By Keith Sargeant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Is Rutgers the worst Power-5 Conference team in the country after double-digit losses to Kansas, Buffalo and Illinois this season?

There are a few contenders but Oregon State may be the strongest challenger to that unwanted distinction.

The Beavers are 1-5 this fall, their lone win coming against FCS Southern Utah.

Rutgers is 1-5, with its win coming against Sun Belt-foe Texas State.

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Since 2014, Oregon State’s combined record is 13-41.

Rutgers is 19-36 during that same span.

Advantage Rutgers, right?

Don't Edit

Not so fast.

What may give Oregon State the slight edge over Rutgers is the fact the Beavers cracked the 30-point plateau in a 77-31 loss to Ohio State to open the season.

The Scarlet Knights have combined to score 27 points against the Buckeyes in five games since 2014, losing by an average of 54-5.

Also, consider this: Rutgers this season ranks last nationally in scoring offense (16.5 points-per-game) and 109th nationally in scoring defense (36.4 ppg.) against a schedule that ranks as the nation's 101st toughest. Oregon State's defense is abysmal (ranking third-from-the-bottom nationally) but its' offense ranks 57th (31.5 ppg.) against the nation's 82nd toughest slate.

There's no certain answer, of course.

Don't Edit

But the Scarlet Knights have lost two teams — Kansas and Illinois — that have held the worst-Power-5-team crown in the recent past. Actually, they were non-competitive against them.

Oregon State gave Ohio State a scare for a little bit, lost by two points to a quality Group of 5 Conference foe (Nevada), and has dropped three games to Pac-12 opponents (Arizona, Arizona State and Washington State).

One thing is for certain: Rutgers is the worst team in the latest Big Ten power rankings, landing in the last spot behind Nebraska (which has defeated Rutgers by an average margin of 15 points in three games since 2014).Here are the Big Ten power rankings heading into Week 7:

Don't Edit

AP Top 25 poll ballot: Week 6

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

14. Rutgers

Record: 1-5, 0-3 Big Ten.

Fast fact: After playing eight true freshmen in 2016 and 14 last season, the Scarlet Knights have employed 12 yearlings this fall.

Up next: Saturday, 12 p.m., at Maryland.

Don't Edit

13. Nebraska

Record: 0-5, 0-3 Big Ten.

Fast fact: One year after overseeing a UCF program that ranked first nationally in scoring offense at 48.2 points-per-game, Scott Frost's Cornhuskers rank 114th nationally at 21.8 ppg.

Up next: Saturday, 12 p.m., at Northwestern.

Don't Edit

12. Illinois

Record: 3-2, 1-1 Big Ten.

Fast fact: Illinois' win over Rutgers snapped a streak of 13 straight Big Ten losses dating back to a 31-27 upset of Michigan State in November 2016.

Up next: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., vs. Purdue.

Don't Edit

11. Purdue

Record: 3-2, 1-1 Big Ten.

Fast fact: While Purdue ranks 27th nationally in third-down conversions, coach Jeff Brohm's squad is converting 71 percent of its third downs (22 of 31) when facing four or less yards, including 11-for-11 on third-and-1.

Up next: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., at Illinois.

Don't Edit

Rutgers-Illinois film review: Run defense gashed (again), Artur Sitkowski's strides

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Playing clean football has been a staple of @Coach_Fleck's teams & this season is no different. The #Gophers are again one of the least penalized team's in the country led by eye popping numbers from @thomas_barber41. #SkiUMah #RTB



Check them out here 👉 https://t.co/ii2V2yH6sk pic.twitter.com/chfqgGbwbx — Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) October 8, 2018

10. Minnesota

Record: 3-2, 0-2 Big Ten.

Fast fact: The Gophers ranked first in the nation last season in fewest penalties (39), fewest penalties per game (3.25), fewest penalty yards (340) and fewest penalty yards per game (28.33), and are continuing that trend this fall. Through five games, P.J. Fleck's squad rank No. 6 in the country with only 20 penalties.

