Oct. 17, 2005

The Big Ten placed five teams among the top 25 in the first issue of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings which were released today, the second-highest total of any conference behind only the SEC, which boasted six teams in the poll.
 
Penn State (6-1, 3-1 in Big Ten) leads the way for the Big Ten at No. 10 in the opening BCS poll after the Nittany Lions fell from the ranks of the unbeaten last Saturday on a last-second touchdown at Michigan (4-3, 2-2). PSU is on the road again this weekend taking on Illinois (2-4, 0-3) at Memorial Stadium.

Wisconsin (6-1, 3-1) and Ohio State (4-2, 2-1) also appear among the top 15 in the BCS rankings. The Badgers are slotted 14th overall and host Purdue (2-4, 0-3) on Saturday. The Buckeyes appear next on the poll at No. 15 and have a road game at Indiana (4-2, 1-2) this weekend. The league's other top 25 representatives are No. 22 Minnesota (5-2, 2-2) and No. 24 Michigan State (4-2, 1-2).

The BCS rankings will be announced each Monday through Nov. 28 and the final BCS poll will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 4. The teams ranked No. 1 and 2 in the final BCS standings will meet for the national championship in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4. If a Big Ten team is not ranked No. 1 or 2 in the final BCS poll, the conference champion (or co-champion as designated by the Big Ten tie-breaking procedures) will play in the Fiesta, Orange or Sugar Bowl.