Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin football has a case to move up in Big Ten power rankings

By Tanner Nestle

IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver Kendric Pryor #3 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs up the field in the second half in front of defensive back Michael Ojemudia #11 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver Kendric Pryor #3 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs up the field in the second half in front of defensive back Michael Ojemudia #11 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 22: Rashan Gary #3 of the Michigan Wolverines sacks Adrian Martinez #2 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half on September 22, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Michigan just trounced Nebraska last week and would probably be upset to see that it’s fallen in the power rankings as a result. Last week I had Michigan jump Wisconsin because Wisconsin had just lost to BYU and Michigan had just beaten SMU.

The reason the Wolverines are once again behind Bucky in these rankings is simple to me. We learned a lot more about Wisconsin than we did about Michigan from last week. Up until Saturday we hadn’t seen either play a great game against a solid team. Wisconsin deserved the lower ranking because it had just been upset. Not anymore.

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We’ve seen Wisconsin play a tough game on the road and come away victorious. We have yet to see Michigan do that. The wins are as impressive as they can be though and I’ll give Michigan credit for that. The Wolverines have absolutely dismantled their last three opponents. They just haven’t been good enough opponents to really impress me. Would Shea Patterson have been able to lead a comeback in Iowa City as Alex Hornibrook did?

Michigan plays Wisconsin in mid-October after it goes to Northwestern and hosts Maryland. It’s very likely to be 5-1 when it welcomes the Badgers to town for a rematch from last year. That’s the next time we’ll really get to judge Michigan unless it drops one of the next two games.

If the Fighting Jim Harbaugh’s don’t like being behind the Badgers in these power rankings they’ll have to get that win in the Big House over them. Otherwise, it looks like they’re staying put right here at number four.