SiriusXM Big Ten Radio’s Power Rankings – Week 8

Pete Pistone and the rest of the SiriusXM Big Ten Radio team will unveil “Power Rankings” each week of the college football season. Check out their Week 4 “Power Rankings” below, and start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SiriusXM app now.

Here’s how the SXM Big Ten Radio team voted to shape this week’s edition of the “Power Rankings” after week eight of the 2022 season.

1. OHIO STATE 

C.J. Stroud overcame a slow start to throw four second-half touchdown passes, Ohio State’s defense took advantage of six Iowa turnovers and the second-ranked Buckeyes pulled away for a 54-10 rout of the Hawkeyes on Saturday. Miyan Williams rushed for a first-half touchdown, and Stroud threw to Marvin Harrison, Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming and Mitch Rossi for second-half touchdowns.

NEXT: At Penn State on Saturday

2. MICHIGAN

The Wolverines were on a bye week.

NEXT: Home versus Michigan State Saturday night.

3. ILLINOIS 

The Fighting Illini had a bye week.

NEXT: At Nebraska on Saturday.

4. PENN STATE 

Sean Clifford threw four touchdown passes, Penn State’s defense forced seven punts and the No. 16 Nittany Lions beat Minnesota 45-17 on Saturday night. Clifford threw darts over the middle to tight ends Tyler Warren and Theo Johnson on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter to put Penn State up for good. The rout was on when he lofted a deep ball to Parker Washington for a 35-yard score on Penn State’s first possession of the second half.

NEXT: Home versus Ohio State on Saturday

5. MARYLAND 

Roman Hemby ran for 179 yards and three touchdowns, including a sensational 75-yard sprint with 3:22 remaining that gave Maryland a 31-24 victory over Northwestern on Saturday. The Terrapins overcame the absence of standout quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who aggravated a knee sprain last weekend. This is the earliest they’ve become bowl eligible since 2001, when they did it on Oct. 11.

NEXT: The Terrapins have a bye week

6. WISCONSIN

Graham Mertz threw for two touchdowns, Braelon Allen rushed for 113 yards and a score and Wisconsin defeated Purdue 35-24 on Saturday. John Torchio had two interceptions, including a 31-yard return for a touchdown for the Badgers, who rebounded from a 34-28 double overtime loss at Michigan State.

NEXT: The Badgers have a bye week

7.   PURDUE

The Boilermakers lost to Wisconsin 35-24 last Saturday.

NEXT: The Boilermakers have a bye week

8.    MINNESOTA

The Golden Gophers lost on the road to Penn State 45-17 last Saturday in Happy Valley.

NEXT: Home versus Rutgers on Saturday

9.    NEBRASKA 

The Cornhuskers had a bye week.

NEXT: Home versus Illinois on Saturday

10. MICHIGAN STATE 

The Spartans had a bye week.

NEXT: At Michigan on Saturday night

11. IOWA 

The Hawkeyes lost on the road to Ohio State 54-10.

NEXT: Home versus Northwestern on Saturday

12. RUTGERS 

Samuel Brown V had a career-high 101 yards rushing and a touchdown and Noah Vedral threw for 113 yards and a touchdown as Rutgers rallied past Indiana 24-17 on Saturday. Rutgers snapped a 21-game conference home losing streak, last winning a conference home game in 2017 against Maryland.

NEXT: At Minnesota on Saturday

13.  INDIANA 

The Hoosiers lost on the road to Rutgers by a score of 24-17.

NEXT: The Hoosiers have a bye week

14. NORTHWESTERN

The Wildcats had a bye week.

NEXT: At Iowa on Saturday