Final Big Ten Football Power Rankings for the 2021 season

All three teams should be ranked 1A, 1B, and 1C but one team must be ranked number one overall in these Big Ten power rankings.

As it goes, Michigan State defeated Michigan then Ohio State beat Michigan State, and then Michigan defeated Ohio State.

All three teams won on their home field when they faced off against one another and all three teams have various reasons why their fanbases can make an argument why they should be ranked number one.

Here is a look at all three tier-one teams.

Big Ten Record: 8-1

Victories: At Minnesota, Tulsa, Akron, at Rutgers, Maryland, at Indiana, Penn State, at Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State, and Utah (neutral site)

Wins over bowl teams: 8

Road victories: 4

Wins over ranked opponents: 2

Victories over conference champions: 1

Bowl Game: Defeated Utah in the Rose Bowl

Big Ten Record: 8-1

Victories: Western Michigan, Washington, Northern Illinois, Rutgers, at Wisconsin, at Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana, at Penn State, at Maryland, Ohio State, and Iowa (neutral site)

Wins over bowl teams: 8

Road victories: 4

Wins over ranked opponents: 2

Victories over conference champions: 1

Bowl Game: Lost to Georgia in the Orange Bowl

Big Ten Record: 7-2

Victories: At Northwestern, Youngstown, at Miami, Nebraska, Western Kentucky, at Rutgers, at Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, Penn State, and Pittsburgh (neutral site)

Wins over bowl teams: 6

Road victories: 4

Wins over ranked opponents: 2

Victories over conference champions: 2

Bowl Game: Defeated Pitt in the Peach Bowl

Ohio State’s home loss against Oregon looked like to be a very respectable defeat but the Ducks ended up losing three of their last four games to end up with four losses on the season.

The Buckeyes lost on the road to Michigan to end the regular season but had an opportunity for redemption in the Rose Bowl. Even though they gave up 45 points to Utah, they ended up defeating the Utes by three points to capture the Rose Bowl trophy. The Buckeyes best true road game victory was at Minnesota in their home opener as their best wins came on their home field this season.  Also on the flip side, the Buckeyes have a lot to be proud of as well.

First, Ohio State defeated Minnesota on the road by double digits, handily defeated Michigan State on their home field, beat Purdue in a high-scoring game in Columbus, and defeated Penn State as well at home. Second, they defeated Rutgers, Maryland, and Indiana by a combined score of 172 to 37. Finally, the Buckeyes scored 52 or more points six times and scored 41 or more points nine times this season. Ohio State arguably had the best offense in the Big Ten this season. Now let’s look at Michigan.

Michigan was able to find a way to defeat Rutgers at home by seven and on the road against Nebraska won by three points early on in their season. The Wolverines went into their game undefeated going against the Spartans but couldn’t win on the road as Michigan State’s running back Kenneth Walker III scored five touchdowns to give Michigan their first loss of the season.

Michigan would bounce back and won a tough road game against Penn State as the Wolverines were able to get out of Happy Valley with a four-point victory. After three impressive wins against Maryland, Ohio State, and Iowa they faced Georgia in the college football playoffs. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 27-3 lead on the Wolverines and ended up defeating Michigan in the Orange Bowl.

Michigan played very well to open its season as they won its first three games of the season at home by a combined 141-34 to end non-conference play at 3-0.

However, Washington finished the season with eight losses, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois ended their seasons with five losses apiece making their non-conference schedule not as difficult as once may have thought.

However, the Wolverines had an impressive road victory against Wisconsin and defeated Iowa by 39 points in the Big Ten conference championship game. The best moment was Michigan defeating Ohio State in the Big House by defeating the Buckeyes by 15 points. Now let’s take a look at the Spartans.

Michigan State out of the three teams had the most impressive non-conference victory as they defeated Miami who finished in second place in the ACC Coastal Division on the road by 21 points. The Spartans also defeated Western Kentucky who made it to the Conference USA championship game and won their bowl game to win nine games on the season in a high-scoring game at Spartan stadium.

Like Michigan, the Spartans finished non-conference play undefeated. As mentioned earlier, Michigan State defeated Michigan to start their season 8-0.

However, the Spartans were decimated by injuries and lost on the road to both Purdue and Ohio State by double digits. Michigan State did finish their season with a victory over Penn State and defeated ACC champion Pitt in the Peach Bowl by double digits.

The Spartans had their struggles as they lost to Purdue by 11 and got beat by a ton of points on the road against the Buckeyes. They also needed to go to overtime to beat Nebraska but Michigan State defeated the Big Ten and ACC conference champions in Michigan and Pitt and they deserved much credit for those two victories.

The Spartans also held eight teams to 21 points or less this season and also scored 30 or more points nine times this season as well.  Michigan State by a very slim margin earned the number one spot in these power rankings.

Had Michigan been at least competitive in their game against Georgia they would have easily received the number one spot in these power rankings.

Ohio State had it beat Utah by double digits would have earned the number one spot but Michigan State without their best player in Walker defeated the ACC champions in their New Year’s Six bowl game by double digits and before that, defeated Penn State in their last regular-season game so they earned by a very small margin, the number one spot in these final Big Ten power rankings for the 2021 season.