Updated BTN Power Rankings thru week 3.
1. Ohio State (3-0). The Buckeyes enjoyed a “coming of age” win at Oklahoma. How good is this team? The answer: Scary good. Last week: 1 Up next: Idle
2. Michigan State (2-0). The Spartans looked dominating at Notre Dame before letting the Irish back in the game. No doubt, MSU answered any questions pundits had. Last week: 5 Up next: vs. Wisconsin
3. Michigan (3-0). The Wolverines enter Big Ten play perfect and on a roll. It was good to see Michigan have to fight back from some adversity this week. But how good is this team? Last week: 3 Up next: vs. Penn State
4. Nebraska (3-0). The Cornhuskers are coming off what could be a season-defining win vs. Oregon. Is this the team to beat in the West? Can Nebraska sustain the mojo? Last week: 7 Up next: at Northwestern
5. Wisconsin (3-0). Yes, the Badgers won ugly. But they are 3-0. And it looks like they may have a new QB in Alex Hornibrook. Now comes a brutal five-game stretch to open Big Ten play. Good luck, Bucky. Last week: 4 Up next: at Michigan State
6. Iowa (2-1). The Hawkeyes must regroup after suffering a tough loss to five-time defending FCS champ North Dakota State. This could be a defeat that focuses the team—at least that’s the hope. Last week: 2 Up next: at Rutgers
7. Minnesota (2-0). The Golden Gophers were off on Saturday, but don’t discount Minnesota in a West Division race that could be wide open after Iowa’s loss. Last week: 6 Up next: vs. Colorado State
8. Penn State (2-1). The Nittany Lions got a much-needed win vs. Temple. Now comes a trip to Michigan. James Franklin is still looking for a signature win. Is this it? Last week: 8 Up next: at Michigan
9. Indiana (2-0). The Hoosiers had the week off as they look to move to 3-0 next week when Wake Forest visits. Last week: 9 Up next: vs. Wake Forest
10. Maryland (3-0). The Terps needed two overtimes to beat UCF. Doesn’t matter. This program just needs wins. And Maryland is 3-0. Take a bow, DJ Durkin. Last week: 10 Up next: Idle
11. Rutgers (2-1). The Scarlet Knights had to battle back from an early double-digit deficit for a second week in a row. Why does RU make it so difficult? Last week: 11 Up next: vs. Iowa
12. Northwestern (1-2). The Wildcats got much-needed win No. 1 of 2016. Thanks, Duke! Good to see Clayton Thorson and the offense show some life. Last week: 14 Up next: vs. Nebraska
13. Illinois (1-2). That’s two losses in a row by a combined 49 points for the Fighting Illini, who have a lot of work to do under first-year coach Lovie Smith. Last week: 12 Up next: Idle
14. Purdue (1-1). The Boilermakers were off, looking to rebound from a home loss to Cincinnati. A visit from Nevada looms. Purdue MUST win. Last week: 13 Up next: vs. Nevada
1. Ohio State (3-0). The Buckeyes enjoyed a “coming of age” win at Oklahoma. How good is this team? The answer: Scary good. Last week: 1 Up next: Idle
2. Michigan State (2-0). The Spartans looked dominating at Notre Dame before letting the Irish back in the game. No doubt, MSU answered any questions pundits had. Last week: 5 Up next: vs. Wisconsin
3. Michigan (3-0). The Wolverines enter Big Ten play perfect and on a roll. It was good to see Michigan have to fight back from some adversity this week. But how good is this team? Last week: 3 Up next: vs. Penn State
4. Nebraska (3-0). The Cornhuskers are coming off what could be a season-defining win vs. Oregon. Is this the team to beat in the West? Can Nebraska sustain the mojo? Last week: 7 Up next: at Northwestern
5. Wisconsin (3-0). Yes, the Badgers won ugly. But they are 3-0. And it looks like they may have a new QB in Alex Hornibrook. Now comes a brutal five-game stretch to open Big Ten play. Good luck, Bucky. Last week: 4 Up next: at Michigan State
6. Iowa (2-1). The Hawkeyes must regroup after suffering a tough loss to five-time defending FCS champ North Dakota State. This could be a defeat that focuses the team—at least that’s the hope. Last week: 2 Up next: at Rutgers
7. Minnesota (2-0). The Golden Gophers were off on Saturday, but don’t discount Minnesota in a West Division race that could be wide open after Iowa’s loss. Last week: 6 Up next: vs. Colorado State
8. Penn State (2-1). The Nittany Lions got a much-needed win vs. Temple. Now comes a trip to Michigan. James Franklin is still looking for a signature win. Is this it? Last week: 8 Up next: at Michigan
9. Indiana (2-0). The Hoosiers had the week off as they look to move to 3-0 next week when Wake Forest visits. Last week: 9 Up next: vs. Wake Forest
10. Maryland (3-0). The Terps needed two overtimes to beat UCF. Doesn’t matter. This program just needs wins. And Maryland is 3-0. Take a bow, DJ Durkin. Last week: 10 Up next: Idle
11. Rutgers (2-1). The Scarlet Knights had to battle back from an early double-digit deficit for a second week in a row. Why does RU make it so difficult? Last week: 11 Up next: vs. Iowa
12. Northwestern (1-2). The Wildcats got much-needed win No. 1 of 2016. Thanks, Duke! Good to see Clayton Thorson and the offense show some life. Last week: 14 Up next: vs. Nebraska
13. Illinois (1-2). That’s two losses in a row by a combined 49 points for the Fighting Illini, who have a lot of work to do under first-year coach Lovie Smith. Last week: 12 Up next: Idle
14. Purdue (1-1). The Boilermakers were off, looking to rebound from a home loss to Cincinnati. A visit from Nevada looms. Purdue MUST win. Last week: 13 Up next: vs. Nevada
