Big Ten Power Rankings: Michigan State’s loss is Iowa’s gain
By Mark Rogers
With Michigan State losing for the first time this year, the door is open for Iowa to pass them by, but should the Ohio State Buckeyes feel safe in the top spot?
Michigan State’s luck ran out in Lincoln where the Nebraska Cornhuskers got a late touchdown to shock the Spartans and drop them from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Ohio State and Iowa stay unbeaten while looking less than invincible. Michigan, Northwestern and Wisconsin fortified resumes that may earn a date for a bowl game on New Year’s Day.
The top half of the conference is very strong with six teams in the new AP Top 25 poll, which is more than any other conference in the nation. However, the bottom half of the league has seen some better days.
Here are this week’s Big Ten Power Rankings with a mere three weeks to play in the regular season.
14. Maryland (2-7, 0-5)
Despite Purdue’s best effort on Saturday, the Terps have a solid grasp on the Big Ten basement despite a respectable showing at home vs Wisconsin (31-24). That makes two straight encouraging performances (Penn State, 31-30 loss) as the defense held Wisconsin to 315 yards total offense. Junior quarterback Perry Hills sparks the offense with his legs at times. Another year with Hills at No.1 on the depth chart though should bring similar results in the win-loss column. He just isn’t the answer in the passing game (50.7%, 8 touchdowns, 11 interceptions).
13. Purdue (2-7, 1-4)
It was a good week in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers gained its first Big Ten home win in ten tries under Darrell Hazell and then rewarded its coach with a vote of confidence for 2016. Then came Saturday. Purdue couldn’t handle the prosperity and was trampled by Illinois 48-14. Freshman David Blough‘s education continues. Blough completed 29 mostly underneath passes in gaining just 174 yards and throwing two interceptions.
12. Rutgers (3-6, 1-5)
The record is ugly, but Rutgers has had its moments in 2015. There was the near miss vs Michigan State and, of course, the 28 point comeback at Indiana. Saturday would be just another ugly performance. The Scarlet Knights desperately missed Leonte Carroo again. The two aforementioned efforts came with the All-Big Ten wide receiver in the lineup. Carroo missed a second straight game vs Michigan in a 49-16 loss as the Scarlet Knights were outgained 487-225.
11. Indiana (4-5, 0-5)
The Hoosiers showed us that sometimes there is little distinction between the undefeated and the winless in the Big Ten. Jordan Lynch ran for 174 yards and two touchdowns as the Hoosiers hung in against the Hawkeyes before faltering late 35-27. Nate Sudfeld turned in his poorest game of the year (16 of 37, 180 yards, touchdown, interception). Indiana needs the usual Sudfeld production this week vs Michigan.
10. Illinois (5-4, 2-3)
Up and down. No other Big Ten team is riding the roller coaster quite like the Illini. Josh Fergusion came back from five weeks off to run for 133 yards and total 174 in a 48-14 pounding of Purdue. Ferguson’s substitute, Ke’shawn Vaughn also had a big day with 180 yards on the ground. The Illini came into the game with the league’s worst rushing offense with an average of 67.2 yards in Big Ten games. Illinois trampled Purdue’s league worst rushing defense for 382 yards. Illinois needs one more win for bowl eligibility and there are no gimmes left in November with Ohio State, Minnesota and Northwestern.
9. Minnesota (4-5, 1-4)
Right now the Gophers are looking to become the best team not to reach postseason play this season. Last week the Gophers mismanaged the clock and came up one yard short of upsetting Michigan. This week, Minnesota kept the Ohio State offense in check for the most part and made things interesting late in a 28-14 loss. The Gophers held the Buckeyes to its second lowest offensive output of the season in yardage (376) and second least points (20 vs Northern Illinois). Zeke Elliott only averaged 4.4 yards per carry and Cardale Jones only hit on 12 of 22 passes. Minnesota travels to Iowa next week. Upset alert.
