Big Ten football power rankings

1. Ohio State (3-0): Offensive struggles. QB uncertainty. Almost lost to MAC team. Sound familiar, Gophers fans?

2. Michigan State (3-0): First No. 2 AP ranking since 1966 team of Bubba Smith, Clinton Jones and Gene Washington.

3. Northwestern (3-0): Three opponents (Stanford, Eastern Illinois, Duke) are 6-for-43 on third-down conversions.

4. Iowa (3-0): C.J. Beathard set up game-winning, 57-yard field goal against Pitt with three big scrambles.

5. Wisconsin (2-1): Running back depth has been a big question, and now Corey Clement is out 4-6 more weeks.

6. Gophers (2-1): Ohio will be Minnesota's first non-Big Ten homecoming opponent since Vanderbilt in 1959.

7. Michigan (2-1): Tough test Saturday at home vs. BYU, but you wonder if the Cougars are emotionally spent.

9. Nebraska (1-2): Two heartbreaking losses: BYU's Hail Mary and a comeback that went for naught at Miami.

10. Illinois (2-1): The Illini defense most people were waiting to see surrendered 48 points at North Carolina.

11. Indiana (3-0): Alabama-Birmingham transfer Jordan Howard leads the Big Ten with 507 rushing yards.

12. Maryland (2-1): New starting QB Caleb Rowe threw four touchdown passes — with three interceptions.

13. Rutgers (1-2, 0-1): Hoped to forge a rivalry after beating Penn State last year but got rolled 28-3 this time.