Gophers, Hoosiers climb in latest Big Ten football power rankings

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.

Last week’s Big Ten football power rankings

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.