Hoosier Huddle's 2021 Big Ten Power Rankings: Week Six
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Written by Evan McShane
The national picture was shaken to the core this week as several top 10 teams went down. In the Big Ten the races for the divisions are just heating up.
Big Ten Power Ranking – Week 6
1. Iowa (6-0, 3-0) – Defeated Penn State 23-20
Iowa looked dead in the water until Penn State QB Sean Clifford left the game with an injury. The Hawkeyes stormed back and shut down the Nittany Lions offense after that en route to a 23-20 victory. Next week Iowa will host Purdue at 3:30pm ET.
2. Michigan (6-0, 3-0) – Defeated Nebraska 32-29
Michigan escaped Nebraska with a comeback win. After dominating the first half, the Wolverines let the Cornhuskers take control in the third quarter. UM needed two field goals in the final three minutes to win the game. Michigan has a bye week before hosting Northwestern on 10/23.
3. Michigan State (6-0, 3-0) – Defeated Rutgers 31-13
Michigan State’s scorching hot start to the season continued on Saturday with a dominant win on the road against Rutgers. The Spartans have earned themselves a top-10 ranking in the country. MSU travels to Indiana to square off against a struggling Hoosier team.
4. Ohio State (5-1, 3-0) – Defeated Maryland 66-17
Ohio State is back to their winning ways. The Buckeyes outscored Rutgers and Maryland by a combined score of 118-30 over the last two weeks. OSU will have a bye week before heading to Indiana to play the Hoosiers on 10/23.
5. Penn State (5-1, 2-1) – Lost to Iowa 23-20
Penn State was dominating Iowa on the road up until QB Sean Clifford exited the game with an injury. Things unraveled from there and the Nittany Lions suffered their first loss of the year. Clifford and his teammates will have a week off before a get-right game at home against Illinois on 10/23.
6. Minnesota (3-2, 1-1) – Bye Week
The Gophers had the week off. Minnesota will host Maryland on 10/23.
7. Maryland (4-2, 1-2) – Lost to Ohio State 66-17
Maryland started the year 4-0, but that feels like a distant memory. The Terps have outscored 117-31 over the last two weeks. Maryland will travel to Minnesota on 10/23 after getting a much needed week off.
8. Rutgers (3-3, 0-3) – Lost to Michigan State 31-13
Rutgers have now dropped three straight games after starting the season 3-0. Granted, all three of those losses have been against teams ranked in the top-10 in the country. The Scarlet Knights will head to Evanston, Illinois next week to play Northwestern.
9. Wisconsin (2-3, 1-2) – Defeated Illinois 24-0
Wisconsin got back on track with a shutout road win against Illinois. The Badgers host Army next week before resuming conference play.
10. Purdue (3-2, 1-1) – Bye Week
Purdue had the week off. The Boilers play Iowa on the road next week.
11. Indiana (2-3, 0-2) – Bye Week
The Hoosiers had one week to correct their offensive woes before facing off against yet another top-10 team.
12. Nebraska (3-4, 1-3) – Lost to Michigan 32-29
Nebraska had an upset victory in their hands, but they let it slip away. The Cornhuskers made too many mistakes late in the game and surrendered two last-minute field goals to Michigan. Nebraska will play Minnesota on the road in a rivalry game next week.
13. Northwestern (2-3, 0-2) – Bye Week
Northwestern had the week off. They’ll host Rutgers next Saturday.
14. Illinois (2-5, 1-3) – Lost to Wisconsin 24-0
Illinois was shutout at home on Saturday. The Fighting Illini have a week off before playing Penn State on the road the following week.