Big Ten Power Rankings: Indiana football top 8 team and still undefeated

Last game: 49-7 win vs. Colorado
Next game: Sept. 24 @ Michigan State

Something is brewing in Minneapolis, as the Golden Gophers have started the season undefeated, 3-0, for the first time since 2019, where Minnesota went 11-2, were ranked as high as #7 in the AP polls, and beat #9 Auburn in the Outback Bowl. Minnesota is the only undefeated team in the Big Ten West and currently is averaging the most rushing touchdowns per game (5.3) and second most rushing yards per game (312.7) in all of college football.

The star of the show is Mohamed Ibrahim, who rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns in the dominant game against Colorado last weekend. Despite a slightly weak non-conference slate, the Golden Gophers have a chance to show they’re the real deal with its first conference game of the season against Michigan State in East Lansing.

Last game: 41-12 win @ Auburn
Next game: Sept. 24 vs. Central Michigan

Surprisingly enough, it wasn’t Sean Clifford who led the Nittany Lions to a dominant win over the Auburn Tigers this past weekend. It was freshman running back, Nicholas Singleton, who rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 rushing attempts. Clearly it wasn’t just the offense, as Adisa Isaac led the way for Penn State with one sack and three tackles for loss.

After this weekend’s likely win against Central Michigan, Penn State will take on Northwestern in their second conference game of the season, then go through the wringer with games against Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio State in consecutive weeks. Looks like the Nittany Lions will be ranked in the top 15 by the time they travel to Ann Arbor in Week 6.

Last game: 59-0 win vs. UConn
Next game: Sept. 24 vs. Maryland

Michigan has started the 2022 season scoring 50+ points in three straight games and has not scored 50+ points in four games in a single season since 2016. In 2016, the Wolverines finished 10-3, but lost to #3 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, and lost to #10 Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Many people believed that UConn would threaten the Wolverines, but they shut that down very quickly, with five unanswered touchdowns in the first half and shutting out the Huskies completely.

Though J.J. McCarthy looked great, Blake Corum is the driving force of this offense and Wolverines team this season. Corum ran for 71 yards and 5 touchdowns on just 12 attempts. Michigan will be challenged as they open up conference play against the high-powered Terrapins this weekend, then take on middle-of-the-pack teams Iowa and Indiana in consecutive weeks. The Wolverines should reach Week 7 still undefeated when they take on Penn State.

Last game: 77-21 win vs. Toledo
Next game: Sept. 24 vs. Wisconsin

C.J. Stroud is the real deal. Stroud finished the blowout win with 367 passing yards and five touchdowns and really spread the ball around with three different receivers who finished with 100+ receiving yards. It’s going to be hard for any team in college football to slow down this offense, so anticipate the Buckeyes to head into the Big Ten Championship game undefeated, yet again, vying for a chance to play in the College Football Playoff.

The Buckeyes open up conference play against the Wisconsin Badgers this upcoming weekend, and while they will likely blow them out of the water, it will be just the second challenge of the season for Ohio State, who beat then-ranked #5 Notre Dame to open the season. The Buckeyes face Wisconsin and Rutgers in Columbus before traveling to East Lansing to face Michigan State in Week 6.