Big Ten power rankings week 3: Penn State catapults to the top spot

To most in the Big Ten country, seeing Minnesota travel to Corvallis and pound Oregon State last weekend was not all that surprising.

With the departure of senior Mitch Leidner, the Gophers have been pounding the rock on the ground with juniors Rodney Smith and  Shannon Brooks.  Smith is the more established running back and has lead the tandem in carries (53) and yards (168), but it is Brooks who Minnesota has relied upon to get the ball in the endzone.  So far he has scored four times compared to Smith’s one touchdown.

With Minnesota leading Big Ten conference teams in rushing attempts (109), it gives redshirt junior quarterback Conor Rhoda a chacne to get a feel for head coach PJ Fleck’s offense.

This week Minnesota takes on Middle Tennessee out of Conference USA.  This will be an interesting tilt as the Blue Raiders allow a little less than 100 yards rushing per game.  Where they are vulnerable is through the air.  So, will coach Fleck allow his relatively inexperienced quarterback throw the ball down field or will he play it close to the vest and continue trying to pound his two-headed tandem of Smith and Brooks?