Big Ten Power Rankings: Has Ohio State done enough to be No.1?
By Mark Rogers
Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Bottom Feeders
11. Illinois (3-1)
Give the Illini a passing grade for the non-conference slate. Illinois crushed two teams it should crush like Kent State 52-3 and Western Illinois 44-0 and squeaked by a tough Middle Tennessee State team on Saturday 27-25. Me, Vegas, and just about everyone else expected a loss at North Carolina. Illinois was trounced, though, 48-14. UNC is not exactly USC. Illinois should have competed better.
Wes Lunt and Josh Ferguson will make plays. Mike Dudek should be back in less than six weeks. Illinois will score points against most teams on its schedule. The defense will get shredded and the losses will mount. The Illini should hold steady around its current power ranking of #11.
Next: Penn State