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2023 Big Ten football power rankings after Week 5

By Chris Peterson

Sep 30, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh and Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule talk before the game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh and Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule talk before the game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Penn State football
Penn State head football coach James Franklin holds out his hands to greet the offensive back to the sideline after a 4-yard touchdown pass from Beau Pribula to Omari Evans against Delaware Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in State College, Pa. /

3. Penn State (5-0, 3-0)

Penn State is playing as well as any Big Ten football team right now. The Nittany Lions also have three Big Ten wins already, defeating Northwestern, Illinois, and Iowa with ease. Illinois made the game competitive for a while, but Penn State pulled away, just like it did against West Virginia. Drew Allar has nine touchdown passes and zero interceptions. He’s completing 66 percent of his passes and had two rushing touchdowns too. Strange enough, Penn State is averaging just 4.2 yards per game on the ground with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, but the Nittany Lions are one of just three teams to allow fewer than 10 points per game. Penn State is off this week. UMass is up next week, before a stretch of three games in four weeks against Ohio State, Michigan, and Maryland.

2. Ohio State (4-0, 1-0)

Ohio State had a bye week after the win over Notre Dame. The Buckeyes actually have two road wins so far this season. They rank second in scoring defense and when the chips were down Kyle McCord delivered a touchdown drive. It will be interesting to see if Maryland can challenge Ohio State inside the Horseshoe. Maryland gave Michigan a game on the road last season and we’ll see if Ohio State struggles or wins going away.

1. Michigan (5-0, 2-0)

The Wolverines dominated last week against Nebraska. Against a run defense that was allowing just 1.8 yards per game, Michigan totaled 249 yards and 4.9 rushing yards per attempt. Michigan scored three rushing touchdowns and threw three more.

Next. Ranking College Football's top 10 quarterbacks after Week 5. dark

The Wolverines have a second straight road game against Minnesota, but if Michigan plays as well as it did in Lincoln, the Gophers shouldn’t stand much chance.

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