Harty: My Big Ten power rankings for football
IOWA CITY, Iowa – My Big Ten football power rankings as of Monday.
You’ll have to scroll down a ways to find Iowa.
1. Ohio State (3-0) – The star-studded Buckeyes still have a slight edge over Wisconsin and over several teams in the NFL.
2. Wisconsin (4-0) – Barry Alvarez is so impressed with Wisconsin’s 30-6 victory at Michigan State on Saturday that he gives head coach Paul Chryst permission to make some minor game-related decisions on his own.
3. Michigan (4-0) – The Wolverines treated Penn State much more harshly this past Saturday than the NCAA did in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child rape scandal.
4. Nebraska (4-0) – Nebraska fans already are wondering what other three teams will join the Cornhuskers in the college playoff.
5. Minnesota (3-0) – It doesn’t always look pretty, but Peter Griffin has the Gophers on the rise.
6. Iowa (3-1) – The Hawkeyes can take solace in knowing that they’re currently ranked second in the Missouri Valley Conference power rankings behind North Dakota State.
7. Michigan State (2-1) – The Wisconsin debacle has convinced Mark Dantonio to strengthen Michigan State’s nonconference schedule by replacing Notre Dame with any of the directional schools in Michigan.
8. Maryland (3-0) – Maryland fans still are counting the days until basketball season starts. They just won’t count out loud until the football team finally loses a game.
9. Rutgers (2-2) – Rutgers athletic director Patrick Hobbs celebrates the near-upset against Iowa by chugging a beer while standing on his head in the privacy of his own home.
10. Penn State (2-2) – The NCAA apologizes to Penn State for having to play Michigan on the road this past Saturday.
11. Purdue (2-1) – With Saturday’s victory over Nevada, the Boilermakers improved to 8-31 under head coach Darrell Hazell, if you call that improving.
12. Indiana (2-1) – The Hoosiers proved on Saturday against Wake Forest that it is possible to gain at least 600 yards in a game and still lose.
13. Northwestern (1-3) – It’s easy for Northwestern to be Chicago’s football team when its toughest competition is the Bears.
14. Illinois (1-2) – The state of Illinois should think about doing less road construction and more to help its hapless football programs.