9/2/2021 football Edit

Big Ten power rankings: Badgers, Gophers look to flex West muscle

Tom Dienhart • BoilerUpload

GoldandBlack.com, Associate Editor

Maybe a visit from FCS Fordham can put a smile on Scott Frost's face. Maybe. (AP)

After getting just an appetizer last weekend in Week Zero--it was a tasty upset of Nebraska by Illinois--the Big Ten goes full force this week.

Week One offers a mixed bag of games that should see the B1G power poll get shaken up. The best game: Penn State at Wisconsin. The worst? Fordham at Nebraska.

A look at the latest poll.

1. Ohio State: Breaking in a new QB with a Thursday night date in Dinkytown vs. a dangerous Minnesota team. What could possibly go wrong?

This week: at Minnesota

Up next: Oregon

2. Indiana: The last time the Hoosiers' shadow darkened Iowa City? It was 2014.

This week: at Iowa

Up next: Idaho

3. Penn State: A Labor Day gift from the football gods: Nits at Bucky. Thanks!

This week: at Wisconsin

Up next: Ball State

4. Wisconsin: Badgers have lost four in a row to PSU, which hasn't been to Madison since 2013.

This week: Penn State

Up next: Eastern Michigan

5. Iowa: Last time Herky lost to IU in Kinnick? It was 2007.

This week: Indiana

Up next: at Iowa State

6. Michigan: The backup long snapper may get to play in this game. Michigan won last meeting, 49-3, in 2018.

This week: Western Michigan

Up next: Washington

7. Minnesota: Gophers have lost 26 of last 27 vs. Buckeyes. Look it up. Brutal.

This week: Ohio State

Up next: Miami (Ohio)

8. Northwestern: Let the Hunter Johnson era begin!

This week: Michigan State

Up next: Indiana State

9. Rutgers: An old Big East matchup vs. the Owls; RU has won last four meetings.

This week: Temple

Up next: at Syracuse

10. Purdue: Boilers are 1-3 in openers in Brohm era.

This week: Oregon State

Up next: at UConn

11. Illinois: No truth to the rumor that George Gervin coaches UTSA. Too bad.

This week: Texas-San Antonio

Up next: at Virginia

12. Maryland: Underrated rivals. Morgantown is about 210 miles from College Park, Md. WVU has won nine of last 10.

This week: West Virginia

Up next: Howard

13. Nebraska: Fordham? Really? This would have been a good matchup ... in 1936 when Vince Lombardi was one of the Rams' "Seven Blocks of Granite."

This week: Fordham

Up next: Buffalo

14. Michigan State: Anthony Russo? Payton Thorne? Whoever is under center needs to provide solid QB play.

This week: at Northwestern

Up next: Youngstown State

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