Big Ten Power Rankings Week 9: Ohio State Moves Up After Big Win
With Ohio State’s win over Penn State, the Big Ten East’s picture comes into focus. Michigan remains the B1G favorite (-105) over OSU (+150), with PSU now a longshot (+1400) to win the conference. Meanwhile, things got blurrier in the Big Ten West as Minnesota dropped the first-place Iowa at home. Wisconsin is back on top, and Nebraska is lurking as a sleeper.
Here’s how the B1G teams rank after eight weeks of college football:
B1G Tier I: Natty Favorite (1) Michigan Wolverines 8-0 | 5-0 (1)Last Week: Won @ Michigan State 49-0| SP+: 1 | PFF: 2
Michigan failed to score 50 points, but not by much, and they’ve increased their margin of victory for the fourth straight week. It looked like the Wolverines were fueled by accusations of cheating and played with something to prove at their in-state rival.
Up Next: vs. Purdue (Nov. 4)
B1G Tier II: CFP Contender(2) Ohio State Buckeyes 7-0 | 4-0 (3)
Last Week: Won vs. Penn State 20-12 | SP+: 4 | PFF: 4
I was wrong in putting the Buckeyes third in my rankings. The offense was underwhelming against a tough defense again. With an assist from TE Cade Stover, wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. (162 yards) was the difference in the game.
Up Next: @ Wisconsin (-14)
More OSU-PSU: Defensive Clash + 1 Offensive Star | Marvin Harrison Dominates
B1G Tier III: Maybe Next Year (3) Penn State Nittany Lions 6-1 | 3-1 (3)Last Week: Lost @ Ohio State 20-12 | SP+: 12 | PFF: 10
That was a gross offensive effort by the Nittany Lions, a unit we’ve been concerned about for weeks. Drew Allar still hasn’t thrown an interception but did nothing to lift his team in Columbus (18 of 42, 4.5 yards per pass). Until proven otherwise, PSU is a rich man’s Iowa.
Up Next: vs. Indiana (-28)
B1G Tier IV: Bowl Quality, But Not Top 25 (4) Iowa Hawkeyes 6-2 | 3-2 (4)Last Week: Lost vs. Minnesota 12-10 | SP+: 37 | PFF: 25
Speaking of Iowa. Right or wrong, the officials robbed us of an extraordinary moment by negating Cooper DeJean’s potential game-winning punt return TD. The Hawkeyes kept Minnesota out of the endzone and still lost because the offense managed just two second-half yards!
Up Next: vs. Northwestern (Nov. 4)
More B1G: A Classic B1G West Slugfest
(5) Wisconsin Badgers 5-2 | 3-1 (5)Last Week: Won @ Illinois 25-21 | SP+: 28 | PFF: 33
Trailing 21-7 going into the fourth quarter, it appeared the Badgers were headed towards a second straight defeat before Braelon Allen (145 rushing yards) and Braedyn Locke (240 yards, two TDs) turned it on the fourth quarter (18 unanswered points). Not bad for the freshman QB’s first start.
Up Next: vs. Ohio State (+14)
(6) Maryland Terrapins 5-2 | 2-2 (6)Last Week: Idle | SP+: 32 | PFF: 37
Losers of two straight, the Terps had an extra week to regroup, and the easiest remaining game on their schedule is teed up, so they can earn their sixth win leading into the stretch run. They can qualify for a third straight bowl for the first time in 15 years.
Up Next: @ Northwestern (-14)
B1G Tier V: Somebody Else Has to Win 6 Games (7) Minnesota Golden Gophers 4-3 | 2-2 (7)Last Week: Won @ Iowa 12-10 | SP+: 59 | PFF: 34
It wasn’t pretty, but P.J. Fleck got his first-ever win over Iowa and Kirk Ferentz as the Floyd of Rosedale heads to Minneapolis for the first time in nine years. Winning without scoring a TD and forcing three turnovers, the Gophers out-Iowa-ed Iowa.
Up Next: vs. Michigan State (+7)
Before you make your bets for Week 7, check out SportsGrid’s college football picks and five-star player props!
(8) Rutgers Scarlet Knights 6-2 | 3-2 (8)Last Week: Won @ Indiana 31-14 | SP+: 49 | PFF: 47
With four games to play, Rutgers is bowl-eligible! The Scarlet Knights leaned into who they are with 55 rushes (276 yards) to 12 passes (39), including 143 yards (three TDs) by QB Gavin Wimsatt.
Up Next: vs. Ohio State (Nov. 4)
(9) Purdue Boilermakers 2-5 | 1-3 (9)Last Week: Idle | SP+: 76 | PFF: 69
Like Maryland, Purdue had an extra week to prepare coming off two losses. With five losses already (and a trip to Michigan looming), the Boilermakers face a must-win trip to Lincoln this Saturday.
Up Next: @ Nebraska (+2.5)
(10) Nebraska Cornhuskers 4-3 | 2-2 (10)Last Week: Won vs. Northwestern 17-9 | SP+: 61 | PFF: 53
Nebraska got a much-needed win, but were you impressed by an eight-point win over Northwestern with their backup quarterback? Or 248 yards by their offense for 4.43 yards per play? Yeah, neither was I.
Up Next: vs. Purdue (-2.5)
(11) Illinois Fighting Illini 3-5 | 1-4 (11)Last Week: Lost vs. Wisconsin 25-21 | SP+: 62 | PFF: 77
I’d say the Illini had the game stolen from them, but how good were they, considering they passed for 100 yards (less than Iowa!)? Their best offense was QB Luke Altmyer scrambling (100 rushing yards) when pressured; it’s not exactly a sustainable offense.
Up Next: @ Minnesota (Nov. 4)
B1G Tier VI: Not The Somebody (12) Michigan State Spartans 2-5 | 0-4 (12)Last Week: Lost vs. Michigan 49-0 | SP+: 69 | PFF: 83
Maybe the Spartans should have passed on playing Michigan after all. As bad as they were on the football field, MSU embarrassed themselves more by releasing that they considered not playing and by their pregame mismanagement.
Up Next: @ Minnesota (+7)
(13) Northwestern Wildcats 3-4 | 1-3 (13)Last Week: Lost @ Nebraska 17-9 | SP+: 93 | PFF: 95
Northwestern didn’t make it easy on Nebraska; they rarely do, but the offense couldn’t overcome the loss of starting QB Ben Bryant (missed second straight game). It’s the first time this season they failed to score a TD.
Up Next: vs. Maryland (+14)
(14) Indiana Hoosiers 2-5 | 0-4 (14)Last Week: Lost vs. Rutgers 31-14 | SP+: 95 | PFF: 101
Will the Hoosiers win another game? Can Tom Allen survive another 2-10 season (2021)? Those were my thoughts as I watched Rutgers run it down Indiana’s throat in Bloomington.
Up Next: @ Penn State (+28.5)
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