Big Ten Football Power Rankings 2017: Badgers remain steady in Week 11

The good news for Rutgers is they were not shutout by Penn State this year. The Scarlet Knights jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The Nittany Lions then woke up and scored the next 35 points in the game.

Rutgers had been improving, winning three of their last four games. But playing in Happy Valley, where the Lions have now won 13 in a row, is a different beast. Rutgers failed to turn early Penn State mistakes into more than field goals, which would have put more pressure on the Lions. Instead Penn State got it going and held Rutgers to only 200 yards total while keeping them out of the end zone.

Rutgers must win their last two games at Indiana and against Michigan State at home to have any chance for a bowl. It probably won’t happen, but the Knights have improved in Chris Ash’s second season.

Minnesota ran over and around Nebraska on Saturday, putting up 54 points in the process. The Gophers are one win away from bowl eligibility.

The Gophers feasted on the rushing attack, totaling 409 yards on the ground against the Huskers. Quarterback Demry Croft led the team with 183 yards on only 10 carries and added three scores. Running back Rodney Smith pitched in 134 yards of his own and scored the game’s first touchdown on the opening kickoff. Finally running back Kobe McCrary got in on the party as well with 93 yards and three scores. Why bother passing when the flood gates were open on the ground?

It will be tough, but Minnesota needs to win one of their next two to secure bowl eligibility. Beating Wisconsin in the finale is probably out of the question. However if the Gophers can put it altogether in Evanston next week against Northwestern, it would be a quality win.

Indiana finally notched their first conference win of the season. No matter how bad a team is playing, Illinois is a good opponent to cure the losing woes.

Quarterback Richard Lagow played well. He was efficient, completing nearly 67 percent of his passes, and threw for 289 yards and two scores. His one mistake was an interception, but the Illini could do nothing with it on their ensuing possession. The Hoosiers added 139 yards on the ground and a touchdown by running back Morgan Ellison.

With the win, Indiana kept their hopes alive for bowl eligibility. They face Rutgers at home next Saturday.