Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 10
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Where does Indiana stack up against the rest of the Big Ten?
Written by Dan Mogollon (@sportsmasterdan )
Here are this week’s power rankings:
(1) Ohio State Buckeyes (Previous Rank: 1); Record: 8-0 (4-0)
Last Week: Won vs. Penn State 63-14
Taking advantage of their last opportunity to really impress voters until their season finale, the Bucks crushed Penn State. QB Braxton Miller continues to improve, as does OSU’s young D.
Coming Up: 11/2: @ Purdue; 11/9: Idle
(2) Wisconsin Badgers (Previous Rank: 2); Record: 5-2 (3-1)
Last Week: Idle
After playing just two games in October, the Badgers begin a five-game November stretch in Iowa City. With depth at running back and on defense, they should be OK.
Coming Up: 11/2: @ Iowa; 11/9: vs. BYU
(3) Michigan Wolverines (Previous Rank: 4); Record: 6-1 (2-1)
Last Week: Idle
After their effort against IU, Michigan’s offense has reason to be confident, while DC Greg Mattison had an extra week to rebuild the defense’s swagger entering a must-win game at MSU.
Coming Up: 11/2: @ Michigan State; 11/9: vs. Nebraska
(4) Michigan State Spartans (Previous Rank: 4); Record: 7-1 (4-0)
Last Week: Won vs. Illinois 42-3
With a strong bounce-back effort the Spartans again look like the class of the division, but before we crown them, MSU’s offense needs to show some consistency.
Coming Up: 11/2: vs. Michigan; 11/9: Idle
(5) Iowa Hawkeyes (Previous Rank: 7); Record: 5-3 (2-2)
Last Week: Won vs. Northwestern 17-10 (OT)
It wasn’t pretty but the Hawkeyes picked up a much-needed victory to put them ahead of last season’s win total and just one win away from becoming bowl eligible.
Coming Up: 11/2: vs. Wisconsin; 11/9: @ Purdue
(6) Minnesota Golden Gophers (Previous Rank: 9); Record: 6-2 (2-2)
Last Week: Won vs. Nebraska 34-23
The best win of the Jerry Kill era saw the Golden Gophers beat up the Cornhuskers in the trenches. Teams that play Minnesota better be ready to bring it!
Coming Up: 11/2: @ Indiana; 11/9: Idle
(7) Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previous Rank: 5); Record: 5-2 (2-1)
Last Week: Lost @ Minnesota 34-23
After making some progress, the Cornhuskers defense regressed and now they have questions on offense too, as Bo Pelini’s road woes continue to plague Nebraska.
Coming Up: 11/2: vs. Northwestern; 11/9: @ Michigan
(8) Northwestern Wildcats (Previous Rank: 6); Record: 4-4 (0-4)
Last Week: Lost @ Iowa 17-10 (OT)
Outside of the Wisconsin loss, Northwestern has been in most games, they just need to stop making backbreaking mistakes in the form of penalties and turnovers.
Coming Up: 11/2: @ Nebraska; 11/9: Idle
(9) Penn State Nittany Lions (Previous Rank: 8); Record: 4-3 (1-2)
Last Week: Lost @ Ohio State 63-14
Somebody had to take Ohio State’s best shot…unfortunately for the Nittany Lions it was them. As long as Christian Hackenberg is healthy they should be able to bounce back.
Coming Up: 11/2: vs. Illinois; 11/9: @ Minnesota
(10) Indiana Hoosiers (Previous Rank: 10); Record: 3-4 (1-2)
Last Week: Idle
With road trips to Madison and Columbus looming, Indiana must win the next two games at home if they want to keep their bowl hopes alive.
Coming Up: 11/2: vs. Minnesota; 11/9: vs. Illinois
(11) Illinois Fighting Illini (Previous Rank: 11); Record: 3-4 (0-3)
Last Week: Lost vs. Michigan State 42-3
Their defense has allowed 137 points in three conference games (45.7 PPG), including 98 points in two home games…and in one of those games they played Michigan State (7 offensive points at Purdue)!
Coming Up: 11/2: @ Penn State; 11/9: @ Indiana
(12) Purdue Boilermakers (Previous Rank: 12); Record: 1-6 (0-3)
Last Week: Idle
Couldn’t the Boilermakers have their week off after they play the Buckeyes? They could have six weeks to prepare for OSU and it wouldn’t matter.
Coming Up: 11/2: vs. Ohio State; 11/9: vs. Iowa
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Daniel Mogollon is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America. He is also a voter for the Thorpe and the Rotary Lombardi Award, as well as the Latino Sports MVP Awards.