BIG TEN

Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings: Week of Jan. 16

Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings by Matt Charboneau for the week of Jan. 16.
Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings by Matt Charboneau for the week of Jan. 16.
Stacy Revere, Getty Images
1. Wisconsin (14-3, 3-1) – The Badgers didn’t play over the weekend and have played only four conference games, but they’ve been the most consistent. They’ll get a bit more of a test in the upcoming week with a visit from Michigan before hitting the road to face Minnesota. Last week: 2.
1. Wisconsin (14-3, 3-1) – The Badgers didn’t play over the weekend and have played only four conference games, but they’ve been the most consistent. They’ll get a bit more of a test in the upcoming week with a visit from Michigan before hitting the road to face Minnesota. Last week: 2.
Andy Manis, AP
2. Maryland (16-2, 4-1) – The Terrapins are quietly taking care of business in the Big Ten after holding off Indiana, then rallying to win at Illinois. A trip to Iowa this week could be tough but the Terps have the benefit of playing Purdue and Wisconsin just once each. Last week: 6.
2. Maryland (16-2, 4-1) – The Terrapins are quietly taking care of business in the Big Ten after holding off Indiana, then rallying to win at Illinois. A trip to Iowa this week could be tough but the Terps have the benefit of playing Purdue and Wisconsin just once each. Last week: 6.
Robin Scholz, AP
3. Purdue (14-4, 3-2) – The Boilermakers played only once and it was a road loss at Iowa. That’s nothing to feel bad about in this conference and the Boilermakers have a good shot of bouncing back with two home games this week against Illinois and Penn State. Last week: 1.
3. Purdue (14-4, 3-2) – The Boilermakers played only once and it was a road loss at Iowa. That’s nothing to feel bad about in this conference and the Boilermakers have a good shot of bouncing back with two home games this week against Illinois and Penn State. Last week: 1.
Charlie Neibergall, AP
4. Northwestern (15-4, 4-2) – The Wildcats have won three straight after a two-game skid. Northwestern rolled Iowa, 89-54, Sunday, picking up a crucial win against a dangerous team it needed to stay in the conference race. Last week: 7.
4. Northwestern (15-4, 4-2) – The Wildcats have won three straight after a two-game skid. Northwestern rolled Iowa, 89-54, Sunday, picking up a crucial win against a dangerous team it needed to stay in the conference race. Last week: 7.
Nam Y. Huh, AP
5. Michigan State (12-7, 4-2) – The Spartans continue to lack consistency, drilling a ranked Minnesota team before handing the ball away 17 times in a loss at Ohio State. The Buckeyes played their best game, but MSU needs to stop hurting itself with a trip to Indiana coming next weekend. Last week: 5.
5. Michigan State (12-7, 4-2) – The Spartans continue to lack consistency, drilling a ranked Minnesota team before handing the ball away 17 times in a loss at Ohio State. The Buckeyes played their best game, but MSU needs to stop hurting itself with a trip to Indiana coming next weekend. Last week: 5.
Paul Vernon, AP
6. Indiana (12-6, 2-3) – The Hoosiers have now lost four of six after falling short on the road early in the week at Maryland but salvaging the week with a blowout at home over Rutgers. It’s a challenging week for Indiana with a trip to Penn State and a visit from Michigan State on tap. Last week: 4.
6. Indiana (12-6, 2-3) – The Hoosiers have now lost four of six after falling short on the road early in the week at Maryland but salvaging the week with a blowout at home over Rutgers. It’s a challenging week for Indiana with a trip to Penn State and a visit from Michigan State on tap. Last week: 4.
Darron Cummings, AP
7. Penn State (11-7, 3-2) – The Nittany Lions have now won two straight after an impressive comeback against Minnesota. It was far from pretty, but the young roster is gritty and will need all of that grit this week with a home game vs. Indiana and a trip to Purdue. Last week: 8.
