Big Ten rankings: Minnesota loves (D-III) college football

These are Big Ten football performance rankings.

As always, send all of your complaints and disagreements about them to S. Holmes at 221B Baker Street in London, England.

1.

Penn State

4-0

4-0

If Trace McSorley's final pass Saturday night hadn't been perfect, Iowa is in this slot today. And if there hadn't been a fly in the soup, it would have been a perfect bowl of soup.

 

2.

Michigan

4-0

4-0

It seemed fitting that the maize-and-blue relied on a quarterback named John O'Korn in their 28-10 win at Purdue.

 

3.

Wisconsin

3-0

3-0

The Badgers don't play Penn State this season. Or Ohio State. You may be reminded of that a time or two in the next two months.

 

4.

Ohio State

3-1

3-1

Nevada-Las Vegas got $1.3 million to take a 54-21 beating in Columbus. Jackpot!

 

5.

Iowa

3-1

3-1

Ronnie Harmon. That's the last Iowa running back who could consistently do what Akrum Wadley does. In other words, Wadley's a generational player here.

 

6.

Minnesota

3-0

3-0

While the Gophers were idle Saturday, St. Thomas beat St. John's 20-17 at Minneapolis' Target Field before a crowd of 37,355. That more than doubled the NCAA Division III record. Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times noted that 20 of last year's 40 bowl games didn't draw as many fans, and that crowd would have ranked as the Minnesota Twins' second-largest of the year.

 

7.

Purdue

2-2

2-2

The start of the Michigan-Purdue game was televised by Fox Business Network because the Cubs-Brewers game on Fox went to extra innings. Which meant a lot of people learned whether or not they have Fox Business Network. Just like they discover whether they have truTV during the NCAA men's basketball tourney.

 

8.

Indiana

2-1

2-1

Hoosiers true freshman Morgan Ellison rushed for 186 yards in IU's 52-17 win over Georgia Southern. Which is nice, because the Big Ten desperately needed another good running back.

 

9.

Northwestern

2-1

2-1

No. 19 Northwestern walloped Briar Cliff Saturday, 62-26. It's the Northwestern in Orange City, Iowa. This Saturday's game against fellow-unbeaten Morningside should be a good one.

 

10.

Nebraska

2-2

2-2

The Huskers are 1-0 without an athletic director, something athletic directors nationwide don't want you to know.

 

11.

Rutgers

1-3

1-3

Ohio State is at Rutgers Saturday. Over the last three years, the Buckeyes have outscored the Scarlet Knights, 163-24. ESPN's College GameDay has no reason to return to the New York City area for a second-straight Saturday.

 

12.

Michigan State

2-1

2-1

After losing 38-18 to Notre Dame, the Spartans are 5-11 since they beat Iowa in the Big Ten title game of 2015. If you think the Hawkeyes may find it hard to emotionally pick themselves off the carpet this week, what about MSU?

 

13.

Coaches Poll

This thing is always a bit of a joke. But 3-1 LSU is ranked 22nd and 3-1 Mississippi State is 24th. They played each other 10 days ago, and Mississippi State won, 37-7. Meanwhile, No. 25 Florida State has yet to win a game.

 

14.

Illinois

2-1

2-1

The Illini host Nebraska Friday night. Which means the best game in Champaign-Urbana this week is Champaign Central at Urbana High on Saturday afternoon.

 

15.

Maryland

2-1

2-1

The Terps got plastered at home by UCF, 38-10. Three games into the season, Maryland's top two quarterbacks have been knocked out of action with serious injuries. Luckily, you aren't a Maryland fan. Or a Maryland quarterback.

 

l Comments: (319) 368-8840; mike.hlas@thegazette.com