MSU and Wisconsin trending down

Week 5 gave little reason to move any of the teams in these weekly Big Ten power rankings out of their respective spots, but there was a good amount of reorganization just about everywhere else you look.

The first Saturday in October offered an opportunity to take a hard look at everything that has happened this season and start to identify what is real and what was misguided.

Expecting Wisconsin and Michigan State to still be good was, as it turns out, not the wisest decision. The two programs have combined for six losses and are trending in the wrong direction.

But the thought of Illinois and Maryland playing a key role in how the division races shape up is becoming more a reality. And Minnesota taking its first loss of the season was another cause for some reworking in this week’s power rankings.

Here is a look at this week’s Big Ten power rankings following Week 5.

14
Nebraska (2-3)

Oct. 1, 2022; Lincoln; Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Oliver Martin (89) and offensive lineman Broc Bando (73) celebrate after a touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Last game: Beat Indiana, 35-21

Last week: 14

Nebraska needed a win in a bad way, and found it against Indiana. The week off certainly may have helped, but let’s see what Nebraska does next week. It will be a short week with a Friday night game on the longest road trip possible in the Big Ten.

The only reason Nebraska remains down here is because of a head-to-head loss to Northwestern, but that may not be the case for too much longer.

Next game: at Rutgers

13
Northwestern (1-4)

Oct. 1, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania; Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Xander Mueller (34) recovers the fumble during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Last game: Lost…