By Pete Pistone
- OHIO STATE (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Western Michigan 56-0
-Next: Marshall (9/21)
Will Howard behind center running the potent offense of Chip Kelly was way too much for Western Michigan.
2. USC (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Utah State 48-0
-Next: At Michigan (9/21)
It’s been 13 years since the last USC shutout but the Trojans defense did the job against lowly Utah State.
3. PENN STATE (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Bowling Green 34-27
-Next: Kent State (9/21)
Bowling Green had its eyes on an upset before Penn State turned up the defense in the second half and rode quarterback Drew Allar to victory.
4. OREGON (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Boise State 37-34
-Next: At Oregon State (9/14)
It’s only been by a combined 13 points but the Ducks are undefeated to start the season with wins over Idaho and Boise State.
5. NEBRASKA (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Colorado 28-10
-Next: UNI (9/14)
A huge home win for the Huskers against still a rival Colorado on national television Saturday night was a huge boost for the program.
6. MICHIGAN (1-1)
-Last Week: Lost to Texas 31-12
-Next: USC (9/21)
The Wolverines have a lot to fix after Texas exploited the Wolverines on both sides of the ball last Saturday.
7. LLINOIS (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Kansas 23-17
-Next: Central Michigan (9/14)
An early season statement win for the Illini against the Jayhawks in front of a sold out Memorial Stadium has Illinois off to a hot start.
8. WISCONSIN (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat South Dakota 27-13
-Next: Alabama (9/14)
The Badgers haven’t looked particularly strong against two early season opponents but now gets ready for a huge test Saturday with the Crimson Tide coming to Madison.
9. IOWA (1-1)
-Last Week: Lost to Iowa State 20-19.
-Next: Troy (9/14)
A bitter day in Iowa City as the Hawkeyes squandered an early lead and loss to in-state rival Iowa State.
10. RUTGERS (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Akron 49-17
-Next: Virginia Tech (9/21)
Lots of offense for the Scarlet Knights in the early going, who now get a week off to prepare for an interesting stretch in the schedule.
11. MICHIGAN STATE (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Maryland 27-24
-Next: Prairie View A&M (9/14)
Maybe the biggest surprise of the early season belongs to the Spartans with the Maryland upset win on the road.
12. WASHINGTON (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Eastern Michigan 30-9
-Next: Washington State (9/14)
The Huskies outgained Eastern Michigan 501 to 204 in total yards. That was the ballgame in a nutshell.
13. INDIANA (2-0)
-Last Week: Beat Western Illinois 77-3
-Next: At UCLA (9/14)
A school record for points in a game behind 703 yards of total offense ran the Leathernecks off the field.
14. PURDUE (1-0)
-Last Week: Idle
-Next: Notre Dame (9/14)
Purdue had a week to prepare for the Fighting Irish coming into Saturday’s tilt after their upset loss to Northern Illinois.
15. MARYLAND (1-1)
-Last Week: Lost to Michigan State 27-24
-Next: At Virginia
Maryland can’t afford to lose another game like it did to underdog Michigan State last week.
16. NORTHWESTERN (1-1)
-Last Week: Lost to Duke 26-20 (2 OT)
-Next: Eastern Illinois (9/14)
The Wildcats changed quarterbacks after last week’s loss to Duke with Jack Lausch starting against Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
17. MINNESOTA (1-1)
-Last Week: Beat Rhode Island 48-0
-Next: Nevada (9/14)
Quarterback Max Brosmer, a New Hampshire transfer, has been a good addition to the Gophers going 24-30 last week in the win over Rhode Island.
18. UCLA (1-0)
-Last Week: Idle
-Next: Indiana (9/14)
A win over Hawaii and a bye week leads into the Bruins hosting their first Big Ten opponent Saturday when Indiana visits.