Big Ten Power Rankings, Week 2: Oregon Ducks looked unimpressive (again)

Big Ten Power Rankings: Good Tier

3. Illinois (Last Week Rank: 12)

Illinois was the highest riser this week as they were the only Big Ten team to beat a ranked foe. The Illini found a way to take down #19 Ranked Kansas in a 23-17 win. It was an impressive win and they deserve to move not only up in the power standings but to the top of the "Good Tier", we will see if they can break into the "Top Tier".

4. Nebraska (Last Week Rank: 8)

The Big Ten is a fun conference when Nebraska is good at football and so far this looks like the year they may be able to be a good team again. They handled Colorado pretty easily in a 28-10 win and showed why they deserve to be in the "Good Tier".

5. Washington (Last Week Rank: 5)

UW didn't move much in the Big Ten Power Rankings, mainly because everyone moved around them and they did what they should have done in a lesser opponent in Eastern Michigan. There's no reason yet to move the up or down, this week against the Washington State Cougars will tell us if they deserve to move up.

6. Penn State (Last Week Rank:2)

The Nittany Lions are the most dramatic fall in the Power Rankings as they went from the second in the Big Ten and in the "Top Tier" to the "Good Tier" and 6th in the rankings. Even though they won 34-27, it was an absolutely gutless performance. They looked like trash against Bowling Green of the MAC conference. If we are going to slam Oregon for their crappy wins, the same should hold true for others in this conference. The difference for Penn State thus far, is in Week 1 they looked good against a tougher opponent in West Virginia.

7. Indiana (Last Week Rank: 11)

The Hoosiers broke a school record in their route of Western Illinois 77-3, it was the most points they have ever scored in a game. While Western Illinois isn't a team that should compete with Indiana, 77 points is 77 points and it's impressive. In our opinion, they deserve to move up in the power standings.

8. Michigan (Last Week Rank: 4)

It was hard to decide how far to let the Wolverines slide in these power rankings and the good news is, the other scores mostly decided it for us. Michigan clearly took on one of the best teams in the country on Saturday and lost to Texas 31-12. The hard part is, as the defending National Champions, and a team claiming to be one of the best in the nation, they did not look the part at all. They were beat in almost every facet of the game.

9. Rutgers (Last Week Rank: 9)

Similar to the Huskies, Rutgers did what they were supposed to do and with all the movement around them, they got stuck in the same place. They won decisively against Akron 49-17 and continue to show that they are a "Good Tier" team in the Big Ten.

10. Purdue (Last Week Rank:10)

The Boilermakers didn't play in Week 2, which is weird to have a week 2 bye, but because of that, they remain at 10.