The top separated itself even more this weekend, while the West continues to be a mess
Things are about to get real in the Big Ten as Michigan begins its three-game gauntlet with a trip to State College to take on Penn State on Saturday. They will then get Maryland on the road and a home date with Ohio State. Those games will decide who will win the Big Ten East.
In the West, Iowa sits at top, but it doesn’t appear anyone really wants to win the division as the next three teams all lost.
Before we get into the big games this coming week, let’s take a look at our latest Big Ten Power Rankings.
1. Michigan Wolverines 9-0, 6-0 in the Big Ten
Last Week 1
The Wolverines finally had to play their starters in the fourth quarter, but they still whipped Purdue 41-13. The Boilermakers were the first team to score more than 10 points on the Wolverines as they scored with 18 seconds left in the game. The Wolverines looked a bit rusty coming off their bye, but still dominated. Their big test comes this weekend at Penn State.
2. Ohio State 9-0, 6-0
Last Week 2
The Buckeyes trailed Rutgers 9-7 at halftime, but a 93-yard interception return turned the momentum around and they went on to win 35-16. They now have two home games against Michigan State and Minnesota before their huge road game at Michigan to end the season. They should be undefeated heading into that game.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions 8-1, 5-1
Last Week 3
The Nittany Lions took care of Maryland on Saturday to stay alive in the Big Ten East. They need to beat Michigan on Saturday and then have the Wolverines beat Ohio State to end the year. They still have a shot, but the offense will have to play better again Michigan than they did against Ohio State if they want to win.
4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 6-3, 3-3
Last Week 4
The Scarlet Knights looked like they might pull off a big upset on Saturday, but the pick-six was the beginning of the end for them in the second half. They now have three losses on the year, but if they played in the West they might be winning the division. They can prove it on Saturday when they travel to Iowa to play the Hawkeyes.
5. Iowa Hawkeyes 7-2, 4-2
Last Week 6
The Hawkeyes won 10-7 on Saturday against Northwestern at Wrigley Field. Getting the win was about the only good news to come out of that game as the offense continued to struggle. Thanks to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska losing, they sit alone at the top of the Big Ten West. If they win out they will head back to the Big Ten Championship game.
6. Nebraska Cornhuskers 5-4, 3-3
Last Week 7
The Big Ten is a muddled mess now. You could put any number of about five teams in this spot. We chose Nebraska just because they have won five of their last seven games. They had a horrible loss to Michigan State on Saturday, but they can still win the Big Ten West if they win out. First up is a struggling Maryland team at home.
7. Northwestern Wildcats 4-5, 2-4
Last Week 8
The Wildcats are outperforming expectations this year and almost took Iowa to overtime on Saturday. The offense struggled, but the defense held firm in only giving up 10 points. They have alternated wins and losses all season and if that holds true they will win at Wisconsin on Saturday.
8. Wisconsin Badgers 5-4, 3-3
Last Week 10
The Badgers lost for the third time in four games when they went to Indiana and got beat 20-14. That loss all but eliminated them from Big Ten West contention. They could still win, but they need a lot of stuff to go right, including winning their last three games. First up is a home game against Northwestern before Nebraska comes to town.
9. Maryland Terrapins 5-4, 2-4
Last Week 9
It has been a tale of two seasons for the Terrapins this year. They won their first five games, but have since lost four in a row. Two of those losses weren’t bad against Ohio State and Penn State, but they also dropped games to Illinois and Northwestern. They head to Nebraska next before a huge test at home against No. 3 Michigan.
10. Illinois Fighting Illini 4-5, 2-4
Last Week 12
The Fighting Illini won for the second time in three games when they got a comeback win against Minnesota on Saturday. A touchdown with just 50 seconds left gave them the win and helped them bounce back from a late loss to Wisconsin in their last game. Up next is a home game with Indiana before they head to Iowa.
11. Minnesota Golden Gophers 5-4, 3-2
Last Week 5
The Golden Gophers blew a chance to seize control of the Big Ten West when they let Illinois come back to win. The Gophers had won two in a row, but now must head on the road for two straight against Purdue and Ohio State. It isn’t an easy end to the season, but they are still alive in the division.
12. Purdue Boilermakers 2-7, 1-5
Last Week 11
The Boilermakers used a late touchdown to score the most points against Michigan this year. The bad news is that touchdown made it 41-13. It was the fourth straight loss for the Boilermakers and eliminated them from bowl contention. They can ruin Minnesota’s season, though, with a win this Saturday at home.
13. Indiana Hoosiers 3-6, 1-5
Last Week 13
The Hoosiers got their first Big Ten win of the year on Saturday and kept their slim bowl hopes alive. The Hoosiers will have to win their last three games against Illinois, Michigan State and Purdue to get there, but they have a shot. They are all winnable games, but Illinois is playing better and the game is on the road so it will be tough.
14. Michigan State Spartans 3-6, 1-5
Last Week 14
The Spartans also got their first conference win of the season on Saturday when they snapped a six-game losing streak to shock Nebraska. The offense still looks stuck in the mud, but the defense stepped up and only gave up 17 points. Unfortunately for the Spartans they now must head to Columbus to take on Ohio State and they will finish the year with Penn State.
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