NCAA Men’s Power Rankings: Western Michigan, Michigan State suffer stunning losses
It was a wild and exciting weekend of action across the men’s game last week.
In a week where just about every NCAA Men’s D-I program was in action, we saw everything from dominating victories to stunning upsets, leading to a sizeable shakeup in the national polls.
Check out my Top 15 after Week 2 of action:
1. Boston University
Record: 2-0-1
Last week: 4th
I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical of Boston University after they squeaked out a win against lowly Long Island to open up the new season. However, against Colgate this past weekend, the Terriers utilized their future NHL talent to put together a couple of solid outings. BU managed to beat and tie the Raiders, with New York Islanders prospect Cole Eiserman having a strong weekend, totaling four points, including two goals and an assist in a 6-2 win on Friday. Cole Hutson (Washington Capitals) also had three points in the victorious effort.
BU now gears up for an exciting test at home against the next team on our list…
2. Michigan State
Record: 1-1-0
Last week: 2nd
The Spartans really had a bumpy first couple of games of the new season. The team played well enough to sweep New Hampshire on home ice, but a goal given up in the final minute of regulation on Thursday led to Michigan State dropping its first game of the season. MSU played a much better game on Friday, but only managed to come away with a 2-0 win. Detroit Red Wings draft pick Trey Augustine was okay in the two games, only needing 13 saves in the victory. It was just one weekend, but with the amount of star power on Sparty’s roster, many of us expected more against the Wildcats.
MSU will visit BU on Friday and Saturday.
3. Western Michigan
Record: 1-1-0
Last week: 1st
The reason I chipped the defending national champions further down the list was because I was far from impressed with their efforts against Ferris State. Yes, their season opener came on a banner night, but losing to the Bulldogs for the first time in eight years was still shocking. Thankfully, the offense found its legs in game two on Friday, with William Whitelaw (Columbus Blue Jackets), Zaccharya Wisdom (Seattle Kraken), Zach Nehring (Winnipeg Jets) and Zack Sharp (San Jose Sharks) all scoring in a 6-4 win. However, the defense against a rebuilding team like Ferris State was concerning, and needs to be better if the team wants to hold off the better teams in the conference.
Western Michigan has to be wary of a pesky UMass-Lowell team, which the Broncos have a couple of road games against this weekend.
4. Penn State
Record: 3-1-0
Last week: 3rd
The Nittany Lions didn’t have nearly as thrilling a weekend as they did in Tempe a couple of weeks ago. The team wasted a legendary four-goal performance from J.J. Wiesbusch in the first game of the weekend against Clarkson, losing 6-4 on Friday night. Penn State bounced back on Saturday, using five unanswered goals to beat the Golden Knights, 5-2. Carolina Hurricanes prospect Charlie Cerrato led the Nittany Lions with five points on the weekend, while 2026 top prospect Gavin McKenna had just two assists in Friday’s defeat. The Nittany Lions showcased their offensive firepower, but their glaring defensive holes are certainly less than desirable.
Penn State is back home this weekend for a couple of games against Long Island.
5. Denver
Record: 1-0-1
Last week: 5th
It’s hard to say Denver’s tie against Air Force in its season opener was a total failure. The Pioneers brutally outshot the Falcons and could’ve easily won 10-0. However, they were goalie’d by Air Force’s Carter Clafton. DU made sure to leave no doubt on Saturday against Bentley, walloping the other Falcons by a score of 6-0. Sharks draft pick Eric Pohlkamp was the star of the show, scoring a hat trick on Saturday, giving him four points on the weekend. Fellow blueliner Eric Jamieson (Calgary Flames) had three points in the win as well.
The Pios have a chance to snag a couple of more wins this coming weekend, as they hit the road for two games against Lindenwood.
6. Boston College
Record: 1-1-1
Last week: 6th
I was very impressed by how the Eagles played this past week, though it wasn’t enough for me to push them into the top five. Taking on Minnesota, on the road, BC really controlled the play in a 3-1 win on Thursday night. The Golden Gophers played a little bit better in the second game on Friday, managing to hold on for a 2-2 tie. Pushing Minnesota around at Mariucci is no small task, and for a Boston College team that many wondered if it had the same strength to go up against the top teams in the country, it may as well have felt like a sweep.
BC has just one game this week, as it pays a visit to RPI on Friday night.
7. Maine
Record: 2-0-0
Last week: 7th
The Black Bears began their regular season with a couple of relatively easy wins over Holy Cross, outscoring the Crusaders 11-2. Hurricanes draft pick Justin Poirier had a hat trick in a 5-2 win on Friday night, leading to a four-point weekend. Flames prospect Jaden Lipinski had a goal and an assist in each victory, while goaltender Albin Boija turned away 40 of the 42 shots he faced on the weekend. It was the perfect launching pad for the defending Hockey East champions, who have a couple of tough games on the horizon.
Those contests will take place in Connecticut this weekend, as Maine gets set to face Quinnipiac.
