Week 9 Big Ten Power Rankings: East with a clear best, and parity in the West
I’m unsure if there has ever been a more striking difference between the Big Ten East and West divisions. And, that’s saying a lot.
The two divisions have been very different for years: The East featured the dominant three teams in the conference. The West, especially in recent years, has lagged behind its counterpart.
That really hasn’t changed much, the West is still a derp-fest that wouldn’t contend with the heavy hitters in the East. We saw a great deal more clarity on that east side of the conference over the weekend.
Penn State and Ohio State battled in a heavy defensive showdown; neither offense looked up to standard. Michigan, meanwhile, has continued to mow down competition. The defense is, well, a Michigan defense, while J.J. McCarthy looks like a possible first-round pick come April. Sure, the Wolverines haven’t really played anyone worth their weight, but these are the vibes of the division. It’s up to Ohio State to prove everyone wrong.
The West: Who the heck really knows what is happening? Everyone thought Iowa was going to walk away with the division, but it was unable to luck into another victory on Saturday. To be fair, Iowa probably did win that game if not for some serious ref-show silliness.
Almost nobody is truly out of the race for the honor of getting smashed by either Michigan or Ohio State at the Big Ten Championship game.
With the season heating up and the weather starting to become cold, here are your Week 9 power rankings.
Michigan State
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Week 7 Result: Michigan 49, Michigan State 0
Record: 2-5 (0-4 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 4-3 Minnesota on Oct. 28 at 2:30 on BTN
I mean, WHO ELSE could occupy the bottom spot in the Big Ten? The scoreboard saw more appearances from a certain evil dictator than points by the Spartans. What a mess of a program in every single way.
Indiana
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
Week 7 Result: Rutgers 31, Indiana 14
Record: 2-5 (0-4 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 6-1 Penn State on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. on CBS
Don’t think that you can escape ridicule just because Michigan State decided to be even worse. You are equally deserving of the bottom spot as well. It makes sense that the first result when you Google “Tom Allen” is the comedian, because Indiana football is an absolute joke.
Purdue
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
Week 7 Result: Bye
Record: 2-5 (1-3 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 4-3 Nebraska on Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m. on FS1
Purdue is not in a good place, but at least it isn’t THEM. Coming off the bye week, the Boilermakers desperately need to show some signs of life against Nebraska. (Looks at the rest of schedule) How the heck do they still have to play Michigan?!
Northwestern
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Week 7 Result: Nebraska 17, Northwestern 9
Record: 3-4 (1-3 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 5-2 Maryland on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. on BTN
Northwestern is what it is at this point. It is a pretty mediocre team in most facets of the game, but not completely terrible if that makes sense. It isn’t really good anywhere, but somehow there are schools out there that are worse. Given the state of the program, 3-4 feels like an overachievement at this point.
Illinois
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Week 7 Result: Wisconsin 25, Illinois 21
Record: 3-5 (1-4 Big Ten)
Up Next: Bye
This game could have gone so much differently for the Illini. I was preparing to move them up the rankings, talk about how they got the job done against a short-handed Badgers. BUT NO. Illinois gave up 18 points in the fourth quarter and lost on a touchdown pass to an offensive lineman.
Nebraska
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
Week 7 Result: Nebraska 17, Northwestern 9
Record: 4-3 (2-2 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 2-5 Purdue on Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m. on FS1
Is beating Northwestern, 17-9, the most inspiring or prettiest win? Absolutely not.
However, Nebraska should be celebrating every win it earns this season. Everyone knew this was going to be a transition year for Matt Rhule, with the talent not really where it needs to be.
However, he’s already looking like a massive improvement over Scott Frost. He’s a win away from tying Frost’s best year. Keep an eye on the Cornhuskers in the following years.
Minnesota
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Week 7 Result: Minnesota 12, Iowa 10
Record: 4-3 (2-2 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 2-5 Michigan State on Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m. on BTN
I think Minnesota might be the hardest team to rank in the conference. Here it is, moving up in the rankings despite Nebraska also winning. Without context, it’s hard to ding the Gophers for defeating a six-win team and putting themselves back into the division race.
Let’s be honest though, Minnesota lost this game. It was heavily aided by Iowa’s offense somehow being even more inept than usual, so it’s not a great translatable win. The Gophers looked pretty horrible themselves on offense.
