
Power ranking the top 10 players in the Big Ten entering Week 7: Marvin Harrison Jr. turns us around again
It seems like every time we drop Marvin Harrison Jr. out of this exclusive club, he turns around and catches 3 touchdown passes in a single game. So we’re not sure if Ohio State fans hate us for being fickle, or want us to go right on dissing their superstar receiver with the famous name.
When we say he turns around and catches TD passes, we mean it literally.
Where have I seen this before??? Oh, maybe for 7 years at Colts practices and games. Marvin Harrison Jr. doing some pretty incredible things today for Ohio State in East Lansing. I have to say I’m not surprised. 😄 pic.twitter.com/Vg5nGc2RKf
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) October 8, 2022
Given that this feature has only 10 slots for 14 teams’ worth of players and a writer who despises “honorable mentions,” we’re going all offense this week. No one has wowed us enough on the defensive side, though some have come close. We’re watching. Bring it.
10. Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State
The 6-3, 247-pound Strange was leading all B1G tights ends in receiving yards (231) and touchdowns (4) before Penn State took its bye week. Maryland’s Corey Dyches, Iowa’s Sam LaPorta and Purdue’s Payne Durham had strong games last weekend, so Strange will need to do work Saturday against Michigan to hold this spot.
9. Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
Everyone seems on the upswing in Madison since the coaching change. It’s only been 1 game, right? Allen, Wisconsin’s 18-year-old sophomore power back, ran for 135 yards and threw a touchdown pass in Jim Leonhard’s victorious debut. He’s averaging better than 100 yards per game and better than 6 per carry. He’s seemingly on his way to a 2nd 1,000-yard season and a place among the school’s all-time greats.
8. Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue
Maryland took away his favorite target, limiting Charlie Jones to 3 catches for 15 yards, so O’Connell spread the ball around to 9 others while racking up 360 passing yards in a 2-point win. He’s the only B1G quarterback averaging better than 300 yards per game, and he has the Boilers in the thick of the B1G West race.
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7. JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
He threw his 1st pick of the season, but also topped 300 yards and threw for 3 TDs in a game for the 1st time. He continues to lead the nation in completion percentage, and he used his legs to pick up some key 1st downs to help put away feisty Indiana.
His 1st really big test as a starter comes Saturday against No. 10 Penn State. He looks ready.
J.J. McCarthy on Saturday following his first interception of the season: 10/10 passing, 104 yards, 2 touchdowns.
— Derick Hutchinson (@Derick_Hutch) October 10, 2022
J.J. McCarthy is that dude. This passing offense is going to be elite when things are said and done. We already know the running game is elite.
Trust the process.
— Trevor Woods (@WoodsFootball) October 8, 2022
6. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The 6-4, 205-pound sophomore moved to the top of the B1G list with 9 receiving touchdowns after snaring 3 more against Michigan State. Counting last year’s Rose Bowl, he has 12 TDs over his last 7 games. He has 3 3-TD games in that span, something no one else has done in a full career at Ohio State.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is just a CHEAT CODE 🎮 pic.twitter.com/Su1Ki2DWdP
— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 8, 2022
Does anyone in Columbus miss Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson anymore?
5. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
After 5 catches for 143 yards and a TD, Egbuka leads the B1G at 109.2 yards per game. The 6-1, 205-pound sophomore forms a dynamic duo with Harrison, and the only thing that could possibly keep either of them from reaching 1,000 yards this year would be the return to full health of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That would count as a good problem to have.
4. Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota
Ibrahim’s value was never more evident than when he sat out with an ankle injury in Week 5. With his streak of 100-yard rushing games stuck on 13, No. 21 Minnesota scored only 10 points vs. Purdue and lost for the first time this season.
After a bye, Ibrahim should be back to resume his streak against Illinois’ nationally acclaimed defense in a huge matchup of B1G West 1-loss teams.
3. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Corum broke free against Indiana for 50 yards on his first carry. The going got tough after that, but the 5-8, 210-pound sophomore pounded away for his 3rd straight 100-yard game, finishing with 124 yards on 25 carries. He also added to his B1G-best rushing TD total with his 11th. He’s 7th in the country at 122.5 yards per game.
Made a whole lot of a little #GoBlue | @blake_corum pic.twitter.com/p96UXdhjbU
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) October 8, 2022
2. Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
The 5-11, 205-pound junior has been Bret Bielema’s workhorse back through 6 games, going for over 100 rushing yards each time.
He pounded through Iowa in a 9-6 slugfest victory, carrying 31 times for 146 yards.
Minnesota visits this Saturday for a battle of tough-guy running backs.
Averaging a Power 5-best 146.5 rushing yards per game, Brown has Bret Bielema’s Illini rolling. Imagine the hype that would be emanating from Champaign if Illinois (5-1) hadn’t stubbed its toe against Indiana in Week 2.
1. CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The redshirt sophomore isn’t just a Heisman favorite, he’s back to being the Heisman favorite after throwing for 6 TDs and 361 yards against Michigan State. He leads the FBS in TD throws (24), QB rating and value to his team, which heads into a bye week at 6-0 and No. 2 in the country.