1. Michigan State (1-0): Connor Cook, Big Ten title game and Rose Bowl MVP, picked up right where he left off.
Big Ten power rankings
September 5, 2014 at 1:06AM
2. Ohio State (1-0): Navy rushed for a surprising 370 yards but passed for only 20 against the Buckeyes defense.
3. Iowa (1-0): Jake Rudock's 250-yard, two-TD, no-INT performance highlighted victory over Northern Iowa.
4. Nebraska (1-0): Yes, it was only Florida Atlantic, but 784 yards of offense was a modern Big Ten record.
5. Wisconsin (0-1): Tanner McEvoy, dual threat QB — threat to run, threat to injure vendors with his throws.
6. Michigan (1-0): Trimmed down RB Derrick Green averaged 11.3 yards per carry against Appalachian State.
7. Gophers (1-0): Eastern Illinois outgained them 409-339, but the Gophers won 42-20.
8. Penn State (1-0): Pennlive.com ranks Christian Hackenberg as school's second-best all-time QB to Kerry Collins.
9. Rutgers (1-0): Expansion critics warmed to the idea of adding Rutgers after that win over Washington State.
10. Indiana (1-0): The passing game might not be as explosive this year, but RB Tevin Coleman certainly is.
11. Maryland (1-0): C.J. Brown's three rushing touchdowns were nice, but he completed just 11 of 24 passes.
12. Illinois (1-0): Oklahoma State transfer Wes Lunt prevented Youngstown State upset with four TD passes.
13. Northwestern (0-1): Wildcats hope for bounce-back season seems far-fetched after brutal opening loss to Cal.
14. Purdue (1-0): After beating Western Michigan, the Boilers get Central Michigan and then Notre Dame.
about the writer
Brennan Rigsby, a transfer from Oregon, has a 40-inch vertical and can shoot from long range. The Gophers are counting on him now with Mike Mitchell Jr., injured.
