Big Ten Football Power Rankings: Shaky start at the top in Week 1
The Illinois Illini’s first game of the season was a tale of two halves. Trailing 17-3 at halftime, the Illini’s 20-game home-opener win streak was at stake. Luckily, the Illinois run game came alive in the second half, rushing for four touchdowns, three of which took place in the third quarter. Overall, the Illinois offense played well accounting for 469 yards of total offense. But despite forcing two turnovers, the Illini defense allowed 453 yards of total offense and saw Kent State convert on four of their six fourth down attempts.
The Illini take on Western Illinois in Week 2, in a game that should see the same offensive production as they had against the Golden Flashes. A win won’t move them in the rankings without help, but winning the easy games puts them in good position for bowl eligibility.
The Indiana Hoosiers came away with a win in Week 1, defeating FIU 38-28. After a slow start, the Hoosiers scored three touchdowns in less than seven minutes, giving them a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter. Indiana’s eventual three-score lead was too much for FIU to overcome, as the Hoosiers finish strong in their season opener.
The Hoosier offense was clicking in both the pass and run game, and while the defense gave up over 320 yards of total offense, they still forced three first half turnovers. Indiana takes on the Virginia Cavaliers in their first home game of the season. The Cavaliers should be a tougher opponent for the Hoosiers, but Indiana should be the team that comes out on top.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights started off their season 1-0, with a 35-7 win over the Bobcats of Texas State. Even with quarterback Artur Sitkowski throwing three interceptions, the offense still found success, totaling 423 yards of offense. But for Rutgers, their defense was the most impressive part of their win.
Yes, they were playing a team from the Sun Belt, but they held the Bobcats to 176 total yards, forced two turnovers and only allowed one third down conversion on 13 attempts. They’ll need their defense to step up in Week 2 as they take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. But don’t hold your breath, the game should be over by halftime.