Big Ten Power Rankings: Smash-mouth Michigan moves ahead of idle Ohio State into top spot

Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
·4 min read

Call it Wally Pipp week. Pipp was the New York Yankees first baseman who in 1925 sat out a game with a headache. His replacement? Lou Gehrig, who played the next 2,130 consecutive games. Michigan won’t retain the No. 1 spot for that long, but with their 41-17 drubbing of previously undefeated Penn State, the Wolverines take advantage of Ohio State “sitting out” a week to move atop the rankings. The Buckeyes can regain their lofty position, but for now they’ve been “Wally Pipped.”

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Elsewhere, Illinois has secured the No. 3 spot, making coach Bret Bielema the early favorite for Big Ten coach of the year. As for Minnesota winning the West? The Gophers’ boat just went glug, glug, glug.

1. Michigan (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)

Last week: 2

This week: idle

What to know: With their 418 yards rushing against Penn State, the Wolverines sent a tough-guy message to the rest of the conference:  “We will run it down your throat.”

Oct 8, 2022; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) gets tackled by Michigan State Spartans safety Jaden Mangham (1) after a catch in the first quarter of the NCAA Division I football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium.
Oct 8, 2022; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) gets tackled by Michigan State Spartans safety Jaden Mangham (1) after a catch in the first quarter of the NCAA Division I football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium.

2. Ohio State (6-0, 3-0)

Last week: 1

This week: Iowa

What to know: A week off should enable OSU to return to full strength on offense. In other words, a Maserati becomes an IndyCar.

Illinois coach Bret Bielema on the sidelines during the first half against Minnesota.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema on the sidelines during the first half against Minnesota.

3. Illinois (6-1, 3-1)

Last week: 4

This week: idle

What to know: Not long ago, a week off gave Illinois a chance to lick its wounds. Now it gets to lick an ice cream cone in celebration of being 6-1 for the first time since 2011.

James Franklin's Penn State team was run over Saturday by the Michigan Wolverines.
James Franklin's Penn State team was run over Saturday by the Michigan Wolverines.

4. Penn State (5-1, 2-1)

Last week: 3

This week: Minnesota

What to know: The Nittany Lions’ run defense dropped from fifth to 56th after getting exposed by Michigan. Minnesota’s run offense is ranked 16th. Batten the hatches in Beaver Stadium.

5. Purdue (5-2, 3-1)

Last week: 5

This week: at Wisconsin

What to know: As long as the Boilermakers watch where they’re walking, they will avoid the stinky mess in Madison, but we all know Purdue has a habit of stepping in it.

6. Maryland (4-2, 2-2)

Last week: 7

This week: Northwestern

What to know: Maryland owns the No. 7 red zone offense in the country. That ranking should jump into the top five after the scoring cornucopia the Terps present to the Wildcats.

7. Minnesota (4-2, 1-2)

Last week: 6

This week: at Penn State

What to know: The Golden Gophers can run, but can they hide a pass completion percentage ranked 54th nationally? Luckily for them, PSU ranks a lowly 83rd in passing yards allowed.

Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) runs down the sideline chased by Wisconsin Badgers safety John Torchio (15) on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jayden Reed (1) runs down the sideline chased by Wisconsin Badgers safety John Torchio (15) on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at Spartan Stadium.

8. Michigan State (3-4, 1-3)

Last week: 12

This week: idle

What to know: Sparty gets a week off to prepare for archrival Michigan. Word of advice: Practice defending against the run.

Oct 8, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Spencer Petras (7) scrambles during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Spencer Petras (7) scrambles during the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

9. Iowa (3-3, 1-2)

Last week: 10

This week: at Ohio State

What to know: Iowa’s scoring defense ranks No. 3 nationally (9.83 points per game), but its scoring offense ranks 127th (14.7.) Net result? The funeral begins at noon Saturday in Columbus.

Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) sprints out of the pocket and looks for a receiver against the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at Spartan Stadium.
Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) sprints out of the pocket and looks for a receiver against the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at Spartan Stadium.

10. Wisconsin (3-4, 1-3)

Last week: 8

This week: Purdue

What to know: You know it’s been a tough year when being picked to defeat Purdue is considered an upset special.

Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Casey Thompson (11) looks for an opening against the Purdue Boilermaker defense during the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermaker, at Ross-Ade Stadium, on Oct. 15, 2022, in West Lafayette, Ind
Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Casey Thompson (11) looks for an opening against the Purdue Boilermaker defense during the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermaker, at Ross-Ade Stadium, on Oct. 15, 2022, in West Lafayette, Ind

11. Nebraska (3-5, 2-2)

Last week: 9

This week: idle

What to know: The Huskers’ coaches are not the only ones using the off week to recruit. Athletic director Trev Alberts is out looking for a coach who can turn things around in Lincoln. Good luck with that.

Sep 17, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Temple Owls linebacker Layton Jordan (13) sacks Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Evan Simon (3) in the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Temple Owls linebacker Layton Jordan (13) sacks Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Evan Simon (3) in the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

12. Rutgers (3-3, 1-2)

Last week: 11

This week: Indiana

What to know: If you want to be seen as a legitimate improving program, you can’t lose to both Nebraska and Indiana at home. Pressure is on.

Oct 1, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen watches from the sideline against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen watches from the sideline against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

13. Indiana (3-4, 1-3)

Last week: 13

This week: at Rutgers

What to know: The Hoosiers have lost four in a row and 12 of their past 15. With so much money riding on a college football program, working at a “basketball school” no longer saves a football coach’s job.

Oct 1, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Ryan Hilinski (3) throws a pass against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Ryan Hilinski (3) throws a pass against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

14. Northwestern (1-5, 1-2)

Last week: 14

This week: at Maryland

What to know: Playing near the nation’s capital, the Wildcats donate to the Smithsonian with an exhibit entitled “How not to play football.”

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football ranking dips in Big Ten as Michigan goes to No.1

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