Big Ten Power Rankings After Week 11
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Yes, I know this is a strange city to be reporting from when you’re doing the Big Ten power rankings, but I had to be here. It’s all about validation, you know.
For more than a month now, I have been saying that Ohio State is not only the best team in the conference, but also the best team in the COUNTRY. So since Indiana had a bye week and I had a previous commitment with the book publishing company I own to promote my latest book, “Decade of Dominance,’’ it was perfect timing because No. 2 LSU and No. 3 Alabama were playing.
And now? Well, I stand corrected — for the moment. Now I think LSU will win the national championship, and not Ohio State. (And yeah, I saw the OSU-Maryland score!)
That may change, but the Tigers look awesome, and they’ve been doing it against top-notch competition, beatin their FOURTH top-10 team this season. LSU hung 46 on Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide — in Tuscaloosa, no less.
Here are my Big Ten power rankings after the games of Nov. 9, with last week’s ranking and this week’s opponent included:
1. Ohio State (9-0) *** Last week: 1
Last week: Beat Maryland 73-14
This week: Ohio State at Rutgers (2-7), 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: The Buckeyes just keep crushing everyone in the Big Ten, and it’s not even entertaining anymore. This one against Maryland was never in doubt either, and Ohio State easily covered the 44-point spread, the largest in Big Ten history. That record won’t last long because it will get broken for the Ohio State-Rutgers matchup.
2. Minnesota (9-0) *** Last week: 3
Last week: Beat Penn State 31-26
This week: Minnesota at Iowa (6-3), 4 p.m. ET (TV: FOX)
The skinny: Minnesota finally met a quality opponent, and the Gophers knocked off a College Football Playoff team in the process in its win over Penn State. Minnesota is in the playoff picture themselves now as they remain unbeaten at 9-0. Yep, I am now duly impressed. This is the highest the Gophers have been ranked all season.
3. Penn State (8-1) *** Last week: 2
Last week: Lost to Minnesota 31-26
This week: Indiana (7-2) at Penn State, Noon ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Penn State has to be kicking itself for the way it lost that game to Minnesota on Saturday. They had a chance, but quarterback Sean Clifford threw a bad interception in the end zone. It doesn’t get any easier for Penn State, with Indiana and unbeaten Ohio State next.
4. Michigan (7-2) *** Last week's ranking: 4
Last week: Bye week
This week: Michigan State (4-5) at Michigan, Noon ET (Fox)
The skinny: Michigan has been playing better lately, and the bye will surely help to shore up a few more things. The Wolverines have a physical finish too, with Michigan State, Indiana and Ohio State still to play.
5. Wisconsin (7-2) *** Last week: 5
Last week: Beat Iowa 24-22
This week: Wisconsin at Nebraska (4-5), Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Wisconsin had a real battle on its hands with Iowa. The Badgers jumped out to a 21-6 lead but then hand to hang on for dear life. They’re still alive in the Big Ten West, but they still need help and time is running out.
6. Indiana (7-2) *** Last week: 7
Last week: Bye week
This week: Indiana at Penn State (8-1), Noon ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Indiana is 7-2, and now they get back-to-back chances to prove something against the big boys after its bye week. The Hoosiers are at Penn State then get Michigan at home. With lots of bowl executives watching, the Hoosiers could really make some noise in the next couple of weeks. This is the highest the Hoosiers have been ranked all season.
7. Iowa (6-3) *** Last week 6
Last week: Lost to Wisconsin 24-22
This week: Minnesota (9-0) at Iowa, 4 p.m. ET (TV: FOX)
The skinny: I dropped Iowa a spot below Wisconsin last week for exactly this reason. Wisconsin is just better on the field, and the Badgers proved that Saturday. A nice effort by the Hawkeyes to get back in the game, though.
8. Illinois (6-4) *** Last week: 10
Last week: Beat Michigan State 37-34
This week: Bye week
The skinny: It’s just amazing that the Fighting Illini have won four in a row, and to do it the way they did at East Lansing was really impressive with that fourth-quarter rally.
9. Purdue (4-6) *** Last week: 11
Last week: Beat Northwestern 24-22
This week: Bye week
The skinny: The Boilermakers are the cardiac kids again, winning in back-to-back weeks in the final minute. This time is was with a last-second field goal to beat Northwestern. The Boilers are still holding out bowl hopes, but have two tough ones after their bye week, with games at Wisconsin and at home against Indiana. A 24-22 final score is rare, and it's really odd to see two of them on the same weekend.
10. Michigan State (4-5) *** Last week: 8
Last week: Lost to Illinois 37-34
This week: Michigan State at Michigan (7-2), Noon ET (Fox)
The skinny: The once-pround Spartans defense gave up 27 points in the fourth quarter to lose at home to Illinois. You just never see that from the Spartans. This is a team in disarray, clearly.
11. Nebraska (4-5) *** Last week: 9
Last week: Bye week
This week: Wisconsin (7-2) at Nebraska, Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Nebraska needed a fix a lot of things during its bye week, and it’s going to be interesting to see if they have. Husker Nation is still stinging from those back-to-back losses to Indiana and Purdue.
12. Maryland (3-7) *** Last week: 12
Last week: Lost to Ohio State 73-14
This week: Bye week
The skinny: Maryland is a mess, and it’s hard to believe they’ve won three games the way they did after watching them play the past two weeks against Michigan and Ohio State. Clearly outclassed on the talent level for sure
13. Northwestern (1-8) *** Last week: 13
Last week: Lost to Purdue 24-22
This week: UMass (1-9) at Northwestern, Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Northwestern found a running game, but it still wasn’t enough to get that first Big Ten win of the season. That had to be a hard loss to swallow, getting beaten by Purdue on a last-second field goal. The Wildcats should finally get that second win this week in a nonconference game againast Massachusetts, which might be the worst team in the country right now.
14. Rutgers (2-7) *** Last week 14
Last week: Bye week
This week: Ohio State (9-0) at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: Let’s see what Rutgers does after a bye week too. This program is gearing up for major changes in 2020, but there’s still three weeks to go here to prove something.
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