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Big Ten power rankings entering Week 2: How far does Penn State rise?

By Alec Whitaker

MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 04: Jahan Dotson #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates a touchdown with Caedan Wallace #79 during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 04: Jahan Dotson #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates a touchdown with Caedan Wallace #79 during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Sep 2, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan (2) looks to pass the ball during the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan (2) looks to pass the ball during the third quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports /

852. . 0-1 (0-1). . Golden Gophers . 9. team

Minnesota is trying to make their historic 11-2 2019 season the norm and not the outliner, but it doesn’t look like 2021 will be the year to do that.

The Gophers fell to Ohio State 45-31 on Thursday night at home. It was a valiant effort that saw the Buckeyes take shot after shot from P.J. Fleck’s team. The only problem was that Ohio State punched back harder.

Minnesota allowed scoring plays of 71 yards, 70 yards, 61 yards, 56 yards and 38 yards. Their secondary was burned all day by the superior Ohio State wide receiver group. Now, Ohio State has one of the best offenses in the country, but it was how easy those scoring drives were that is concerning for the Gophers.

Offensively, Minnesota performed well, but the heart beat of that offense is now gone. Star running back Mohamed Ibrahim was having a monster game, 163 yards and two scores, but he suffered a leg injury in the second half and will now miss the entire season.

Now, veteran quarterback Tanner Morgan is still there, and he’ll get his best wide out, Chris Autman-Bell, back in the coming weeks. So, they should still be able to put up some points, but it will be tough sledding without Ibrahim.

If Minnesota gets the defense straightened out, they should at least be competitive in the West, even without their leading rusher.

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