Up next: Saturday, 12 p.m., at Ohio State.

Don't Edit

9. Maryland

Record: 3-2, 1-1 Big Ten.

Fast fact: Ty Johnson was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown at Michigan. It was the second career kickoff return for a touchdown for Johnson, a senior running back who has 3,935 career all-purpose yards for the Terps.

Up next: Saturday, 12 p.m., vs. Rutgers.

Don't Edit

8. Indiana

Record: 4-2, 1-2 Big Ten.

Fast fact: Hoosiers QB Peyton Ramsey tallied career highs in passing yards (322) and pass attempts (49) in defeat at Ohio State.

Up next: Saturday, 12 p.m., vs. Iowa.

Don't Edit

7. Michigan State

Record: 3-2, 1-1 Big Ten.

Fast fact: Michigan State boasts the nation's top-ranked rushing defense after limiting Northwestern to 8 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

Up next: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., at Penn State.

Don't Edit

Rutgers report card: Chris Ash's 'D' gets an F as Illinois runs rampant | Politi

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Spoiled Sparty's party for a fifth straight Big Ten road win. 😈



Turn that 🔊sound 🆙🔊#B1GCats pic.twitter.com/oOxolhJR6W — Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) October 8, 2018

6. Northwestern

Record: 2-3, 2-1 Big Ten.

Fast fact: Northwestern has won five straight Big Ten road games, including a 2-0 mark this fall. The Wildcats' next road game is at Rutgers on Oct. 20.

Up next: Saturday, 12 p.m., vs. Nebraska.

Don't Edit

5. Iowa

Record: 4-1, 1-1 Big Ten.

Fast fact: Iowa ranks second in the Big Ten in total defense (272.4), rushing defense (84.4) and passing defense (188.0) while ranking third in scoring defense (16.6).

Up next: Saturday, 12 p.m., at Indiana.

Don't Edit

4. Wisconsin

Record: 4-1, 2-0 Big Ten.

Fast fact: The Badgers, who travel to Michigan in a key Big Ten crossover contest, are 15-1 (.938) in true road games under fourth-year coach Paul Chryst and have won 10 straight road outings, the nation's 2nd-longest active streak behind Oklahoma's 17. Wisconsin's only road loss under Chryst came in a 14-7 setback at Michigan on Oct. 1, 2016.

Up next: Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at Michigan.

Don't Edit

3. Michigan

Record: 5-1, 3-0 Big Ten.

Fast fact: Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh has righted the ship after a disappointing setback to now-No. 5 Notre Dame to start the season, reeling off five straight wins.

Michigan’s season will be defined by the next three weeks, with Michigan State and No. 8 Penn State on deck after a home date versus Wisconsin. Should the Wolverines pull off the trifecta, only Rutgers and Indiana await before a potential Big Ten East Division showdown with Ohio State to end the regular season at Nov. 24.

Up next: Saturday, 7:30 p.m., vs. Wisconsin.

Don't Edit

Rutgers coach Chris Ash explains the play call that got him booed during Illinois blowout

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

2. Penn State

Record: 4-1, 1-1 Big Ten.

Fast fact: Penn State has been powered by its' ground attack, ranking second in the Big Ten with 261.2 rushing yards per contest. Both running back Miles Sanders and quarterback Trace McSorley are top-10 rushers in the Big Ten.

Up next: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., vs. Michigan State.

Don't Edit

1. Ohio State

Record: 6-0, 3-0 Big Ten.

Fast fact: Dwayne Haskins, who earned his third Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award in as many weeks, became the first Big Ten quarterback in conference history to have three games with at least five touchdown passes in one season after completing 33 of 44 passes for 455 yards and six TDs in the Indiana win.

Up next: Saturday, 12 p.m., vs. Minnesota.

Don't Edit

Standings

Don't Edit

NJ Advance Media

No one, even us, has answers after latest Rutgers loss

Don't Edit

Rutgers' Chris Ash: The sky isn't falling on 1-5 Scarlet Knights

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.