Final Big Ten Football Power Rankings for the 2021 season

These five teams played well this season but were just a little inconsistent to be ranked in the tier one portion of these power rankings.

The largest number of Big Ten teams are in the tier two category as not much separate these teams for various reasons. All these teams have legit arguments to be moved up a spot or two but let’s take a look at the five teams listed as tier two teams in these power rankings.

Tier 2 Teams in the Big Ten

Big Ten Record: 6-3

Victories: Miami-OH, at Colorado, at Purdue, Nebraska, at Northwestern, at Indiana, Maryland, Wisconsin, and West Virginia (neutral site)

Wins over bowl teams: Wisconsin, West Virginia, Purdue, and Rutgers

Road victories: 4

Wins over ranked opponents: 0

Victories over conference champions: 0

Bowl Game: Defeated West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Reasons for being ranked lower: Lost at home to four-win Bowling Green, lost at home to Illinois, and only defeated Miami (OH) by five points at home.

Reasons for being ranked higher: Won four road games, defeated Purdue on the road, held West Virginia to only six points in their bowl victory, and beat Wisconsin by ten points.

Big Ten Record: 4-5

Victories: At Wisconsin, Ball State, Auburn, Villanova, Indiana, at Maryland, and Rutgers

Wins over bowl teams: Wisconsin, Auburn, Maryland, and Rutgers

Road victories: two

Wins over ranked opponents: 0

Victories over conference champions: 0

Bowl Game: Lost to Arkansas in the Outback Bowl

Reasons for being ranked lower: Lost at home to Illinois and lost to Arkansas by fourteen points in their bowl game defeat.

Reasons for being ranked higher: Won at Wisconsin, defeated Auburn in non-conference play, played a very difficult Big Ten conference schedule, and only lost to Michigan State, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio State by single digits.

Big Ten Record: 6-3

Victories: Oregon State, at UConn, Illinois, at Iowa, at Nebraska, Michigan State, Northwestern, Indiana, and Tennessee (neutral site)

Wins over bowl teams: 3

Road victories: 2

Wins over ranked opponents: 2

Victories over conference champions:0

Bowl Game: Defeated Tennessee in the Music City Bowl

Reasons for being ranked lower: Lost at home to Wisconsin by double digits and lost at home to Minnesota.

Reasons for being ranked higher: Defeated Iowa on the road by 17, beat Michigan State by 11, defeated Oregon State, and beat Tennessee in their bowl game.

Big Ten Record: 6-3

Victories: Eastern Michigan, at Illinois, Army, at Purdue, Iowa, at Rutgers, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Arizona State (neutral field)

Wins over bowl teams: 6

Road victories: 3

Wins over ranked opponents: 1

Victories over conference champions: 0

Bowl Game: Defeated Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl

Reasons for being ranked lower: Lost by 28 to Notre Dame on a neutral field, was beaten by Michigan by 21 at home and lost by double digits to Minnesota.

Reasons for being ranked higher: Won eight of their last nine games, beat Purdue by 17 on the road, defeated Iowa by 20, and beat Arizona State in their bowl game.

Big Ten Record: 7-2

Victories: Indiana, at Iowa State, Kent State, Colorado State, at Maryland, Penn State, Illinois, at Northwestern, at Nebraska, and Minnesota

Wins over bowl teams: 4

Road victories: 4

Wins over ranked opponents: 0

Victories over conference champions: 0

Bowl Game: Lost to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl

Reasons for being ranked lower: Lost at home to Purdue by 17, on the road they lost to Wisconsin by 20, lost to Michigan by 39 and lost to Kentucky in their bowl game.

Reasons for being ranked higher: Beat Iowa State on the road by double digits, won the Big Ten West division, defeated Penn State, and beat Minnesota.

You can make arguments to rearrange these five teams in the tier two category of these Big Ten rankings due to them being so close in so many ways. Let’s take a look now at the final three teams in these power rankings.