The season is now starting to round the corner in the Big Ten and in college football in general. We’re now nine weeks into the college football season, and we have a fairly good feel about who’s in this thing, and who’s not. Wisconsin took a big hit again, Ohio State, Penn State and Minnesota continue to roll, and the rest are all trying to jockey for position.
We’re here to make sense of it all.
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 was busy playing Jump Around inside my house and got criticized for it from some Wisconsin fan neighbors.
14. Rutgers – (Last week 14)
Sorry Rutgers, a win over Liberty doesn’t get you any goodwill here. Try and win a Big Ten game and then we’ll talk.
13. Maryland – (Last week 13)
This looks like a team that has quit more than my dad trying to kick the tobacco habit. There’s always next year right?
12. Purdue – (Last week 11)
I know there are injuries, but at what point are we going to wonder if we put the train ahead of the tracks with what Jeff Brohm can accomplish in West Lafayette?
11. Northwestern – (Last week 10)
The Wildcats are in an unexpected downward spiral under Pat Fitzgerald. If Northwestern was a new car being purchased, it seems the offense package was an option not selected.
Next … 10 thru 6
10. Illinois (Last week 12)
Well well, the Illini won two games in a row in the Big Ten for the first time since 2013. There is a real chance black Santa (Lovie Smith) gives his team a bowl-game as a gift around Christmas.
9. Nebraska (Last week 9)
The Cornhuskers are now in serious jeopardy of not going bowling themselves. We thought a Frost was coming to Lincoln to thaw the program — and that might still eventually happen — but things are in a deep freeze still.
8. Michigan State (Last week 7)
There is chaos in Spartyville. Head coach Mark Dantonio shuffled around some coaching duties, but it didn’t seem to help much. Desperate times call for desperate actions I suppose. The offense is giving less than a Spartan effort.
7. Indiana (Last week 7)
It looks like head coach Tom Allen’s fiery pregame speeches are starting to have an impact. The Hoosiers are now going bowling, and not just at your local ally for a team outing.
6. Iowa (Last week 7)
Iowa found a little offense against a pretty good Northwestern defense on the road, and gutted out a win. Don’t look now, but the Hawkeyes control their own destiny in the West. But don’t worry, they’ll find a way to lose unexpectedly probably after knocking Minnesota or Wisconsin off.
Next … 5 thru 1
5. Michigan (Last week 5)
Okay Ohio State fans. Is Michigan a threat now? Since the second half of the Penn State game, the offense seems to be coming together more than a wardrobe full of khakis. Look out I say.
4. Wisconsin (Last week 3)
The Badgers got badgered in Columbus. This is still a good team that could make it to Indy, but there are things to shore up.
3. Minnesota (Last week 4)
The Golden Gophers continue to just win, and appear to be getting better as things row along. There’s still a wait-and-see notion here until the Penn State game, but there’s clearly signs of a big program-turning-season here.
2. Penn State (Last week 3)
Nittany Lion fans are feeling pretty good about the team right now. The game at Minnesota in a couple of weeks might be tough — but really — all eyes are pointed towards an “elite” (right James Franklin) matchup with the Buckeyes on November 23.
1. Ohio State (Last week 1)
What else is left to say? The Buckeyes curb-stomped the nation’s top defense statistically on Saturday, and did it in a less-than-ideal rain storm. No matter, Ohio State continues to roll along with three legitimate Heisman contenders, a defense that might really be the best in the country, and an offense that can sling it or grind it out. How do you beat this team if it doesn’t beat itself?
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.
