Editor’s note: Every week, The Daily Illini football staff ranks the football teams in the Big Ten 1-14 and compiles the lists into its own Big Ten power rankings.

1. Michigan State (Last week: 1)

Despite an early injury scare with quarterback Connor Cook, the Spartans made easy work of Jacksonville State and continued to show their dominance around the league.

2. Ohio State (2)

The Buckeyes’ offense was in question after starting quarterback Braxton Miller was sidelined for the season, but freshman J.T. Barrett threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns to the relief of a worried Ohio State fanbase.

3. Wisconsin (3)

Despite losing to No. 13 LSU Saturday, Wisconsin is still third in our power rankings. The Badgers took a 24-13 lead late into the game, but two fourth quarter interceptions and a 28-yard touchdown run from Tigers running back Kenny Hillard let the game slip from Wisconsin’s grasp.

4. Nebraska (5)

The Cornhuskers dominated Florida Atlantic 55-7 and let Heisman hopeful Ameer Abdullah flex his muscles on the ground, rushing for 232 yards and a touchdown on just 21 touches. Nebraska ended the day with 784 yards of total offense.

5. Michigan (6)

The Wolverines avenged one of the biggest upsets in college football history Saturday, beating Appalachian State 52-14. Michigan scored in every quarter and continued to spread its offense with Devin Gardner throwing for 173 yards and three touchdowns, while Derrick Green ran for 170 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

6. Iowa (4)

The Hawkeyes held off Northern Iowa for a 31-23 win but allowed 380 yards through the air. If it wasn’t for Northern Iowa’s 16 penalties and 128 penalty yards, the final score may have been much different.

7. Penn State (7)

The Nittany Lions’ field goal on the final play capped off a dramatic finish in Ireland after giving up the lead late to Central Florida. Penn State’s 454 passing yards and an exciting finish may see its momentum carry over with huge offensive production in Week Two.

8. Maryland (9)

Maryland dominated James Madison as expected, winning 52-7. The team’s dual rushing game with backs Brandon Ross and Wes Brown are working in full effect and could threaten plenty of Big Ten defenses as the season continues.

9. Minnesota (10)

The Golden Gophers started off strong against Eastern Illinois, taking a 21-0 lead into the fourth quarter, but let up 20 points in the final 15 minutes. Without a concrete test, it’s still difficult to see how Minnesota will stack up.

10. Northwestern (8)

A slow start hurt the Wildcats on Saturday’s 31-24 loss to Cal. Northwestern trailed 24-7 after the first half and wasn’t able to pull off the comeback after an interception on the California 15-yard line with just over four minutes to play.

11. Indiana (12)

The Hoosiers relied heavily on their running game in Saturday’s 28-10 win over Indiana State, racking up 455 yards on the ground. But Indiana’s rushing game may not be as powerful when going up against Big Ten defensive lines.

12. Illinois (11)

The Illini’s season didn’t start as planned, trailing Youngstown State 9-7 heading into the fourth quarter. But a 21-point explosion in the fourth quarter lifted Illinois over the Penguins for a 28-17 win. The Illini can’t afford the Jekyll and Hyde routine when the schedule gets tougher going forward.

13. Rutgers (13)

The Scarlet Knights squeaked by Washington State with a 17-point fourth quarter, but they couldn’t slow the Cougars’ offense — allowing 532 yards through the air. Rutgers’ secondary is a major concern for head coach Kyle Flood going forward.

14. Purdue (14)

The Boilermakers’ offense is dependent on the senior running back combination of Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert — they combined for 224 yards on 37 carries — but the defense may be the problem, allowing 456 yards of total offense and barely holding off Western Michigan for a 43-34 win.

Charlotte can be reached at [email protected] and @charlottecrrll.