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Big Ten Power Rankings Week 10: Spartans defeat Wolverines at home.

By Dante Pryor

Sep 25, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker talks to a referee during the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2021; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker talks to a referee during the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 2, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema walks onto the field before his team’s game with the Charlotte 49ers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema walks onto the field before his team’s game with the Charlotte 49ers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Indiana Hoosiers are in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Their 38-35 loss to the Maryland Terrapins was the most points they’d scored in any game during this slide. Freshman Donaven McCulley started and played well, throwing two touchdowns.

With no hope for a bowl game this season, playing young guys is the way to go if you are Tom Allen. It makes sense because the Hoosiers won’t get those extra bowl game practices. Going young now allows Allen and his staff to see the young talent against real competition as well.

Illinois might have just two Big Ten wins, but one of them was two weekends ago against Penn State. The Illini might have forgotten how to throw the forward pass, but they ran for over 350 yards against the Nittany Lions.

Then, Illinois did the most Illinois thing they could do; they lost to Rutgers last weekend. That run game that was so potent against Penn State could muster just 3.6 yards per carry. A win against interstate rival Northwestern is the only thing that can save Illinois’ season.

Speaking of the Wildcats, Northwestern is reeling like their rivals to the south. Northwestern has lost three of their last four games, including losing 44-14 to the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Wildcats scored one touchdown in their previous two losses.

Northwestern will be hard-pressed to win in November with Iowa, Wisconsin and Purdue on its schedule. Both the Wildcats and Illini might find themselves playing for bragging rights and ending their perspective losing streaks.

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