Believe it or not, the college football season is about half-way complete with some teams now finishing six games of the schedule. Ohio State is one of those teams. Now that we’re that far down this journey, we’ve got a much better feel for which teams are on the road to something special, which are mediocre, and which ones aren’t living up to expectations.
We’ve now got a lot more film and observations to pick out the pecking order in the Big Ten.
As we do each week, here’s your Big Ten football power rankings now after six weeks. As always, give me a break on these, I’ve been caught up in all the Donald Trump impeachment shenanigans. And that — is as close as close as you’ll get to me discussing politics.
14. Rutgers – (Last week 14)
Same week, same tune, and it’s a little flat and off key.
13. Illinois – (Last week 13)
I really thought the Illini were going to turn a corner this year in a wee-bit kind of way. Instead, Lovie Smith has taken his team and bludgeoned themselves on that corner. Boy, good thing that contract extension was surprisingly negotiated last year after a 4-8 season.
12. Purdue – (Last week 12)
I know there are injury concerns in West Lafayette, but how did this train (pardon the pun) derail so quickly under Jeff Brohm? Good thing there was that contract extension signed last year.
11. Maryland – (Last week 11)
The ‘Terps look fantastic when they play a team that has as much offense as a wet paper towel. This team is trying its best to get bowl-eligible, but it’ll be at a tortoise pace if you will.
Next … 10 thru 6
10. Indiana (Last week 10)
The Hoosiers had a bye-week so they couldn’t put a scare in one of the better teams in the league, only to not finish the job again.
9. Northwestern (Last week 8)
It’s evident by now that Northwestern just doesn’t have the talent to get much done in the Big Ten this year. But man, bust out the protractors and graphing calculators and nobody is touching the men in purple.
8. Nebraska (Last week 9)
So, can we now say that the Cornhuskers were a little over-hyped coming into the year? This team will probably still get into a low-end to mid-tier bowl, but the thoughts of grandeur are creamed corn.
7. Minnesota (Last week 7)
What? You thought we’d move the Gophers up after remaining undefeated. Nope. Not yet. This team still has a lot of holes and has more smoke and mirrors than a KISS and magic show rolled into one. Let’s see what happens against Nebraska next week eh?
6. Iowa (Last week 4)
I’m not sure what I just watched this past week, but Michigan and Iowa may have set offensive football back forty years. The Wolverines tried desperately to hand the game to the Hawkeyes, but they pushed it back like two relatives haggling over the dinner bill.
Next … 5 thru 1
5. Michigan State (Last week 4)
Generally, I would drop a team after a loss without thinking twice. But the Wolverines looked so bad in victory and the Spartans put up a bit of fight early on with Ohio State that the temptation was there to keep the Spartans higher. However, as Dantonio says — your record is what you are.
4. Michigan (Last week 6)
See the comment about Iowa. Most say a win, is a win, is a win — but next time, given the chance to watch paint dry, grass grow, or Michigan’s offense operate, it’ll be a close, close call. Paper, rock, scissors anyone? There’s still a long way to go for this version of the fighting khakis, but only one-loss on the season, so …
3. Penn State (Last week 3)
There now appear to be three teams that have separated themselves from the rest of the league. The Nittany Lions seem to be getting better and might make life difficult for Ohio State down the road. Penn State though, is getting ready to hit a tough stretch of games that go at Iowa, Michigan, at Michigan State, and at Minnesota. Earn it much?
2. Wisconsin (Last week 2)
So far, the Badgers have looked almost every bit as impressive as Ohio State, and who knows, they might come into Columbus in a few weeks and spoil the epic party going on. The Badger way is like a educational video — not fun to watch, but highly effective.
1. Ohio State (Last week 1)
For the first time, the Buckeyes faced a little adversity when the Spartans came into the ‘Shoe and looked optimistic about pulling off a shocker. Then the 2nd quarter happened. There were certainly some warts exposed for the first time Saturday, but even not playing at its best, Ohio State still keeps on rolling. Can the Buckeyes beat the bye by three touchdowns though? That’s the real question.
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