The second week of Big Ten action had a little bit of everything. While most of the conference’s top teams had easier matchups against FCS and Group of Five opponents, there were also some high-quality matchups.
Headlining the week that was in the Big Ten is the Wisconsin Badgers traveling to Pullman, Washington, and being upset by the Washington State Cougars for a second-straight season. On the positive side for the conference, the Iowa Hawkeyes traveled to Ames for their annual rivalry matchup against Iowa State and left Jack Trice Stadium with the Cyhawk Trophy. The Purdue Boilermakers also went on the road to face the Virginia Tech Hokies and came away with a Power Five road win.
Below, College Sports Wire looks across at some of the top performances in week two from across the Big Ten.
Our preliminary wide receiver power rankings in the Big Ten headlined by the Buckeyes trio.
In the Big Ten, the [autotag]Ohio State Buckeyes[/autotag] are the gold standard when it comes to producing NFL talent at the wide receiver position.
This year’s group is led by Marvin Harrison Jr, who showed off his athleticism with a myriad of highlight-reel catches. His presence in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia shows just how far advanced he is compared to his peers. Had it not been for an injury in the game, the Buckeyes might have pulled off an epic upset victory.
Over the years they have put Devin Smith, Michael Thomas, Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, Garrett Wilson, Christ Olave, and most recently Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the NFL. It is no secret that this year’s group of Harrison and Emeka Egbuka are likely to be added to the list. They also have a stable of young receivers ready to step up as well.
In the Big Ten, it isn’t only about the Buckeyes as the [autotag]Wisconsin Badgers[/autotag], [autotag]Maryland Terrapins[/autotag], and [autotag]Minnesota Golden Gophers[/autotag] also have some standout pass catchers of their own.
Check out our preliminary list of the best wide receivers in the Big Ten.
Which teams ranked highly in the post-spring SP+ rankings from Bill Connelly?
Determining which teams are among the best isn’t an exact science but there are key factors that go into the through process. ESPN pulls back the current a bit with their rankings. At least you get some idea as to what are the top factors.
Bill Connelly revealed his SP+ rankings on Thursday. His rankings take returning production, recent recruiting, and recent history into account for these rankings.
Teams just outside the top 10
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Oregon Ducks:
Dan Lanning and the Ducks missed out on the top 10 by 0.1 points in the SP+ rankings. They have the No. 4 offense but the No. 42 defense for the upcoming season. Bo Nix is looking for another huge year as he opted to return to college for a fifth season over going to the NFL.
Get more Oregon news, analysis, and opinions on Ducks Wire
Clemson Tigers:
Clemson is a team that has owned the ACC over the years but the rise of Florida State and North Carolina could challenge their supremacy in 2023. Clemson returns the No. 21 offense and the No. 11 defense. The defense features a linebacker duo that just might be the best in the nation.
Get more Clemson news, analysis, and opinions on Clemson Wire
Oklahoma Sooners:
The Sooners are coming off a down year after finishing 6-7 with a loss to Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl. However, they do return the No. 6 offense led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The defense ranks No. 37 in the country and they need to get that side of the ball rolling. Of the seven losses, five game by one possession. Win a couple of those games, and their season looks a lot better.
Get more Oklahoma news, analysis, and opinions on Sooners Wire
Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
The Fighting Irish had plenty of ups and downs in year one of the Marcus Freeman era. They got a big win in the offseason when Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman committed to play for the Golden Domers. Avoiding losses to teams the caliber of Stanford and Marshall are key for the Irish’s return to the CFP discussion.
The Aggies are a team that have the talent, they just need to get results on the field. According to SP+, Texas A&M has the No. 2 returning defense in the country. Second-year quarterback Conner Weigman needs to bring the offense up a bit.
Get more Texas A&M news, analysis, and opinions on Aggies Wire
Wisconsin Badgers:
A new era is set to begin in Madison with former Ohio State linebacker and head coach Luke Fickell now running the show. He brought in an “Air Raid” offense with Phil Longo and SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai. They will join forces with one of the top Big Ten running backs, Braelon Allen.
Get more Wisconsin news, analysis, and opinions on Badgers Wire
You can view the full list from ESPN (subscription required). As far as the top 10 teams, we broke each one down.
These 10 teams could be the top candidates for more expansion/realignment in college athletics.
Who doesn’t love the idea of college expansion?
In 2023 and 2024, the collegiate game will look different. After the moves of the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns to the SEC, the USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins to the Big Ten in 2024.
The Big 12 countered with the additions of the BYU Cougars, Central Florida Knights, Cincinnati Bearcats, and Houston Cougars for the 2023 season. We are still waiting to see what moves the Pac-12 will make.
The conference was raided of both Los Angeles-area schools and at one point it seemed like the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies could be next. The SEC and Big Ten will be at 16 teams each by the time 2024 kicks off with ACC at 14, Big 12 at 12, and the Pac-12 at 10.
We look at 10 schools that could be on the move next if expansion and realignment continue.
