Week 2 brought plenty of chaos to the Big Ten, featuring Power 4 clashes for some of the conference's top programs, some of which inspired more optimism than others.
The Oregon Ducks fell in historic and ugly fashion on the road, while the Ohio State Buckeyes appeared destined for a big road win in SEC territory, but blew a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Michigan Wolverines, fresh off their controversial win to begin the season, rose to the occasion to knock off the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners.
Elsewhere, the Big Ten notched solid wins against Power 4 foes, but the conference's hopes for a fourth national title in as many years did take a hit with two significant losses. There is still plenty of season left for things to change
and teams to hit their stride, but Saturday served as a major wake-up call to some.
Week 1 saw our Big Ten Power Rankings shift significantly, as we forecasted the future for each team based on their first game. Now, after the conference saw another shake-up, there are more questions than answers atop the conference, including the Ducks, who plummeted further down the rankings.
Here are our Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 2:
18 - Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Previous Ranking: 18
Week 2 Result: 28-21 loss to Boston College
Record: 0-2
Analysis: Through two weeks of the season, it appears that Rutgers has taken the crown as the worst team in the conference. Even after a QB change, they still struggled mightily, losing to an equally bad Boston College team on Friday night. It appears that a long season is ahead for the Scarlet Knights, but the biggest question right now might be how much of that season head coach Greg Schiano is able to be employed for.
17 - Purdue Boilermakers
Previous Ranking: 17
Week 2 Result: 38-36 overtime loss to Wake Forest
Record: 1-1
Analysis: Purdue nearly pulled off an impressive comeback after trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter, but the defense didn't have enough in it to make a stop in overtime. Give the Boilermakers credit: the offense looks much improved, particularly through the air, but I think they might have to win a bunch of shootouts this season because of the defense.
16 - Michigan State Spartans
Previous Ranking: 16
Week 2 Result: 35-7 win vs. Eastern Michigan
Record: 2-0
Analysis: This might be the only time Michigan State cruises to victory this season, but they did so behind a big day on the ground and an efficient outing from Alessio Milivojevic. I still don't trust this team on either side of the ball, but it was good to see them own the line of scrimmage. Celebrate, Spartans fans. It could be a long season.
15 - Northwestern Wildcats
Previous Ranking: 15
Week 2 Result: BYE
Record: 1-0
Analysis: Northestern got hit with a pretty tough schedule this year, receiving the early Week 2 bye, giving them 11-straight games from next week until the end of the season. The Wildcats looked solid in Week 1, with a nice offensvie showing under Chip Kelly with Aiden Chiles at the helm, but they remain put here for the time being.
14 - Minnesota Golden Gophers
Previous Ranking: 9
Week 2 Result: 38-13 loss to Mississippi State
Record: 1-1
Analysis: A mild surprise, Minnesota was blown off its own field by Mississippi State. The Bulldogs did anything they wanted offensively, while the Golden Gophers racked up 12 penalties. After Minnesota allowed scores on each of Mississippi State's first four drives, this game was put to bed. Really thought PJ Fleck and the Gophers would have been more competitive this week. Instead, they slip down the rankings.
13 - Wisconsin Badgers
Previous Ranking: 13
Week 2 Result: 36-9 win vs. Western Illinois
Record: 1-1
Analysis: A solid bounce back win after a rough finish to Week 1. Wisconsin once again started fast and faded down the stretch, but the offense still moved well. There isn't a ton to takeaway from this game, so the Badgers will stay put for now.
12 - Maryland Terrapins
Previous Ranking: 14
Week 2 Result: 38-14 win vs. UConn
Record: 2-0
Analysis: Malik Washington was incredible, topping 300 yards in the air and pulling away early in this one. He alone has the potential to make Maryland and its offense dangerous for teams in conference play. They warrant a small bump here, but the tough part of the schedule starts next week against Virginia Tech.
11 - Nebraska Cornhuskers
Previous Ranking: 11
Week 2 Result: 56-7 win vs. Bowling Green
Record: 2-0
Analysis: Another big day for Anthony Colandrea, as Nebraska's offense was consistently dominant throughout the game. Bowling Green doesn't offer much resistance, but the Cornhuskers are showing that they can reach their potential as an explosive passing attack this season. They are worth keeping an eye on moving forward.
10 - UCLA Bruins
Previous Ranking: 10
Week 2 Result: 28-10 win vs. San Diego State
Record: 2-0
Analysis: UCLA kept this game a lot closer than the final score might indicate. A scoreless first half was the product of an ugly start for Nico Iamaleava and the offense. I'm starting to get the feeling that UCLA might be a streaky scoring unit, where they are seemingly unstoppable when they are on and completely inept when they keep shooting themselves in the foot. Either way, the defense in both games has been great and inspires plenty of hope as conference play approaches.
