The 2017 Big Ten football season is already a week in — let's take a look at the week two matchups and rank the best games in the second week of college football action.
RELATED: Big Ten Power Rankings — Maryland Flies Up in Week 1
MORE: Team Comparison Tool — How do B1G Teams Stack Up?
Here's a look at each of the 13 opening Big Ten games in order of what you should pay attention to:
[divider]
14. Towson at Maryland
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 12 p.m. ET; BTN
Maryland impressed in week one with a huge road victory at Texas. This week they play FCS Towson. No offense to anyone involved, but this is not the followup I want to see for the Terrapins.
[divider]
13. Eastern Michigan at Rutgers
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 3:30 p.m. ET; BTN
Rutgers gave Washington some issues in week one, but still lost at home. Eastern Michigan isn't great, but neither are the Scarlet Knights. I have no interest in watching this game. None.
[divider]
12. Ohio at Purdue
When: Friday, Sept. 8; 8 p.m. ET, FS1
Unfortunately, the only Friday night game on the schedule shouldn't be high on your priority list. Purdue gave Louisville fits last week before losing, but was that an anomaly? We won't know against Ohio.
[divider]
11. Florida Atlantic at #9 Wisconsin
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 12 p.m. ET; BTN
FAU got run all over against Navy. Do you expect Wisconsin to do anything less? You shouldn't. Lane Kiffin can't even make this game interesting to non-Wisconsin or FAU fans.
[divider]
10. Cincinnati at #8 Michigan
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 12 p.m. ET; BTN
Can Michigan's offense do anything? We'll find out this week. The Wolverines defense was great against Florida, but we need to see Wilton Speight do something. Anything.
[divider]
9. Western Kentucky at Illinois
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 8 p.m. ET; BTN
Illinois escaped with a win (and really, escaped) over Ball State in week one and gets a Western Kentucky team who took down Eastern Kentucky in the first week. Illinois could have its hands full again.
[divider]
8. Minnesota at Oregon State
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 10 p.m. ET; FS1
Minnesota looked really bad in week one against Buffalo, and Oregon State has had highs and lows already in two games. Both teams need a strong showing.
[divider]
7. Northwestern at Duke
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 12 p.m. ET; ESPNU
Both of these teams are much better than your perception of them. Clayton Thorson is one of the best QBs in the Big Ten, check him out against a decent Duke squad
[divider]
6. Pittsburgh at #4 Penn State
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 3:30 p.m. ET; abc
Pitt and Penn State don't like each other. That aone should make this fun, even though Pitt needed overtime to beat FCS Youngstown State in week one while Penn State rolled Akron 52-0.
[divider]
5. Western Michigan at Michigan State
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 3:30 p.m. ET; BTN
Michigan State won big over an inferior Bowling Green team in week one and Western Michigan hung with USC. This could be a close one.
[divider]
4. Nebraska at Oregon
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 4:30 p.m. ET; FOX
Nebraska was surprisingly shaky against an Arkansas State team that had a chance to win. Can the Cornhuskers overcome the slow start and win on the road in Oregon?
[divider]
3. Indiana at Virginia
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 3:30 p.m. ET; ESPNU
Indiana showed us something sticking around with Ohio State for awhile last week and Virginia struggled, only defeating FCS William & Mary 28-10.
[divider]
2. Iowa at Iowa State
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 12 p.m. ET; ESPN2
Rivalry game in week 2 alert! The Hawkeyes and Cyclones will fight for the Cy-Hawk Trophy Saturday in what should be a great matchup of two teams who will compete in 2017.
[divider]
1. #5 Oklahoma at #2 Ohio State
When: Saturday, Sept. 9; 7:30 p.m. ET; abc
The best game on the Big Ten schedule is Ohio State's matchup with Oklahoma, a clash of top-5 teams. Oklahoma and Baker Mayfield had an easy week one win over UTEP (56-7) and Mayfield sat the entire second half after a nearly flawless first.
Ohio State had a tougher challenge on their hands on the road at Indiana, but passed it with flying colors in a 49-21 win.
Ths should be a fun one.
