NCAAF Big Ten Week 13 Power Rankings: Iowa captures the West
I am not OK, ladies and gentlemen. We have only one week left of the regular season. That’s right. One week left. This is it, the end of an era for the Big Ten. Say goodbye to the divisions and say hello to the West Coast expansion.
It truly is a bittersweet time for football fans at the end of the season. The football is played for such high stakes, producing college football’s best product. This is peak college football, the meaningful games every player dreams of playing in as a kid. We have “The Game” coming up, and after that the conference championship. Soon after it will be bowl season, then the offseason. Let’s make sure to cherish the little football we have left.
Speaking of “The Game,” yeah, it’s going to be an important one once again. Both Michigan and Ohio State are undefeated. This one is for all the marbles. A spot in the Big Ten Championship game and, probably, the College Football Playoff is on the line. While we have talked about both teams as potential national champions, there may be room for only one Big Ten team at the table this year.
Currently, there are five undefeated teams in the top five. Then, you have the 9-1 teams: Oregon, Texas and, of course, Alabama, which can make things really interesting with a win in their respective conference championships.
For Michigan and Ohio State, it’s pretty simple. Go in and clinch your spot with a win over Iowa. Oh yeah, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have made their way back to the Big Ten Championship game this year, becoming the last West division champion. They look to do things on their terms by upsetting whoever their opponent in the championship game is.
A lot is happening in the Big Ten in this last week. Let’s look at the Power Rankings before the madness kicks off!
Indiana
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Week 12 Result: Michigan State 24, Indiana 21
Record: 3-8 (1-7 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 3-8 Purdue on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. CT on BTN
Welcome back to the bottom, Indiana. You will get to prove that you are only second worst in the Stink Bowl this week against Purdue.
Purdue
Last Ranking: 14
Week 12 Result: Northwestern 23, Purdue 15
Record: 3-8 (2-6 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 3-8 Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. on BTN
Same goes to you, Boilermakers. You stink this year, we all know that. Now, you have an actual shot to prove that someone else stinks just slightly worse than you this year.
Michigan State
Last Ranking: 13
Week 12 Result: Michigan State 24, Indiana 21
Record: 4-7 (2-6 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 9-2 Penn State on Friday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC
Honestly, did anybody even expect Michigan State to rack up four wins this season? Maybe they can provide a massive upset over a Penn State team that has looked shaky at times this year?
Illinois
Last Ranking: 9
Week 12 Result: Iowa 15, Illinois 13
Record: 5-6 (3-5 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 6-5 Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m. CT on BTN
Big week for Illinois here, the chance to become bowl eligible. It has to get through in-state opponent Northwestern.
Nebraska
Last Ranking: 8
Week 12 Result: Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 17
Record: 5-6 (3-5 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 9-2 Iowa on Friday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. CT on CBS
As usual, the Cornhuskers finish their season with a big one against the Hawkeyes. It’s been an up-and-down first season for Matt Rhule. Nebraska has dropped its last three, but it can become bowl eligible with a win this week.
Minnesota
Last Ranking: 6
Week 12 Result: Ohio State 37, Minnesota 3
Record: 5-6 (3-5 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 6-5 Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1
Speaking of becoming bowl eligible, the Gophers can do that this week as well. They are coming off a rough one against an Ohio State team that used them as a tune-up for “The Game.”
Maryland
Last Ranking: 10
Week 12 Result: Michigan 31, Maryland 24
Record: 6-5 (3-5 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 6-5 Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m. CT on BTN
These were an important two weeks for the Terps. Once in a free fall, they seemed to have stopped the bleeding. They pushed Michigan to its limits. Now, they can earn a winning season with a W over Rutgers.
Wisconsin
Last Ranking: 7
Week 12 Result: Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 17
Record: 6-5 (4-4 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 5-6 Minnesota on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1
Wisconsin somehow manages to find a way to win some of these games. I’m really interested to see what they look like in the future under Luke Fickell.
Northwestern
Last Ranking: 12
Week 12 Result: Northwestern 23, Purdue 15
Record: 6-5 (4-4 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 5-6 Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m. CT on BTN
Who would have guessed before the season that Northwestern would finish as one of the better teams in the conference and become bowl eligible? Give David Braun the Coach of the Year honor now.
Rutgers
Last Ranking: 5
Week 12 Result: Penn State 27, Rutgers 6
Record: 6-5 (3-5 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 6-5 Maryland on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m. CT on BTN
Come on, Rutgaz. This is the biggest game of your lives. A winning season is on the line.
Iowa
Last Ranking: 4
Week 12 Result: Iowa 15, Illinois 13
Record: 9-2 (6-2 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 5-6 Nebraska on Friday, Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. CT on CBS
If you think Iowa doesn’t have anything to play for this last week with the division clinched, you simply don’t know Kirk Ferentz.
Penn State
Last Ranking: 3
Week 12 Result: Penn State 27, Rutgers 6
Record: 9-2 (6-2 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 4-7 Michigan State on Friday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC
For Penn State, this is the worst type of game. An expected win with nothing to gain. All it has is something to lose in a pretty nothing game.
Ohio State
Last Ranking: 2
Week 12 Result: Ohio State 37, Minnesota 3
Record: 11-0 (8-0 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 11-0 Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. CT on Fox
This is it. All the marbles. Another storied chapter in college’s football’s biggest rivalry. Ohio State NEEDS to win this one badly.
Michigan
Last Ranking: 1
Week 12 Result: Michigan 31, Maryland 24
Record: 11-0 (8-0 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 11-0 Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. CT on Fox
Michigan just as badly needs to win this one as the rest of the nation hopes it loses. It is going to be the bad guy given the whole sign stealing scandal. The best way to play into that role is to keep winning. If the NCAA is going to hand down sanctions and strip you of wins, might as well make sure they are erasing some championships while you’re at it.
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