Hoosier Huddle's Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 11
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Written by Evan McShane
We enter the final two weeks of the regular season and the division races are heating up.
1. Ohio State (9-1, 7-0) – Defeated Purdue 59-31
No surprise here as the Buckeyes are the hottest team in the Big Ten. Ohio State embarrassed Purdue at home on Saturday in route to their eighth consecutive victory. The Buckeyes host Michigan State next week in a matchup between two top-eight teams.
2. Michigan State (9-1, 6-1) – Defeated Maryland 40-21
Michigan State blew out Maryland at home on Saturday, avoiding the trap game let down. Next week will be the Spartans’ biggest game of the year. MSU heads to Columbus to play Ohio State.
3. Michigan (9-1, 6-1) – Defeated Penn State 21-17
Michigan is still in the driver’s seat after narrowly defeating Penn State on the road on Saturday. The Wolverines play Maryland on the road next week.
4. Wisconsin (7-3, 5-2) – Defeated Iowa 27-7
Wisconsin is riding a six game win streak after beating up on Northwestern at home on Saturday. The Badgers are back on top of the Big Ten West. Wisconsin will host Nebraska next week where they hope to add to their win streak.
5. Iowa (8-2, 5-2) – Defeated Minnesota 27-22
Iowa is working on a two-game winning streak after a close victory over Minnesota. The Hawkeyes will host Illinois next week.
6. Minnesota (6-4, 4-3) – Lost to Minnesota 27-22
Minnesota struggled on the road but still had a chance to win the game. The Gophers lost their second straight game anyway, hoping to recover next week on the road against a struggling Hoosier team.
7. Purdue (6-4, 4-3) – Lost to Ohio State 59-31
Purdue was no match for Ohio State. The Boilers got ran off the field. Next week Purdue can recover as they play a weakened Northwestern team on the road.
8. Maryland (5-5, 2-5) – Lost to Michigan State 40-21
Maryland’s up-and-down season continued with a blowout loss against Michigan State. Next week Maryland has a chance to upset a top-ten team when Michigan comes to town.
9. Penn State (6-4, 3-4) – Lost to Michigan 21-17
Penn State’s season is once again not turning out how James Franklin envisioned. The Nittany Lions have a losing record in conference and have not won back-to-back games since week five. Penn State hosts Rutgers next week.
10. Rutgers (4-5, 2-5) – Defeated Indiana 38-3
Rutgers got back in the win column with a beat down over Indiana on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights head to Happy Valley to play Penn State next week.
11. Illinois (4-6, 3-4) – Bye Week
Illinois was off with a bye week. The Illini will play Iowa on the road next week.
12. Northwestern (3-7, 1-6) – Lost to Wisconsin 35-7
Northwestern was obliterated on the road by Wisconsin. The Wildcats frustrating season has reached a new low with NW now riding a four-game losing streak. Northwestern will host Purdue next week.
13. Nebraska (3-7, 1-6) – Bye Week
Nebraska was off with a bye week. The Cornhuskers will play Wisconsin on the road next week.
14. Indiana (2-8, 0-7) – Lost to Rutgers 38-3
Indiana’s 2021 season has devolved into a complete and total embarrassment. The Hoosiers are the worst football team in the Big Ten and it’s not particularly close. IU hopes to shake their conference-worst six-game losing streak next week when the Gophers come to town.