What a bounce-back week for the Big Ten.
After the bottom of the conference fell flat in Week 2, the elite teams from the East showed up in a big way to put the Big Ten back on top before the conference season begins.
Here's a look at this week's Big Ten power rankings:
1. Ohio State
Last week: 2 (Up 1)
Week 3 result: Ohio State 45, Oklahoma 24
It was the toughest nonconference test of the season against a desperate opponent, and Ohio State passed with flying colors. There was never a doubt that the Buckeyes were coming away with this win after a 35-point first half and a dominating performance on both sides of the ball. Now Oklahoma's season is over and Ohio State enters Big Ten play as the team to beat in the East.
2. Michigan State
Last week: 5 (Up 3)
Week 3 result: Michigan State 36, Notre Dame 28
This game wasn't nearly as close as the final score makes it seem, though the Spartans did play an awful fourth quarter and nearly blew their big lead. Michigan State took the life out of Notre Dame in the third quarter, taking a two-score lead and turning it into 36 unanswered points. Like Oklahoma, Notre Dame's chance of playing for a national championship is gone, and Michigan State is back in the top 10 and firmly in the three-team race for the East crown.
3. Michigan
Last week: 3
Week 3 result: Michigan 45, Colorado 28
Michigan was completely dominant in Week 1, fairly dominant in Week 2 and a little shaky for the first half of Week 3. Colorado jumped all over the Wolverines in the first quarter and held a shocking 21-7 lead. But the more talented team showed up for the final 45 minutes, as Michigan outscored Colorado 38-7 and completely dominated defensively. Jabrill Peppers broke out on defense and special teams, punishing Buffalo ball carriers in the backfield and returning a punt for the game-sealing touchdown. He even saw some action on offense, carrying twice for 24 yards. He'll lead the top-five Wolverines into a home matchup against Penn State to kick off Big Ten season.
4. Nebraska
Last week: 6 (Up 2)
Week 3 result: Nebraska 35, Oregon 32
Nebraska stepped up and represented the West on a day that saw some of the division's top teams falter. Mike Riley's team welcomed Oregon to Memorial Stadium and came out on top of a back-and-forth game that was every bit as entertaining as it figured to be. Tommy Armstrong Jr. was unstoppable late in the game, battling through injury to score the game-winning touchdown with 2:29 left on the clock. Armstrong finished with 295 total yards and four touchdowns en route to taking down one of the Pac-12's heavy hitters. Now, the Cornhuskers have jumped into the top 20.
5. Wisconsin
Last week: 1 (Down 4)
Week 3 result: Wisconsin 23, Georgia State 17
The Badgers fall four spots from the top spot this week despite beating Georgia State and moving to 3-0 on the season. Wisconsin trailed the winless Panthers by four points in the fourth quarter and finished with just a six-point margin of victory. It's hard to blame the Badgers for looking ahead to a borderline unfair stretch of games to kick off the conference slate, but it's still a bad look to play a one-possession game against Georgia State. The poll voters noticed, as Wisconsin fell just outside the top 10.
6. Maryland
Last week: 8 (Up 2)
Week 3 result: Maryland 30, UCF 24 (OT)
The D.J. Durkin train is rolling right along. Maryland finished off its tour of Florida with a second straight victory in the Sunshine State, outlasting a pesky UCF team in overtime. It wasn't pretty, but the Terps have already matched their win total from last season and have given themselves a fighting chance to play in a bowl game this winter.
7. Penn State
Last week: 10 (Up 3)
Week 3 result: Penn State 34, Temple 27
Penn State fought off an upset-minded Temple team Saturday to avoid starting the Big Ten season with a losing record. Trace McSorley was on target all afternoon, completing 18 of 24 passes for 287 yards. The Nittany Lions are still facing a tough battle to bowl eligibility, but they took another step forward with a solid nonconference performance.
8. Minnesota
Last week: 7 (Down 1)
Week 3 result: Bye week
Minnesota didn't play Saturday, instead preparing for a third straight nonconference home game. The Golden Gophers should have no problem taking care of Colorado State to begin the Big Ten season with a perfect 3-0 record. Hopefully it doesn't come down to Tracy Claeys' clock management.
9. Indiana
Last week: 9
Week 3 result: Bye week
Indiana didn't play this weekend but hangs on to the No. 9 spot ahead of its final nonconference game. If the Hoosiers take care of Wake Forest at home, it'll take some of the sting out of a tough three-game stretch that includes Michigan State, Ohio State and Nebraska in October.
10. Iowa
Last week: 4 (Down 6)
Week 3 result: North Dakota State 23, Iowa 21
Iowa suffers the biggest drop in ClickOnDetroit Big Ten power rankings history after losing a home game to North Dakota State. The Bison have won five straight FCS championships and just picked up their sixth straight win over an FBS school, but if the Hawkeyes were the championship contenders they hoped to be, this wouldn't have happened. Bottom line: don't lose to FCS schools. As a result, Iowa has fallen out of the top 25 and whoever scheduled the Bison is feeling a whole lot of much-deserved heat.
11. Rutgers
Last week: 12 (Up 1)
Week 3 result: Rutgers 37, New Mexico 28
It has yet to be pretty, but Rutgers won another game and moved up to a season-high 11th in the power rankings. New Mexico is not a good team but still managed to outgain Rutgers by more than 100 yards. New Mexico dominated the time of possessions and picked up seven more first downs, but Janarion Grant came to the rescue, returning a punt for a touchdown, picking up 42 yards on eight touches on offense and even throwing for a touchdown on a trick play.
12. Purdue
Last week: 11 (Down 1)
Week 3 result: Bye week
Purdue didn't play in Week 3 after getting smacked by Cincinnati at home. It has a chance to bounce back against Nevada in West Lafayette before Big Ten play begins.
13. Northwestern
Last week: 14 (Up 1)
Week 3 result: Northwestern 24, Duke 13
Northwestern didn't exactly blow Duke out of the water, but the Wildcats picked up their first win of the season and finally gave the home fans something to cheer about. Unfortunately, that loss against Illinois State stays on the record.
14. Illinois
Last week: 13 (Down 1)
Week 3 result: Western Michigan 34, Illinois 10
This was one of the most predictable MAC over Big Ten blowouts of all time, as P.J. Fleck's team steamrolled Illinois in its own stadium. The Illini were absolutely bullied by Western Michigan in a game they needed to win to even think about playing in a bowl game. Now, the goal for Lovie Smith's team should be to win four games.