The top two teams are separating themselves, but where do the rest of the schools land on this week’s power rankings?
Week 9 saw a few more upsets and Ohio State picked up a big road win. The West is still a mess, while the East looks like it is going to come down to the last week.
We have four more weeks left of the regular season, but before we get to this week’s slate of games let’s take a look at our Big Ten Power Rankings.
1. Michigan Wolverines 8-0, 5-0 in the Big Ten
Last Week 1
The Wolverines had a bye this weekend, but they weren’t forgotten as the sign stealing investigation continues. They did a great job of putting that behind them when they played Michigan State. They will have to continue doing that as Penn State and Ohio State still remain on their schedule.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes 8-0, 5-0
Last Week 2
The Buckeyes did enough on Saturday night to pick up a big road win at Wisconsin. The offense isn’t as explosive as we are used to, but the defense is playing great and has this team looking ready to knock off Michigan to end the year. They have another tricky game at Rutgers this weekend.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions 7-1, 4-1
Last Week 3
The Nittany Lions avoided disaster on Saturday when they scored a touchdown with just 1:46 left to beat a two-win Indiana team. It was much too close for the Nittany Lions, but they got the win. They head to Maryland this weekend before a huge game with No. 2 Michigan in two weeks.
4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 6-2, 3-2
Last Week 4
The Scarlet Knights stay at four and have a huge opportunity to make a jump next week as they play Ohio State this weekend. They are coming off a bye week and well-rested as they prepare for the Buckeyes. The Scarlet Knights are bowl-eligible, but they haven’t picked up a big win yet. Saturday they get that chance.
5. Minnesota Golden Gophers 5-3, 3-2
Last Week 8
The Golden Gophers dealt Michigan State their sixth straight loss on Saturday and stayed in control of their own destiny for winning the Big Ten West. They own tiebreakers against both Nebraska and Iowa and will play Wisconsin to end the season. They do have a huge game with Ohio State in three weeks, but first a home game against an improved Illinois comes on Saturday.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes 6-2, 3-2
Last Week 5
The Hawkeyes had a bye this week after a crushing loss to Minnesota a week ago. They are still in pretty good shape in the West, but have a few tricky games left on their schedule. Northwestern is up this week and the Wildcats are coming off a huge win over Maryland on Saturday.
7. Nebraska Cornhuskers 5-3, 3-2
Last Week 9
The Cornhuskers have quietly won three in a row and are just a win away from becoming bowl-eligible. They currently sit in a four-way tie for first place in the West and have a shot at making it back to the Big Ten Championship game. Their two biggest games come at the end as they travel to Wisconsin before hosting Iowa.
8. Northwestern Wildcats 4-4, 2-3
Last Week 10
The Wildcats shocked Maryland on Saturday in a 33-27 win. They are a surprising 4-4 on the season and are just one game out of the first place in the West. They welcome Iowa to town on Saturday and if they can pull off another upset they will be right in the thick of the race.
9. Maryland Terrapins 5-3, 2-3
Last Week 7
The Terrapins went from undefeated and beating Ohio State in the second half to three straight losses. They fell apart in the second half against the Buckeyes and then lost to Illinois and Northwestern. A home game against No. 9 Penn State is next and they still have No. 2 Michigan on the schedule. They might struggle to stay above .500 this year.
10. Wisconsin Badgers 5-3, 3-2
Last Week 6
The Badgers take a big slide after their home loss to Ohio State. Losing to the Buckeyes isn’t a problem, but the offense looked non-existent for much of that game. They are a fourth-quarter comeback away from three straight losses. They do have winnable games the rest of the season, but the offense has to play better.
11. Purdue Boilermakers 2-6, 1-4
Last Week 11
The Boilermakers lost their third straight game on Saturday when they went to Nebraska and lost 31-14. They haven’t won since beating Illinois, but that win will keep them one spot up on the Fighting Illini. A bye week comes at the right time before they finish their season with Minnesota, Northwestern and Indiana.
12. Illinois Fighting Illini 3-5. 1-4
Last Week 12
The Fighting Illini are playing much better, but we just can’t move them in front of the Boilermakers just yet as they lost to them 44-19. Since, though, they own an upset of Maryland and nearly beat Wisconsin. They have a chance to disrupt the West on Saturday when they go to Minnesota.
13. Indiana Hoosiers 2-6, 0-6
Last Week 13
The Hoosiers nearly picked up one of the biggest upsets of the year as they were tied with Penn State late in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, they gave up a late touchdown and lost 33-24. It was the fourth straight loss for the Hoosiers and kept them winless in the Big Ten. A home game with Wisconsin is this week, before three winnable games to end the year.
14. Michigan State Spartans 2-6, 0-6
Last Week 14
The Spartans’ two straight wins to start the year seem like a distant memory as they have now lost six in a row. The offense struggled again on Saturday as they lost to Minnesota 27-12. Their trip to Indiana in three weeks looks like their last chance to win a game this year. Things are a mess in East Lansing right now.
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