Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Big Ten Football Power Rankings: Week 4 edition

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Donnie Corley (9) celebrates after MSU defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 36-28 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Donnie Corley (9) celebrates after MSU defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 36-28 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Sep 17, 2016; Evanston, IL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats slotback Garrett Dickerson (left) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Flynn Nagel (center) and running back Justin Jackson (21) during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Evanston, IL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats slotback Garrett Dickerson (left) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Flynn Nagel (center) and running back Justin Jackson (21) during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /

Northwestern was reeling before a Week 3 victory against Duke at home. The Wildcats were in danger of dropping to 0-3 and surely in 14th place in our weekly power rankings, but Clayton Thorson stepped up and delivered a career performance and a nice win. He passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, but his two interceptions and 18-of-39 completions raised some eyebrows. Justin Jackson added 98 yards on the ground and senior wide out Austin Carr might be a true Big Ten Receiver of the Year candidate.

This week: vs. No. 20 Nebraska

It wouldn’t be a football season if we weren’t talking about how Rutgers was near the bottom of a conference ranking. Heck, the same could be said for basketball season, but there’s a new feeling around the campus as Chris Ash is set to turn the program around. The Scarlet Knights already have half the wins they had in all of 2015 and they’re coming off a 37-28 victory against New Mexico this past week. Not the most impressive of wins, but a triumph, nonetheless.

This week: vs. Iowa

Don’t look now, Maryland is 3-0 to start the season. The program that went just 3-9 all of last year has matched its win total from a season ago but don’t get too ahead of yourself, the Terrapins and new head coach D.J. Durkin haven’t played anyone worth mentioning. Maryland has beaten Howard, Florida International and Central Florida to begin the season. Heck, it took overtime for the Terrapins to defeat the Knights who went 0-12 last season. Still, any non-conference road win deserves some praise.

This week: Bye week

Home/Spartans Football