Sports

Big Ten football power rankings: Week 4

Tony Ding

AP Ranking: No. 4

Record: 4-0, 1-0

Result: Defeated Penn State, 49-10

Last week: No. 2

Up next: vs. No. 8 Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0)

The Wolverines quashed any hope the Nittany Lions had of an upset from the get-go, taking a 28-0 lead into halftime. Michigan had 326 yards rushing and scored six of its seven touchdowns on the ground, taking advantage of a depleted Penn State defense that had three starting linebackers out and lost Brandon Smith to a targeting penalty in the second quarter and Jan Johnson to injury. “I think there was one drive in the third or fourth quarter where we called the same play eight times in a row,” Wolverines quarterback Wilton Speight told reporters after the game. “We would just flip it back and forth. I started laughing looking at the play call because they would do the same signal and the same number every time.” Michigan faces a stiffer test this weekend, facing a Badgers defense that held then-No. 8 Michigan State to six points.

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Every Monday of the Big Ten Conference football season, The Baltimore Sun will present its weekly power rankings

C.J. Doon