9 - Illinois Fighting Illini
Previous Ranking: 7
Week 2 Result: 31-27 loss to Duke
Record: 1-1
Analysis: Katin Houser delievered some optimism with a solid day throwing the football, but Illinois couldn't find a way to stop the Duke rushing attack. Home field wasn't a big advantage and the Illini looked desperate late in the game while trying to recover. The offense looked good enough to compete with some of the Big Ten monsters on the schedule, but it's hard to see this team winning many games while coming from behind.
8 - Iowa Hawkeyes
Previous Ranking: 8
Week 2 Result: 16-13 win vs. Iowa State
Record: 2-0
Analysis: Normally, I think a rivalry win would warrant a move up a spot or two. Iowa ovecame an early 10-0 deficit and had an efficient passing game with Hank Brown leading the charge. The defense was great, as usual, and while the passing game was what kept the Hawkeyes in the game, they managed to churn clock and run the ball at the end for the winning field goal. It was an impressive win, but I still don't know if I can put them above Michigan after its big win and Oregon based on talent alone.
7 - Washington Huskies
Previous Ranking: 6
Week 2 Result: 16-14 win vs. Utah State
Record: 2-0
Analysis: Washington picked up an ugly win over Utah State, despite not being able to move the ball much all day. Outside of Demond Williams' legs, the Huskies don't have a rushing attack, and they often found themselves in long distance situations on late downs. The defense forced a couple of turnovers, including one on the final drive, so the Huskies were fortunate to escape here.
6 - Oregon Ducks
Previous Ranking: 3
Week 2 Result: 39-31 loss to Oklahoma State
Record: 1-1
Analysis: That was as inexcusable of a loss as you'll ever see from Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks. They came in as a 24-point favorite, and played as if they would have rather been doing anything else throughout the entire game. The coaching was terrible, the offense was uninspiring, and the defense couldn't stop anything thrown its way. Until further notice, the Ducks should not be considered a contender for the College Football Playoff. They have a lot of things to figure out.
5 - Michigan Wolverines
Previous Ranking: 12
Week 2 Result: 17-10 win vs. No. 11 Oklahoma
Record: 2-0
Analysis: Michigan got a huge upset win over Oklahoma, but I'm not sure how much more faith I really have in them, particularly the offense. Part of me thinks that Oklahoma just might not be that great, either. The Wolverines are 2-0, though, and should be considered contenders in the Big Ten. I just don't think they're going to have any answers against a team with a good defense and a good offense.
4 - Penn State Nittany Lions
Previous Ranking: 5
Week 2 Result: 27-9 win vs. Temple
Record: 2-0
Analysis: Penn State seemed to struggle early on in this game, and I don't think they won by quite the margin they were hoping for, but in the end, they got a good win and were able to settle in during the second half and walk away with a victory. I think they move up in the rankings, thanks to Oregon's fall.
3 - USC Trojans
Previous Ranking: 4
Week 2 Result: 49-30 win vs. Louisiana
Record: 3-0
Analysis: The Trojans cruised to another blowout win, and although they haven't faced elite competition yet, they are proving they can take the next step as a program. Jayden Maiava is doing his job as a point guard for the offense, while young weapons like Trent Mosley, Mark Bowman and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt are continuing to emerge. Gary Patterson's defense has been aggressive, and they look more well-rounded by the week. Oregon will be a true test in a couple of weeks, but as of now, USC is probably the favorite.
2 - Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous Ranking: 1
Week 2 Result: 24-23 loss to No. 4 Texas
Record: 1-1
Analysis: Such an odd game. Ohio State dominated Texas on the road for three quarters, but the defense turned to swiss cheese in the final 15 minutes. Texas led three long drives the length of the field and scored three touchdowns to win. The Buckeyes' offense was shut down for the second half and Julian Sayin wasn't his usual, efficient self. Not the worst loss in the world for Ohio State, but definitely one that will sting as it slipped through their grasp.
1 - Indiana Hoosiers
Previous Ranking: 2
Week 2 Result: 55-0 win vs. Howard
Record: 1-0
Analysis: Indiana looked every bit like the defending champion on Saturday. Of course, they were playing Howard, so take that for what it's worth. Another week of CIgnetti having his team ready to play, and since the Buckeyes fell, they benefit with a bump to the top spot.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Big Ten power rankings after Week 2: Oregon, Ohio State drop in ranks
