I love the weekly power rankings that many sites put out. Duggan did one today on nj.com (I won't link it since many people don't like to click on nj.com), but here's my take:
1. OSU -- no brainer
2. MSU -- no brainer #2
3. Wisky -- it's really a tossup between NU and Wisky, but I think there are less question marks here.
4. Nebraska -- they still have a good QB, good WRs, and good defense. Their key will be replacing Abdullah and less so Gregory (a blue chip RB is probably more valuable than a blue chip DE).
5. Minnesota -- Jerry Kill has built up a surprisingly solid program. Their QB is really good. Again, key for them is replacing their RB Cobb.
6. Michigan -- yeah, I'm on the bandwagon, primarily because the issue with them is NOT talent -- they have plenty of it -- but rather coaching, and now they have a really good coach. Of course, they have potential QB issues, but I think the Iowa transfer Jake Rudock will help here.
7. PSU -- blech, I hate to put them ahead of us, but I don't think we're going to beat them in Happy Valley. Their defense is stout, and I think their OL will give Hackenburg a little more protection. That's all that is needed to give the Nits a better offense, because they already have a great WR corps and a good RB in Akeel Lynch. Of course, if the OL is swiss cheese again, they can fall as low as #10.
8. Rutgers -- we are severely underrated by the national media, but I believe Jerry DiNardo when he says that our overall talent is somewhere in the middle of the pack. If we get good QB play, we can go as high as #5. But that's a big "if."
9. Iowa -- another middle of the pack year for them.
10. Indiana -- Nate Sudfield and that offense are good. Really good. Their defense will still give up a lot of points, but so did Baylor's. This will be a tough game on the road for RU.
11. Illinois -- It's a big distraction losing your coach one week before kickoff, but they have talent on offense, and something tells me that Beckman's firing will actually bring the team closer together in an "us against the world" mentality.
12. Maryland -- they lost ALOT. Cannot understand why anyone puts them ahead of us. Or ahead of Indiana.
13. Northwestern -- big time rebuilding year.
14. Purdue -- they're last until they prove otherwise.
1. OSU -- no brainer
2. MSU -- no brainer #2
3. Wisky -- it's really a tossup between NU and Wisky, but I think there are less question marks here.
4. Nebraska -- they still have a good QB, good WRs, and good defense. Their key will be replacing Abdullah and less so Gregory (a blue chip RB is probably more valuable than a blue chip DE).
5. Minnesota -- Jerry Kill has built up a surprisingly solid program. Their QB is really good. Again, key for them is replacing their RB Cobb.
6. Michigan -- yeah, I'm on the bandwagon, primarily because the issue with them is NOT talent -- they have plenty of it -- but rather coaching, and now they have a really good coach. Of course, they have potential QB issues, but I think the Iowa transfer Jake Rudock will help here.
7. PSU -- blech, I hate to put them ahead of us, but I don't think we're going to beat them in Happy Valley. Their defense is stout, and I think their OL will give Hackenburg a little more protection. That's all that is needed to give the Nits a better offense, because they already have a great WR corps and a good RB in Akeel Lynch. Of course, if the OL is swiss cheese again, they can fall as low as #10.
8. Rutgers -- we are severely underrated by the national media, but I believe Jerry DiNardo when he says that our overall talent is somewhere in the middle of the pack. If we get good QB play, we can go as high as #5. But that's a big "if."
9. Iowa -- another middle of the pack year for them.
10. Indiana -- Nate Sudfield and that offense are good. Really good. Their defense will still give up a lot of points, but so did Baylor's. This will be a tough game on the road for RU.
11. Illinois -- It's a big distraction losing your coach one week before kickoff, but they have talent on offense, and something tells me that Beckman's firing will actually bring the team closer together in an "us against the world" mentality.
12. Maryland -- they lost ALOT. Cannot understand why anyone puts them ahead of us. Or ahead of Indiana.
13. Northwestern -- big time rebuilding year.
14. Purdue -- they're last until they prove otherwise.
