POWER RANKINGS

Breaking down the Big Ten

1. Ohio State:

Here comes one-bad-loss Wisconsin, but what felt like a finals exam for the Buckeyes now seems like an openbook quiz.

2. Penn State:

The Nittany Lions visit Michigan State with the East Division still up for grabs. Circle Nov. 23 on the calendar, when Penn State visits Columbus.

3. Minnesota:

The Golden Gophers are 7-0 for the first time since 1960, when they went on to play in the Rose Bowl. They haven’t been 8-0 since 1941.

4. Wisconsin:

What happened at Illinois? Did Badgers get caught looking ahead to Ohio State or are they just not that good? We may soon find out.

5. Michigan:

What’s left of a season that began with so much anticipation? Maybe too much, beginning with Notre Dame today.

6. Iowa:

The Hawkeyes have work to do — and need help — to get back in the race for the West. They face an uphill battle for sure.

7. Michigan State:

The Spartans are a classic example of the truthful adage “Defense wins championships … unless your offense looks like this.”

8. Illinois:

After shocking Wisconsin for their first win against a ranked opponent since 2011, the Illini crank it back up against Purdue in what will be a close one.

9. Indiana:

A win at Nebraska — and there’s a chance it will happens — and the Hoosiers become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016.

10. Nebraska:

Big Red began a strong second-half run at this time last season. Don’t expect history to repeat itself.

11. Maryland:

How to break a free fall? Upset undefeated Minnesota in Minneapolis, but we don’t see the Terps pulling an Illinois.

12. Purdue:

The Boilermakers are operating in spoiler mode. What’s surprising is that upending Illinois suddenly would qualify as an upset.

13. Northwestern:

There’s no truth to rumor that Chicago is pushing NU to change its “Chicago’s Big Ten Team” marketing slogan to “Evanston’s.”

14. Rutgers:

Unfortunately for the Scarlet Knights, they are six hours into a four-hour marathon.