8. Michigan
Record: 4-0-0
Last week: 12th
The largest jump of any team in this week’s rankings comes from the maize and blue. The Wolverines made easy work of Mercyhurst to begin the new campaign, but how they performed on the road this past weekend made many start to believe this team is legit. Michigan swept Providence, outscoring the Friars 8-2 over the two games. It was a cast of characters who contributed to the win. Montreal Canadiens draft pick Michael Hage scored twice in Friday’s 5-1 victory, with Drew Schock (Anaheim Ducks) posting a goal and an assist. Nashville Predators goaltending prospect Jack Ivankovic was exceptional as well, giving up just two goals on 45 shots over the weekend.
Michigan is back home to host another Atlantic Hockey opponent this coming weekend, taking on Robert Morris on Thursday and Friday.
9. North Dakota
Record: 2-0-0
Last week: 10th
Even though they kicked off their regular season against a nationally-ranked opponent, the Fighting Hawks welcomed the early challenge. In a home-and-home against St. Thomas, North Dakota took whatever the Tommies tried to give them and made them pay for it. The Hawks outscored the CCHA foe 11-4 over the weekend, grabbing a couple of solid victories to begin the 2025-26 campaign. Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Mac Swanson was one of four players to have two points in Friday’s 6-2 win, with veteran d-man Jake Livanavage leading the team with three points in Sunday’s victory.
The Fighting Hawks now get set for a slightly tougher test this coming weekend…
10. Minnesota
Record: 1-2-1
Last week: 8th
I don’t think there are many reasons why Gopher fans should be pleased with how their team played last weekend. Minnesota was hounded by Boston College in the first game of the back-to-back, and probably could’ve lost by a greater margin than the 3-1 final score. I do like how the team bounced back on Friday, but still, giving up a lead in the third period at home, no matter how good a team is, isn’t part of the makings of a championship team.
It only gets tougher for the Gophers, as they hit the road for a pair of games against the Fighting Hawks.
11. Providence
Record: 0-2-0
Last week: 9th
Similar to what I just said about Minnesota, being outplayed on home ice, regardless of the opponent, isn’t an ideal success plan. I think a lot of us were hoping Providence could be a contender in Hockey East. Yet, given their inability to generate much against a relatively suspect D-Corps in Michigan, perhaps they don’t have the firepower to compete with the top teams in the country. Jonathan Fauchon and Chicago Blackhawks prospect John Mustard scored the team’s lone goals on the weekend.
The Friars have just one game this week, going on the road to face RPI on Saturday.
12. Quinnipiac
Record: 2-1-0
Last week: 11th
Quinnipiac traveled down to Tempe last weekend for the annual Ice Breaker Tournament. I wasn’t all that enthused when the Bobcats began the weekend with a loss against Alaska. While the Nanooks are widely known as a scrappy team, it was a disappointing 2-1 defeat for the ECAC power. Quinnipiac managed to salvage its trip with a 7-2 thrashing at the expense of Notre Dame. Flames prospect Ethan Wyttenbach ended up with two goals and an assist in the tournament, with Antonin Verreault scoring twice against the Fighting Irish as well.
The Bobcats certainly have a tough test on the horizon, as they host Maine twice this weekend.
13. Arizona State
Record: 2-2-0
Last week: 15th
I know the Sun Devils’ two wins at their home tournament were nothing special (though many of us were hoping for an ASU/Quinnipiac matchup), but there was a lot to like about the team’s performance in the Ice Breaker Tournament. New Jersey Devils prospect Benjamin Kevan scored the first two goals of his college career against Notre Dame on Friday, with Cruz Lucius (Penguins) scoring a hat trick, all on the power play, in the championship game against Alaska. Following the team’s two tough losses at home to Penn State, Arizona State is hoping to use last week’s performance as a launching pad for a great season.
The Sun Devils travel to South Dakota for a couple of games against Augustana this weekend.
14. Connecticut
Record: 1-1-0
Last week: 13th
Not going to lie, I feel a little bad pushing the Huskies back this week, even though they didn’t even play this past weekend. Maybe it will inspire them to impress in the near future? Sure, the team’s play in Colorado Springs wasn’t a good look for UConn, but the opportunity to build some momentum at home could pay dividends.
The Huskies have a pair of games at home this weekend against Ohio State, including a matchup in Hartford on Saturday.
15. Massachusetts
Record: 3-0-0
Last week: 14th
But Tyler? The Minutemen won? How could you push them back?
If you saw what I saw from the team in their lone game last week, you’d understand. UMass was outplayed by Stonehill…STONEHILL. This is a Minutemen team that has started to make it a habit of playing in the NCAA Tournament, and they struggled to get off their heels against a team that doesn’t even have a conference. Thankfully, Utah Mammoth prospect Michael Hrabal played phenomenally, making 39 saves this past Friday, with Vaclav Nestrasil (Blackhawks) potting his first collegiate hat trick to power UMass to a 4-1 win.
The Minutemen have a true test on Friday, hosting Northeastern, before welcoming Bentley to Amherst on Saturday.
Honorable Mention: Wisconsin (2-0-0), Colorado College (3-1-0), Ohio State (2-0-0)