yards for the second game and only scored 13 points but were aided by a pick-six late in the first half.

Defensively this Hawkeye team is solid and is going to give them a chance in most games. The offense may be incrementally better than in 2022 but still is an eye sore to watch. Next up is a home date with Western Michigan.

4. Maryland (Last week 5)

The Terps were down 14-0 within the first five minutes of their game against Charlotte Saturday night. But there was no quit in Maryland as they kept chipping away with field goals to end the first half. The touchdowns came in droves in the second half and Maryland won running away 38-20.

Not sure if this is really the fourth-best team in the conference, but none of the teams below the Terps are really convincing either. Next up for Maryland is a home date against former ACC rival Virginia on Friday night.

3. Ohio State 2-0 (Last week 2)

The Buckeyes defeated Youngstown State 35-7. It was just another ho-hum victory for Ohio State and a reason for the drop this week in the power rankings. At least the Buckeyes realized they should be throwing the ball to Marvin Harrison Jr. who tallied seven catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

At some point, Ohio State will likely break out. But through two games, this does not look like a typical Buckeyes offense. Western Kentucky is next up on the docket.

2. Penn State 2-0 (Last week 3)

The Nittany Lions methodically beat down Delaware on Saturday 63-7. It was nothing flashy and the Lions did not rely on explosive plays. They did not need to do so. The Lions possessed the ball for over 42 minutes and tallied 60 rush attempts, wearing down the Blue Hens to the tune of 315 yards on the ground.

Through two games now, Penn State looks like the more complete and better team compared to Ohio State. This is why they get the jump up this week in the power rankings. Conference play starts next Saturday for the Lions as they travel to face Illinois.

1. Michigan 2-0 (Last week 1)

Michigan keeps the top spot in the power rankings for another week as they routed UNLV 35-7. Nothing too fancy for the Wolverines but their defense kept the Rebels out of the end zone until there were less than three minutes in the game. J.J. McCarthy completed 88 percent of his passes and tossed two scores.

The easy nonconference schedule concludes next Saturday night as the Wolverines host Bowling Green.

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