Hoosier Huddle’s Final Regular Season Big Ten Power Rankings
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Written by Evan McShane
The Big Ten regular season came to a close last week with the Ohio State Buckeyes winning the Big Ten title. Only five Big Ten teams accepted bowl invitations this season.
1. Ohio State (6-0, Defeated Northwestern 22-10)
Last Week: 1
The Buckeyes looked sloppy on Saturday in their methodical 22-10 win over Northwestern. Ohio State’s offense sputtered to start the game. After two field goals, two punts, and an interception, the Buckeyes trailed 10-6 in the first half. The next two quarters were a different story as Ohio State ran all over Northwestern while shutting their offense out. OSU was the best team in the conference wire-to-wire in 2020, and while their win in the Big Ten championship game wasn’t pretty, they are headed to the College Football Playoff for the second straight year.
Bowl Game: Sugar Bowl vs. No. 2 Clemson (January 1st @ 4pm ET)
2. Indiana (6-1, Game Cancelled)
Last Week: 2
For back-to-back weeks, Covid-19 robbed the Hoosiers of a chance to beat their rival and add wins to their resume. We’ll never know whether it would have been enough for the corrupted bowl selection committee to finally admit the Hoosiers are a top-ten team. Nevertheless, the Indiana football Hoosiers were the second-best team in the Big Ten this season, a feat many thought was totally impossible just a few years ago. Now it’s time for Tom Allen and the Hoosiers to get the next monkey off their back: winning a bowl game. Indiana was royally disrespected by the bowl selection committee and fans are right to complain, but beating Ole Miss is the only thing IU can do to continue to prove their doubters wrong.
Bowl Game: Outback Bowl vs. Ole Miss (January 2nd @ 12:30pm ET)
3. Iowa (6-2, Game Cancelled)
Last Week: 3
Iowa’s game against Michigan was cancelled. The Hawkeye’s regular season will conclude with a six-game winning streak, tied with Ohio State for the most in the conference. Iowa will head to Nashville to play Missouri in the Music City Bowl. Iowa paused activities on Monday for five days.
Bowl Game: Music City Bowl vs. Missouri (December 30th @ 4pm ET)
4. Northwestern (6-2, Lost to Ohio State 22-10)
Last Week: 4
The Wildcats delivered a respectable effort on Saturday against Ohio State. After holding the Buckeyes to a field goal on their opening drive, Northwestern drove down the field effortlessly and scored a touchdown. The Wildcats clung to a 10-6 lead after one half but were dominated over the final two quarters. Northwestern will play Auburn in the Citrus Bowl.
Bowl Game: Citrus Bowl vs. Auburn (January 1st @ 1pm ET)
5. Wisconsin (3-3, Defeated Minnesota 20-17 OT)
Last Week: 6
Wisconsin was able to hold off Minnesota in overtime, winning by a field goal. The Badgers finish the regular season with a .500 record and a number of cancelled games. Wisconsin snuck into a bowl game thanks to their victory in the season finale. They will play Wake Forest in the Mayo Bowl.
Bowl Game: Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. Wake Forest (December 30th @ Noon ET)
6. Penn State (4-5, Defeated Illinois 56-21)
Last Week: 7
The Nittany Lions finished the season on a four-game winning streak. They climbed out from the doldrums of the Big Ten and shook off an 0-5 start. On Saturday, Penn State finished their season by romping Illinois. The Nittany Lions hope to carry this momentum into 2021.
7. Minnesota (3-4, Lost to Wisconsin 20-17 OT)
Last Week: 5
Minnesota’s 2020 season ended as a bit of a disappointment considering their success last year. The Gophers fell below .500 with a loss to Wisconsin on Saturday in overtime.
8. Nebraska (3-5, Defeated Rutgers 28-21)
Last Week: 11
Nebraska’s finished their otherwise pathetic season with a win over Rutgers. A second half rally got the job done in New Jersey. All the Cornhuskers can do now is hope the future brings better football.
9. Maryland (2-3, Game Cancelled)
Last Week: 9
Maryland’s 2020 season was rife with cancellations and they will finish the year with a 2-3 record. The Terrapins had a pair of bright spots this year with upset wins over Penn State and Minnesota but were otherwise below average.
10. Rutgers (3-6, Lost to Nebraska 28-21)
Last Week: 8
Rutgers tied their school record for most Big Ten wins in a season this year. Although they lost six of those conference games, the three wins were a welcome sight after the past few years of rampant losing.
11. Illinois (2-6, Lost to Penn State 56-21)
Last Week: 10
Illinois 2020 season has finally come to a close. The Illini were steamrolled on Saturday. The program will be in rebuild mode after firing Lovie Smith and hiring Brett Bielema.
12. Michigan (2-4, Game Cancelled)
Last Week: 12
Michigan’s tumultuous year ended with a cancelled game against Iowa. The Wolverines struggled to find consistency throughout 2020. Jim Harbaugh better hope to improve next year or things could get ugly in Ann Arbor.
13. Michigan State (2-5, Game Cancelled)
Last Week: 13
The Spartans final game of the season was cancelled. Michigan State will finish the year hoping 2021 brings more success than 2020.
14. Purdue (2-4, Game Cancelled)
Last Week: 14
Purdue’s dismal 2020 season came to a close with back-to-back cancelled Bucket games. The Boilermakers’ end the year on a four-game losing streak.