Gophers, Hoosiers climb in latest Big Ten football power rankings
USC and Michigan get ready to square off at the Big House on Saturday, while the Gophers and Hawkeyes play for Floyd of Rosedale.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
September 16, 2024 at 4:38PM
1. Ohio State (2-0): Buckeyes were idle Saturday, face Marshall before starting Big Ten play at Michigan State.
2. USC (2-0): After weekend off, Trojans open conference play at Michigan. This Trojans-Wolverines matchup will be only the third of 11 not played in the Rose Bowl.
3. Oregon (3-0): Strong second half sends Ducks past Oregon State 49-14 in Civil War rivalry. Oregon is idle this week before opening Big Ten play at UCLA.
4. Penn State (2-0): Nittany Lions finish nonconference play with game against Kent State, which just surrendered 71 points to Tennessee.
5. Nebraska (3-0): No. 22 Cornhuskers tuned up for visit from No. 24 Illinois by beating Northern Iowa 34-3.
6. Michigan (2-1): Wolverines QB Davis Warren throws three picks and is benched in favor of Alex Orji in 28-18 victory over Arkansas State. “Not great stuff to put on film,” coach Sherrone Moore said of Warren.
7. Illinois (3-0): Coach Bret Bielema wasn’t overly impressed with 30-9 victory over Central Michigan. “We made it more difficult than it needed to be,” he said.
8. Michigan State (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten): Spartans toy with Prairie View A&M in 40-0 romp. Joe Rossi’s defense allows only 17 rushing yards.
9. Rutgers (2-0): Idle last weekend, Scarlet Knights visit Virginia Tech before beginning Big Ten play.
10. Indiana (3-0, 1-0): Hoosiers hammer UCLA 42-13 in Bruins’ first Big Ten game as Kurtis Rourke passes for 307 yards and four TDs.
11. Iowa (2-1): Down 14-10 to Troy at halftime, Hawkeyes roll to 28 second-half points as Kaleb Johnson rushes for 173 yards and two TDs.
12. Wisconsin (2-1): Badgers took an early 3-0 lead against Alabama, but that didn’t last in a 42-10 Crimson Tide romp. Wisconsin QB Tyler Van Dyke injures leg, is replaced by Braedyn Locke.
13. Maryland (2-1, 0-1): Terrapins pitch second-half shutout in 27-13 victory at Virginia.
14. Gophers (2-1): Shutouts of Rhode Island, Nevada are first back-to-back blankings for Gophers since 1962. The competition level ramps up Saturday night with visit from Iowa.
15. Washington (2-1): Washington State denies Huskies with late goal-line stand to win the Apple Cup 24-19.
16. Northwestern (2-1): New starting QB Jack Lausch passes for two TDs in 31-7 win over FCS-level Eastern Illinois.
17. Purdue (1-1): Boilermakers absorb all of Notre Dame’s frustrations in 66-7 blowout loss.
18. UCLA (1-1, 1-0): Rude welcome to the Big Ten comes via a 42-13 loss to visiting Indiana.
Brad Nessler last called a Gophers game in 2015. He grew up St. Charles, Minn., and got his broadcasting start in Mankato, so this has been a chance to reacquaint with old friends.