7. Penn State (11-7, 3-2) – The Nittany Lions have now won two straight after an impressive comeback against Minnesota. It was far from pretty, but the young roster is gritty and will need all of that grit this week with a home game vs. Indiana and a trip to Purdue. Last week: 8.
AP
8. Minnesota (15-4, 3-3) – It was a tough week for the Gophers, who entered the AP rankings for the first time since 2013 and responded with two straight losses. The young team gets most of the week off before a visit from Wisconsin on the weekend that is looking like a third straight loss. Last week: 3.
8. Minnesota (15-4, 3-3) – It was a tough week for the Gophers, who entered the AP rankings for the first time since 2013 and responded with two straight losses. The young team gets most of the week off before a visit from Wisconsin on the weekend that is looking like a third straight loss. Last week: 3.
AP
9. Iowa (11-8, 3-3) – Since getting blown out by Purdue to open conference play, the Hawkeyes have been on a roll, winning three of four. But that momentum quickly came to an end in a lopsided loss at Northwestern on Sunday. Last week: 11.
9. Iowa (11-8, 3-3) – Since getting blown out by Purdue to open conference play, the Hawkeyes have been on a roll, winning three of four. But that momentum quickly came to an end in a lopsided loss at Northwestern on Sunday. Last week: 11.
Nam Y. Huh, AP
10. Michigan (12-6, 2-3) – After an ugly loss at Illinois, the Wolverines ended a two-game skid by beating Nebraska at home. The defense continues to struggle, something that will be tested this week at Wisconsin and with a rematch at home vs. Illinois. Last week: 10.
10. Michigan (12-6, 2-3) – After an ugly loss at Illinois, the Wolverines ended a two-game skid by beating Nebraska at home. The defense continues to struggle, something that will be tested this week at Wisconsin and with a rematch at home vs. Illinois. Last week: 10.
Tony Ding, AP
11. Nebraska (9-8, 3-2) – The Cornhuskers have now lost two straight after a good start to the season that included wins at Indiana and Maryland. The Huskers hit the road again this week but must fare better at Ohio State and at Rutgers. Last week: 9.
11. Nebraska (9-8, 3-2) – The Cornhuskers have now lost two straight after a good start to the season that included wins at Indiana and Maryland. The Huskers hit the road again this week but must fare better at Ohio State and at Rutgers. Last week: 9.
Tony Ding, AP
12. Ohio State (11-7, 1-4) – The Buckeyes finally got their first conference win by shooting the lights out at home against Michigan State. The key will be building off that performance, and they’ll have a decent shot this week with a trip to Nebraska and a visit from Northwestern. Last week: 13.
12. Ohio State (11-7, 1-4) – The Buckeyes finally got their first conference win by shooting the lights out at home against Michigan State. The key will be building off that performance, and they’ll have a decent shot this week with a trip to Nebraska and a visit from Northwestern. Last week: 13.
Paul Vernon, AP
13. Illinois (12-6, 2-3) – The Fighting Illini were impressive in dispatching Michigan early in the week but the offense sputtered in home loss to Maryland. The Illini will be challenged with a trip to Purdue but will get another shot at Michigan over the weekend. Last week: 12.
13. Illinois (12-6, 2-3) – The Fighting Illini were impressive in dispatching Michigan early in the week but the offense sputtered in home loss to Maryland. The Illini will be challenged with a trip to Purdue but will get another shot at Michigan over the weekend. Last week: 12.
Robin Scholz, AP
14. Rutgers (11-8, 0-6) – If there’s one certainty in the Big Ten, it’s the fact Rutgers will spend most of the season in the basement. The Scarlet Knights have lost seven straight now and get Nebraska at home this week before heading to Maryland. Last week: 14.
14. Rutgers (11-8, 0-6) – If there’s one certainty in the Big Ten, it’s the fact Rutgers will spend most of the season in the basement. The Scarlet Knights have lost seven straight now and get Nebraska at home this week before heading to Maryland. Last week: 14.
Darron Cummings, AP