8. Nebraska (4-6, 2-4)
Finally. An officials review kept Husker nation holding its collective breath. Brandon Reilly‘s touchdown stood and Nebraska finally found a way to win a close one; upsetting Michigan State 39-38. Nebraska’s season has been excruciating; losing five games on the final play. This win knocks MSU from the ranks of the unbeaten. Nebraska should get a similar shot vs Iowa in two weeks. Rutgers is next.
7. Penn State (7-3, 4-2)
Like many powers suffering through scholarship reductions, Penn State has pieces and parts as good as any. The offensive line and lack of depth continue to hold this team back. Christian Hackenberg throwing to Chris Godwin, Daesean Hamilton and Geno Lewis has produced more explosive plays (plus 20 yards) than any team in the Big Ten. Freshman Saquon Barkley (120 yards, 2 TD vs Northwestern) and one of the top defensive lines in the nation should produce better results against good teams. Not the case. Penn State gets two more shots to show it belongs with Michigan and Michigan State left.
6. Wisconsin (8-2, 5-1)
The running game may never arrive, but the Badgers have adjusted. Take away Joe Schobert‘s 57 yard run on a punt fake and Wisconsin rushed for only 60 in a lackluster 31-24 win at Maryland. Barring an Iowa collapse, the Badgers blew the division in the conference opener and have quietly racked up wins ever since. Next week’s meeting with 7-2 Northwestern will be key to Big Ten bowl seeding.
5. Northwestern (7-2, 3-2)
Despite recent lapses vs good teams (Michigan, Iowa), The College Football Playoff committee rewarded Northwestern with a No. 21 ranking for possibly the most impressive non-conference showing in the nation with wins over Stanford and Duke. The Wildcats notched another quality win on Saturday as Jack Mitchell‘s 35-yard field goal beat Penn State 23-21. Northwestern won despite losing quarterback Clayton Thorson and three other starters during the game. A date with Wisconsin Saturday may stand between the Wildcats and a New Year’s Day Bowl bid.
4. Michigan (7-2, 3-2)
Blake O’Neill‘s dropped punt snap may haunt Michigan for a long time. Since Week 1, the Wolverines have generally played like the best team in the Big Ten. Jim Harbaugh racked up another dominant performance in disposing of Rutgers 49-16. We’ll see what Michigan shows against a capable offense in Nate Sudfeld, Jordan Howard and Indiana. Michigan State and Minnesota found holes in the Wolverines’ secondary that we thought never existed.
3. Michigan State (8-1, 4-1)
Many have been waiting for the Spartans to dominate someone. Some have been waiting for Michigan State’s good fortune to run out. Group B wins. The officials may have missed the call on Nebraska’s game-winning touchdown, but it was the Spartans who missed several opportunities to close out the Huskers, including Arjen Colquhoun‘s dropped interception on the previous play. The Spartans can’t pout for long. Maryland’s record might be miserable, but the Terps have pushed Penn State and Wisconsin to the limit the last two weeks.
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2. Iowa (9-0, 5-0)
The Hawkeyes win on Saturdays, then spend the entire week hearing how they’re really no good. Then Iowa wins again on Saturday and the narrative is tweaked ever so slightly to outline the weak schedule or lack of talent. The most recent unimpressive win (35-27 over Indiana) included more of the same as C.J. Beathard continues to improve. Beathard hit on 19 of 31 throws for 233 yards and a score. Iowa’s third string running back, Akrum Wadley, rushed for 120 yards on just 12 carries. After carrying the ball just eight times in the first six games, Wadley has exploded for 391 yards in three games.
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1. Ohio State (9-0, 5-0)
After humming along last game with J.T. Barrett as the starter, the Buckeyes slumbered again with Cardale Jones at quarterback vs Minnesota with Barrett suspended. Jones only hit on 12 of 22 passes. Ohio State needed a Jones sprint to the end zone to finally put away Minnesota with under two minutes to play. Ohio State held the Gophers to 33 yards rushing on 26 attempts and 314 total yards. The Buckeyes are No. 1 for another week with Illinois on deck and Barrett back in the lineup.