Big Ten Power Rankings Week 9: Two big games this weekend

Somehow, someway, the Illini defeated an injury-riddled Penn State team in a nine-overtime bowling shoe ugly game in Happy Valley. Their win against the Nittany Lions is the second unexpected win of the season.

Illinois made no bones about how they are going to win games. The Illini are going to run the football a lot. Illinois ran the football 67 times. Though he’s spent some time at wide receiver this season, putting Isaiah Williams behind center as a plus in the running game makes a ton of sense.

The Terps have lost three games in a row and have lost two of their best wide receivers along the way. What does not help is how bad Maryland has been trounced the last three games. Maryland has lost by an average margin of over 35 points.

Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has turned the ball over way too much, and the defense can’t stop anyone. If the Terrapins miss the postseason, let the Mike Locksley hot-seat talk begin.

When the Illini beat the Cornhuskers, the Scott Frost hot-seat was getting warm. Then, we admired the moral victories against Oklahoma and Michigan State. Adrian Martinez had taken a step forward and was undoubtedly the ‘Huskers’ best player.

Now, the Cornhuskers have lost four of their last five, and those moral victories are still losses. The mistakes that have plagued Nebraska have people wondering whether it is coincidence or coaching?