No, it goes further than that. P.J. Fleck was bailed out by a pretty horrific call from the officials. Cooper DeJean’s punt return would have stood if he went out at the 1-yard line. They wouldn’t have even reviewed it. Simply a joke by the officiating crew. Put a massive asterisk next to this one for Minnesota.
Maryland
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Week 7 Result: Bye
Record: 5-2 (2-2 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 3-4 Northwestern on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. on BTN
I feel bad for Maryland dropping despite not playing this week, but that’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes.
Iowa
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
Week 7 Result: Minnesota 12, Iowa 10
Record: 6-2 (3-2 Big Ten)
Up Next: Bye
OK, so all that is going to be said about the game is the brutal call from the officials at the end of the game. Let’s be quite clear, though, Iowa absolutely did not deserve to win this game.
I don’t care that it is 6-2. Putting up 12 yards in the entire second half is a fireable offense for multiple coaches on this team. Just let that settle in your head. The Hawkeyes had 12 yards in the second half!
All of those jokes about Iowa and winning ugly are funny until this happens. It’s bad football, and it feels like Kirk Ferentz keeps gaslighting his team and fan base.
Wisconsin
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Week 7 Result: Wisconsin 25, Illinois 21
Record: 5-2 (3-1 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 7-0 Ohio State on Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. on NBC
Just looking at the scoreline, this is not that impressive of a win. Illinois is meh, and you barely beat them. However, the Badgers were down to their backup quarterback yet orchestrated a huge 18-point, fourth-quarter comeback. They are in first place in the West division.
Rutgers
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Week 7 Result: Rutgers 31, Indiana 14
Record: 6-2 (3-2 Big Ten)
Up Next: Bye
“HEY! COME HERE YOU, LOOK AT THIS GENIUS!!” I shout to Greg Schiano in my Jimmy Conway voice as “Frosty The Snowman” by The Ronettes plays from the jukebox.
Rutgaz is bowling, and doing it legitimately this time, too! They are 6-2, the program’s most wins since 2014. Sure, they face a murderer’s row of opponents, but they are a win away from their second winning season since joining the Big Ten.
I have not felt a sense of pride to be a New Jerseyan this immense since the time I saw Bon Jovi in concert at MetLife Stadium. In this house, Greg Schiano is a hero! END OF STORY!
Penn State
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Week 7 Result: Ohio State 20, Penn State 12
Record: 6-1 (3-1 Big Ten)
Up Next: vs. 2-5 Indiana on Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. on CBS
Can you name me a worse big-game coach than James Franklin? Seriously. This Penn State team is literally the same. It’s the same team! It’s the same cycle!
The Nittany Lions go undefeated, beating up on the lesser teams. Then, they have to play either Michigan or Ohio State and it looks like they are incapable of playing good football. Somehow, the offense always manages to just shrink in massive games. This has been the same continual song and dance for James Franklin, who is 3-16 against top-10 opponents.
Just look at these stats for yourself to see how ineffective he’s been in those big games. You watch, Penn State will win a New Year’s Six bowl game and repeat the cycle all over again next year.
Ohio State
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Week 8 Result: Ohio State 20, Penn State 12
Record: 7-0 (4-0 Big Ten)
Up Next: at 5-2 Wisconsin on Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. on NBC
Ohio State has not looked as impressive as everybody would have hoped heading into the season. On paper, this should compete to be the best offense in the nation. There is talent everywhere.
Yes, to its credit, Penn State is one of the elite defensive units in the game. However, it was just another example of questionable gamesmanship from coach Ryan Day. Day’s a frustrating one, because we see all of the success he’s had at Ohio State. He just seems to really struggle in those big games. Not as much as Franklin, of course, but there’s a notable dip.
It’s all going to come down to The Game now.
Michigan
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Week 8 Result: Michigan 49, Michigan State 0
Record: 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten)
Up Next: Bye
Once again, Michigan looks like the best team in the nation. Say whatever you will about their schedule, and it is ridiculously easy for some reason, the team as a whole looks fantastic. I think the most encouraging thing for Wolverine fans is the growth of quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He’s gone from a talented prospect with questions surrounding his overall game, to a player who is playing himself into the first round of the NFL draft.
Michigan finishes the season with Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State — Purdue is in there, too, looking like the silly hydra meme — so the Wolverines will be able to prove they are indeed this legit.
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