Big Ten Power Rankings: Iowa, Michigan State battle for league supremacy
By Mark Rogers
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
6. Wisconsin (9-3, 6-2)
The Badgers won the Paul Bunyan Axe for a 12th consecutive year with a 31-21 win over Minnesota. It was another win over a team the Badgers should beat. Wisconsin’s six Big Ten wins came against teams that went a combined 10-38 in the conference. The Badgers lost to Alabama, Iowa and Northwestern (33-3 overall). Abandoned by its usually vaunted rushing attack, Wisconsin rode the right arm of Joel Stave (60.4 percent, 10 touchdowns, 11 interceptions) and the nations’ No. 1 scoring (13.1 ppg) and No. 3 total defense (267 ypg) to a pretty prestigious bowl game.
5. Northwestern (10-2, 6-2)
Aside from back to back blowout losses to Michigan (38-0) and Iowa (40-10), it was dream comeback season for Pat Fitzgerald’s program. The Wildcats boast arguably the league’s most impressive non-conference wins in Stanford (10-2) and Duke (7-5). Freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson (51.6 percent, 12 total touchdowns), sophomore running back Justin Jackson (1344 rush yards, 4 touchdowns) and an underrated defense (8th in scoring, 11th in yards) should be headed to a top bowl destination.
Next: Michigan - Ohio State