SiriusXM Big Ten Radio’s Football Power Rankings – Week 8

Pete Pistone and the rest of the SiriusXM Big Ten Radio team will unveil Power Rankings each week of the college football season. Check out their 2021 Power Rankings below, and start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SXM App now

Ohio State flexed its muscle, Illinois pulled off a nine overtime upset, and Michigan stayed undefeated. It was another memorable week in Big Ten Football. Here’s how the Big Ten Radio team voted for this week’s edition of the Power Rankings:

1. OHIO STATE

Ohio State won its fifth game in a row and in a similar fashion to the previous four: with an explosive and relentless offense and a stout defense. After the Buckeyes and Hoosiers traded touchdowns on their opening drives, Ohio State reeled off 47 unanswered points (including a 30-point second quarter) en route to its 26th straight win over Indiana. Buckeye QB C.J. Stroud turned in another standout performance, connecting on 21-28 pass attempts for 266 yards and four touchdowns. Fellow freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson recorded his second career three-touchdown game, scoring two on the ground and one on a screen pass.

NEXT: Penn State (October 30)

2. MICHIGAN

Michigan returned to Michigan Stadium and used a decisive third quarter to record a convincing 33-7 victory over Northwestern on Saturday (Oct . 23). Michigan held NU off the scoreboard in the second half, turning a three-point halftime lead into a 26-point victory. With the win, Michigan secured the George Jewett Trophy in its inaugural contest. The game marked a new trophy game between the two institutions, as Jewett was each program’s first African American football player. It is the first and currently the only FBS trophy game named for an African American.

NEXT: @Michigan State (October 30)

3. MICHIGAN STATE

The Spartans were idle as coach Mel Tucker prepares his team for this weekend’s in-state battle with Michigan on Saturday.

NEXT: Michigan (October 30)

4. IOWA

The Hawkeyes had the week off looking to pick up the pieces after Iowa’s upset loss at the hands of Pursue two weeks ago.

NEXT: @Wisconsin (October 30)

5. MINNESOTA

Freshmen Ky Thomas and Mar’Keise Irving became the fourth and fifth different 100-yard rushers for Minnesota this season, as the Gophers gained 326 yards on the ground in a 34-16 trampling of Maryland on Saturday for their third straight victory. Thomas (21 carries, 139 yards) and Irving (15 carries, 105 yards) each had one of four rushing touchdowns for Minnesota (5-2, 3-1), which moved into a first-place tie with Iowa in the Big Ten West Division.

NEXT: @Northwestern (October 30)

6. PENN STATE

It was a historic nine overtime game against Illinois, but Penn State came up on the short end of the battle to drop in the national polls.

NEXT: @Ohio State (October 30)

7. WISCONSIN

Chez Mellusi ran for 149 yards and a touchdown and Braelon Allen had 140 yards and two scores to help Wisconsin beat No. 25 Purdue 30-13 on Saturday. Mellusi and Allen both had career highs for yards, with Mellusi carrying 27 carries and Allen 12 for the Badgers.

NEXT: Iowa (October 30)

8. PURDUE

The Boilermakers could not carry their momentum from upsetting Iowa into last week’s home tilt against Wisconsin and lost to the Badgers.

NEXT: @Nebraska (October 30)

9. ILLINOIS

The Fighting Illini football team made history on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. After nine overtime periods — the longest game in college football history — Brandon Peters connected with Casey Washington in the end zone to lift the Fighting Illini to an upset win at No. 7 Penn State, 20-18, on the Nittany Lions’ Homecoming weekend. The historic win also marks the 100th of head coach Bret Bielema’s career. Illinois’ run game fueled the offense through regulation as Chase Brown and Josh McCray rushed for 223 and 142 yards, respectively.

NEXT: Rutgers (October 30)

10. NEBRASKA

The Cornhuskers were idle last weekend.

NEXT: Purdue (October 30)

11. NORTHWESTERN

The Wildcats played hard against Michigan but ultimately were not able to keep pace with the Wolverines.

NEXT: Minnesota (October 30)

12. RUTGERS

The Scarlet Knights were idle last weekend.

NEXT: @Illinois (October 30)

13. MARYLAND

Things have not gone well of late for Mike Locksley’s team with another loss coming at the hands of Minnesota.

NEXT: Indiana (October 30)

14. INDIANA

Last season seems like a million years ago for the scuffling Hoosiers who were pulverized by Ohio State.

NEXT: @Maryland (October 30)