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Big Ten Football Power Rankings: Ohio State and Iowa look dominant

By Dante Pryor

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes looked like the best teams in Big Ten on football’s opening weekend.

And I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn’t, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
Radio won’t even play my jam
‘Cause I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn’t, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am, huh
I don’t know; it’s just the way I am

The Way I am– Eminem

After the first week of Big Ten play, we found out most teams were exactly who they said they were. Ohio State defeated Minnesota in a more competitive game than many people thought. It took new starting quarterback C.J. Stroud a bit to calm down, but when he did, he was outstanding.

Speaking of Minnesota, the Gophers played well without the services of wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell. What’s worse is their workhorse running back; Mohammed Ibrahim, is out with a leg injury for the season.

Iowa was dominant in their win against Indiana. We’ll find out if the game said more about Iowa being good or Indiana not being as good we thought. With all due respect to rivalry trophies shaped like axes, cannons, and pigs named Floyd, here are the Big Ten Football Power Rankings.

14. Nebraska Cornhuskers, 1-1: There is a lot to be said after Nebraska’s loss to Illinois and not much after their win against FCS opponent Fordham. The Fighting Illini outplayed and out-coached the Cornhuskers, despite having a far inferior roster.

This season is year four with former Husker quarterback Scott Frost as head coach, and there are several markers of progress not evident in Lincoln. First, Frost came back to Nebraska, heralded as a quarterback guru, but Adrian Martinez has not developed.

The roster has not gotten better either. Players like J.D. Spielman, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Luke McCaffery have transferred out of the program, and others have either not panned out or have been dismissed from the program.

Few outside of Lincoln think the Cornhuskers can ever return to the glory days of Tom Osborne and Tommie Frazier, but Nebraska should not be this bad. The ‘Huskers were inefficient against Illinois and made too many mental errors.

Martinez completed just 50 percent of his passes, and most of his 111 rushing yards came on a long touchdown run.

If the season continues going in this direction, the only thing that could save Frost’s job is his $20 million buyout if terminated without cause. The Cornhuskers have Buffalo and Oklahoma before beginning conference play against Michigan State.

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