B1G rankings: Maryland (No. 1?!?) messes with Texas

These are Big Ten performance rankings, not power rankings. Power corrupts people. So do corrupt people.

1.

Maryland

1-0

1-0

A three-touchdown underdog won at Texas, giving Maryland great pride and Texas heartburnt orange.

 

2.

Michigan

1-0

1-0

The Wolverines replaced 10 starters from one of America's fiercest defenses, then held Florida to three points on offense (Florida's two TDs were on interception returns) in a 33-17 win. 'They whooped us,' said Gators Coach Jim McElwain.

 

3.

Penn State

1-0

1-0

Akron's nickname is the Zips. Coincidentally, it flew home with zip after its 52-0 loss to the Nittany Lions.

 

4.

Ohio State

1-0

1-0

True freshman J.K. Dobbins rushed for 181 yards in the Buckeyes' win at Indiana. He also wrote the Harry Potter novels series.

 

5.

Wisconsin

1-0

1-0

The Badgers spotted Utah State a 10-0 lead, then hung a 59 on the Aggies. After starting the last three seasons against either LSU or Alabama, Wisconsin fans were able to jump around without flop sweat following the third quarter of this opener.

 

6.

Iowa

1-0

1-0

Defense, yeh. Offense, meh. But defense, yeh.

 

7.

Michigan State

1-0

1-0

The Spartans' 35-10 win over Bowling Green ended their 9-game losing streak against teams not named 'Rutgers.'

 

8.

Purdue

0-1

0-1

Fought Louisville fang and claw in a 35-28 loss. There's no boat to row, no 'Being Jeff Brohm' TV show. But the Boilermakers hired a good coach.

 

9.

Howard

1-0

1-0

As a 45.5-point underdog, the Bison won at UNLV, 43-40. If you'd bet $100 on Howard to win the game straight-up, your payoff would have been $55,000. But you wouldn't have, so forget I mentioned it.

 

10.

Northwestern

1-0

1-0

The Wildcats beat Nevada. They weren't 45.5-point underdogs, so it lacked the oomph of Howard's triumph.

 

11.

Indiana

0-1

0-1

The Ohio State-Indiana game was a 'Megacast' on ESPN's platforms last Thursday night. The Hoosiers' game at Virginia this week will simply be a 'Cast.'

 

12.

Nebraska

1-0

1-0

The Huskers beat Arkansas State, 43-36. They've allowed an average of 38 points in their last three games. They play at Oregon Saturday. Does the expression 'OMG!' ring a bell?

 

13.

Rutgers

0-1

0-1

New Jersey's Big Ten team was very competitive for a while against powerhouse Washington. Last in the nation in total offense a year ago, Rutgers is ahead of Alabama, Iowa and Florida in that category right now. First-week statistics are as deceptive as a politician's smile.

 

14.

Minnesota

1-0

1-0

The Gophers scored three points over the last three quarters of their 17-7 win over Buffalo. BTN won't be re-airing the game 42 times in the spring and summer of 2018.

 

15.

Illinois

1-0

1-0

The Illini scored a touchdown with 2:06 left, then blocked a last-second, 54-yard field goal for a 24-21 win over Ball State. As Charles M. Blow of the New York Times said Sunday, life on the margins is a never-ending exercise in defensiveness and coping.

 

16.

Baylor

0-1

0-1

Lost to FCS Liberty, which some said was Justice.