POWER RANKINGS

Breaking down the Big Ten

1. Ohio State:

And in the seventh week the Buckeyes rested.

2. Wisconsin:

The Best of the West recorded its third shutout of the season against Kent State. Next up: Sparty. Could it be goose egg quad?

3. Penn State:

If the Nittany Lions keep turning heads, eventually they’ll get everyone to notice that they’re a mighty dangerous team.

4. Michigan:

Jim Harbaugh assures everyone all that his offense has found its groove. Uh-huh. Looks more like a deep fissure from this angle.

5. Iowa:

The Hawkeyes departed Ann Arbor bruised and no longer undefeated. A second loss looks possible as No. 10 Penn State comes to town.

6. Minnesota:

Don’t look now, but the Golden Gophers are undefeated. Or look now, before it changes.

7. Michigan State:

The good news? The Spartans are the best team Ohio

State has played. The bad? MSU still lost by 24. Offense still an issue.

8. Indiana:

A splendid situation coming off an off week is that Rutgers is next on the docket. The Hoosiers are licking their chops.

9. Maryland:

What are the Terrapins made of? A trip to Purdue this week will prove whether it’s solid stuff or fluff.

10. Nebraska:

The Huskers’ record masks the devil in the details. Two wins — against Illinois and Northwestern — by a total of seven points.

11. Northwestern:

The Wildcats come ohso-close to winning before always suffering another oh-no ending. There will be no “L” in this off week, however.

12. Illinois:

The Illini have a chance to shock the world when Michigan comes a-calling, which says more about the Wolverines than anything.

13. Purdue:

The beat goes on. Umm, make that the beating goes on. Up-anddown Maryland is next for the banged-up Boilermakers.

14. Rutgers:

We’re running out of ways to describe where the Scarlet Knights stand these days. Or where they sit? Recline? You get the picture.