There’s now just one week of football to go in the Big Ten, and we are as close to ever at knowing which teams are going to Indy, which are positioning themselves for bowl games, and which one’s are still alive for some pretty big things.
Ohio State clinched its spot in the Big Ten Championship Game after a hard fought win over a top ten Penn State, Michigan keeps winning, and the West now comes down to Wisconsin and Minnesota.
As we do each week, here’s your Big Ten football power rankings after the latest round of games. As always, give me a break on these, I ran across the Donald Trump impeachment hearings and couldn’t turn it off. Shame on me.
14. Rutgers – (Last week 14)
Rutgers has one more shot to get a Big Ten win. It’s against Penn State next week. The Scarlet Knights will finish winless in the conference.
13. Maryland – (Last week 13)
Boy has this team quit on the season. It got blitzed by Nebraska. Literally nobody has gotten blitzed by Nebraska up until now.
12. Northwestern – (Last week 12)
Pat Fitzgerald is going to blow a gasket in one of these press conferences coming up. He’s about had it with this team and you can bet he’s ready to turn the page after yet another loss, this time to Minnesota. In hindsight, it might not be a good idea to play a team that likes to row boats on the shores of Lake Michigan.
11. Nebraska – (Last week 11)
The Cornhuskers looked like the darkhorse we thought in the West Division against Maryland. But, since the Terps aren’t good at the American version of the sport this year, we’ll pause on that. One more win and Scott Frost can take his team to the postseason.
Next … 10 thru 6
10. Purdue (Last week 9)
Look, I know Purdue isn’t likely to bowling, but it did find a way to put on its big boy pants towards the end of the year here. And besides, trains are cool.
9. Michigan State (Last week 10)
I feel a little weird putting the Spartans behind the Illini, but that’s the reality of where this program is this year. It looks like the Spartans will sneak into a bowl game if it can beat Maryland. You can probably bet on that one.
8. Illinois (Last week 9)
The Illini lost a tough one to Iowa, but it continues the trend of being more competitive than a razor blade is to Lovie Smith’s beard (try clippers first). There’s real progress in Champaign and now there’s a real shot at a winning campaign and a trip somewhere warmer for the winter.
7. Indiana (Last week 6)
Yes it’s been a solid year for Indiana, but it still can’t seem to beat one of the big boys to knock that door down. Things were close for a bit against Michigan, then they got more out of hand than a root canal on your birthday.
6. Iowa (Last week 7)
It’s pretty much been a typical Iowa year. Win some, lose some, go to a respectable bowl game. The only thing missing is yet another contract extension for Kirk Ferentz.
Next … 5 thru 1
5. Michigan (Last week 5)
It’s really tempting to move the Wolverines up, but with losses to both Wisconsin and Penn State this year, I can’t do it. Still, there’s no denying this is a different pair of khakis than the wrinkly ones we saw earlier in the year. Hey, it’s Ohio State week and we’re about to see all that optimism emanating from Ann Arbor.
4. Wisconsin (Last week 4)
Left for dead after two-straight losses about a month ago, the Badgers have just quietly won each week since and now suddenly control their own destiny to Indy. Beat Minnesota this Saturday and the Badgers will face Ohio State for the second time. Is that really what they want in Madison?
3. Penn State (Last week 3)
The Nittany Lions found a way to fight hard against Ohio State and there’s no harm in that. That keeps Penn State in the No. 3 spot here with still an outside shot at a New Year’s Six Bowl invite.
2. Minnesota (Last week 2)
What a season for the Gophers. Now it’s time to finish the deal and beat Wisconsin in order to row all the way to Indianapolis. It won’t be easy, but P.J. Fleck’s crew just continues to prove everyone wrong in 2019. ESPN’s College Game Day coming to Minneapolis next week is pretty cool.
1. Ohio State (Last week 1)
Ohio State played probably its worst game of the year but still won by double digits against a top ten opponent. Now it’s time to ramp up for a Michigan team that would love to derail those national title aspirations. Everything, including a national title is still in play.
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