The Big Ten earned some respect in the eyes of most of the country last season through its performance in the postseason. And the College Football Playoff selection committee showed it has a healthy respect for the league in the first set of weekly rankings that were released Tuesday night.
Five Big Ten teams made it into the Top 25, and three are in the Top 10. Northwestern, which isn't ranked in either the Associated Press or USA Today coaches' poll, nevertheless checked in at No. 21 in the committee rankings. The 6-2 Wildcats will therefore count as a quality win for both Iowa and Michigan, and its opening victory over Stanford (No.