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Big Ten Football: New No.1 emerges in Week 8 power rankings

By Richard Kimball

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 20: Binjimen Victor #9 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is tackled after the pass reception by Antonio Blackmon #14 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 20: Binjimen Victor #9 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is tackled after the pass reception by Antonio Blackmon #14 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Golden Gophers got off to a great start this season, winning all three of their non-conference games. But since conference play started, Minnesota hasn’t won a game. Going winless in conference play was definitely not the plan by head coach, P.J. Fleck. And with their remaining schedule, the Gophers should pick up at least one conference win.

That winning could start this Saturday as they host the Indiana Hoosiers. This is a pivotal game for Minnesota, in not only winning a conference game, but also becoming bowl eligible. A win would prove worthy to achieve their postseason goal but a loss to the Hoosiers would end almost all hope for the Golden Gophers to play in December.

The Indiana Hoosiers stuck their reputation on Saturday, giving the highly ranked Penn State Nittany Lions an upset scare at home. The Hoosiers held two, small leads but couldn’t keep up with the Nittany Lion offense. The Indiana offense produced 554 yards but their three turnovers proved costly in the Hoosiers’ defeat. An offense that hurts itself, as much as it helps itself, won’t get any team far.

Indiana takes on Minnesota in a Big Ten game underneath the Friday night lights. The Hoosiers are just two wins away from being bowl eligible. And just like their counterpart, this game determines a lot for the Hoosiers’ postseason aspirations. A win puts them in a good situation but a loss means they’d have to find two wins against Maryland, Michigan and Purdue.

The Northwestern Wildcats have been on of the most inconsistent teams in not only the Big Ten, but in all of college football. After starting off the season with a win, the Wildcats lost three straight before upsetting Michigan State and barely beating the two of the worst teams in the conference, Nebraska and Rutgers. Their 4-1 in conference play but they have been far from impressive.

How good this Wildcat team truly is will be determined in the next three weeks. They play host to the Wisconsin Badgers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and go on the road to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. A win or two could jump the Wildcats in our power rankings but going winless could keep them where we have them now. It’s a reality check for the Wildcats and it’s time to see what type of team they really are.

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