Big Ten power rankings after Week 10: Ready for a top-3 showdown?
Another weekend of Big Ten football kept two trends perfectly in sync. In the East, the top three teams continued to flex their muscle to help set the stage for a massive game in Week 11 between Penn State and Michigan, and keeping the anticipation for a big rivalry game between Michigan and Ohio State at the end of the year fueled. And in the West, chaos is breaking out everywhere with Iowa finding a way to rise to the top.
It was a bit of an eventful weekend of Big Ten football that has helped shape the division races expected to come down to the wire. We still have tremendous confidence in Michigan and Ohio State being the top two teams in the Big Ten, and Penn State showed once again there is a good bit of distance between the top 3 and the rest of the conference as well.
Here is a look at my updated Big Ten power rankings following the results of Week 10.
Purdue (2-7, 1-5 Big Ten)
Last game: Lost at Michigan, 41-13
We pretty much saw this weekend’s result coming from miles away. Purdue was no match on the road for the Michigan Wolverines and now the Boilermakers are sitting at the bottom of the Big Ten. Purdue is the first Big Ten team to be ruled ineligible for a bowl game this season.
Previous ranking: 12
Next up for Purdue: vs. Minnesota
Michigan State (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten)
Last game: Won vs. Nebraska, 20-17
Just when it looked as though Michigan State was going to be dead in the water for the season, the Spartans pulled through for a home win against Nebraska. For now, Michigan State keeps their slim bowl hopes alive, but it is still a massive uphill battle to the postseason.
Previous ranking: 14
Next up for Michigan State: at Ohio State
Indiana (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten)
Last game: Won vs. Wisconsin, 20-14
Give credit to Indiana, because they looked to show some improvement in recent weeks. After giving Penn State a bit of a scare the previous week, Indiana returned home to spring an upset on Wisconsin for its first Big Ten win of the season.
Previous ranking: 13
Next up for Indiana: at Illinois
Northwestern (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten)
Last game: Lost vs. Iowa, 10-7
Northwestern called Wrigley Field home once again this past weekend but the offense could not come through in a defensive battle with Iowa. Northwestern’s bowl hopes took a hit with the loss but there is still a path to 6 wins for the Wildcats.
Previous ranking: 10
Next up for Northwestern: at Wisconsin
Illinois (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten)
Last game: Won at Minnesota, 27-26
Illinois cooked up some late-game heroics to stun Minnesota in a nice division win for the Illini. John Paddock came off the bench to fill in for an injured Luke Altmeyer to deliver a game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute of the game. A shot at the division may be just out of reach, but a 3-0 finish to the regular season is feasible, and a division crown could end up being a reality.
Previous ranking: 11
Next up for Illinois: vs. Indiana
Nebraska (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten)
Last game: Lost at Michigan State, 20-17
Nebraska coughed one up on the road at Michigan State this weekend, putting themselves one game back in the Big Ten West race. The good news is Nebraska still gets a head-to-head shot at Iowa at the end of the season, but this result feels like a massive step back for Nebraska after seemingly taking some steps forward in recent weeks.
Previous ranking: 9
Next up for Nebraska: vs. Maryland
Minnesota (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten)
Last game: Lost to Illinois, 27-26
Minnesota let one slip through their fingers this weekend at home against Illinois. Minnesota squandered opportunities to put this game away for good and now the Gophers sit one game back in the Big Ten West standings.
Previous ranking: 7
Next up for Minnesota: at Purdue
Maryland (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten)
Last game: Lost to Penn State, 51-15
Maryland has now lost four consecutive games after getting run off its own field by Penn State this past weekend. After a 5-0 start to the season, Maryland’s bowl eligibility is becoming more of a concern than anyone thought it might be. If Maryland loses on the road next week, things could get tense in the final two weeks.
Previous ranking: 6
Next up for Maryland: at Nebraska
Rutgers (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten)
Last game: Lost to Ohio State, 35-16
Rutgers put forth an admirable fight at home against Ohio State before the talent of the Buckeyes came through in the second half. Rutgers just doesn’t have the offensive power to be a serious threat against the Big Ten’s top dogs right now, but the gutsy defensive effort did not go unnoticed this week.
Previous ranking: 5
Next up for Rutgers: at Iowa
Wisconsin (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten)
Last game: Lost at Indiana, 20-14
Wisconsin may have suffered one of the worst losses of the year by a Big Ten team this season. Losing to Indiana was incredibly costly as it knocked the Badgers one game back in the Big Ten West race. The depth at running back has been hit hard, but the Badgers still should have found a way to beat Indiana.
Previous ranking: 4
Next up for Wisconsin: vs. Northwestern
Iowa (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten)
Last game: Won vs. Northwestern, 10-7
How does Iowa keep getting away with this? The Hawkeyes scored just 10 points against Northwestern and it was enough to take sole possession of first place in the Big Ten West with just three weeks to go. Iowa has not scored more than 20 points in a game since Oct. 1 against Michigan State.
Previous ranking: 8
Next up for Iowa: vs. Rutgers
Penn State (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten)
Last game: Won at Maryland, 51-15
After a couple of weeks of frustrating offensive results, Penn State was locked in from start to finish on the road against Maryland. Penn State had its best all-around team performance of the season and gave itself a bit of a confidence boost with a big game on tap next week at home.
Previous ranking: 3
Next up for Penn State: vs. Michigan
Ohio State (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten)
Last game: Won at Rutgers, 35-16
It took a little while for Ohio State to get things going against Rutgers, but order was eventually restored. Whether that will be enough to keep the no. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoff remains to be seen, but the Buckeyes continue to be in a great spot with just three more regular season games to be played.
Previous ranking: 2
Next up for Ohio State: vs. Michigan State
Michigan (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten)
Last game: Won vs. Purdue, 41-13
Michigan just continues to beat up everybody in its path this season. Michigan has been superior on offense and defense every week of the season and has yet to face a real challenge. That will change next week but these Wolverines appear to be on a mission to destroy everybody in their way of a shot at the College Football Playoff no matter what the headlines surrounding them are saying.
Previous ranking: 1
Next up for Michigan: at Penn State
