http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2017/11/27/big-ten-power-rankings/879880001/
14. Illinois Fighting Illini (2-10, last time: 14): Just bad, bad and bad. They don't do relegation in the Big Ten, but if they did, Lovie Smith's team would be in trouble. Hadn't lost a game by single digits since mid-October.
(Photo: The Associated Press)
13. Maryland Terrapins (4-8, last time: 13): D.J. Durkin's bunch gave up the most points of any team in the conference. Closed the season on a three-game skid, though those opponents were Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State.
12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-8, last time: 11): This team had quarterback issues all season long and it showed as they finished as the worst total offense in the Big Ten. But, just the fourth-worst scoring and total defense, so hey, not all bad, right?
11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-8, last time: 9): Maybe if these rankings came out a few days sooner, it would have saved Mike O'Reilly's job. Then again, probably not. The 'Huskers ended the season allowing 54, 56 and 56 points respectively.
10. Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-7, last time: 8): The boat rows one win short of bowl eligibility for P.J. Fleck in his first year in Minneapolis. Despite ending the season with a shutout loss to Wisconsin, the Gophers had the fourth-best rush offense in the Big Ten.
9. Indiana Hoosiers (5-7, last time: 10): A decent finish to the season, coming eight points shy on Saturday of becoming bowl eligible. Only really struggled against Wisconsin and Penn State this season.
Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke (14) looks to pass against Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Photo: Julio Cortez, AP)
8. Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5, last time: 7): We're not going to buy the proverbial pump-fake of a blowout win over Nebraska. The Hawkeyes are the prototypical middle-of-the-road Big Ten team. Nice win over Ohio State balanced by five conference losses.
7. Purdue Boilermakers (6-6, last time: 12): Gets a nice bump up after closing the regular season with wins against Iowa and Indiana. Yes, Iowa beat them, but Purdue has a better scoring defense, total offense and scoring offense.
6. Michigan Wolverines (8-4, last time: 5): We hear the debate. "Can't beat their rivals" vs. "didn't have a quarterback." Both arguments hold water, but the fact remains they win the games they're supposed to and didn't have that "splash" victory this season.
5. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2, last time: 4): Finished the season as expected, successfully navigating the Rutgers-Nebraska-Maryland cakewalk in dominating fashion. But much like Michigan, the losses to Ohio State and Michigan State define their season.
4. Michigan State Spartans (9-3, last time: 6): Speaking of the Spartans, they did have those "splash" victories – literally, if you consider the weather – against Michigan and Penn State. Reaffirmed that last season's woes were merely a blimp on the radar.
3. Northwestern Wildcats (9-3, last time: 3): Who saw this coming? A seven-game winning streak to end the season after consecutive losses to top-tier Big Ten squads Wisconsin and Penn State. None of their team stats dazzle, just solid all around.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2, last time: 2): We still can't figure out how they got destroyed at Iowa. They looked pretty good – but not perfect – in the win at Michigan. Favored against Wisconsin, just keep the camera people away from J.T. Barrett on the sideline.
1. Wisconsin Badgers (12-0, last time: 1): Still no good retort for undefeated, so the Badgers remain No. 1. Win Saturday in Indianapolis and they'll be the third different Big Ten team in four years to reach the College Football Playoff.
14. Illinois Fighting Illini (2-10, last time: 14): Just bad, bad and bad. They don't do relegation in the Big Ten, but if they did, Lovie Smith's team would be in trouble. Hadn't lost a game by single digits since mid-October.
(Photo: The Associated Press)
13. Maryland Terrapins (4-8, last time: 13): D.J. Durkin's bunch gave up the most points of any team in the conference. Closed the season on a three-game skid, though those opponents were Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State.
12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-8, last time: 11): This team had quarterback issues all season long and it showed as they finished as the worst total offense in the Big Ten. But, just the fourth-worst scoring and total defense, so hey, not all bad, right?
11. Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-8, last time: 9): Maybe if these rankings came out a few days sooner, it would have saved Mike O'Reilly's job. Then again, probably not. The 'Huskers ended the season allowing 54, 56 and 56 points respectively.
10. Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-7, last time: 8): The boat rows one win short of bowl eligibility for P.J. Fleck in his first year in Minneapolis. Despite ending the season with a shutout loss to Wisconsin, the Gophers had the fourth-best rush offense in the Big Ten.
9. Indiana Hoosiers (5-7, last time: 10): A decent finish to the season, coming eight points shy on Saturday of becoming bowl eligible. Only really struggled against Wisconsin and Penn State this season.
Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke (14) looks to pass against Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Photo: Julio Cortez, AP)
8. Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5, last time: 7): We're not going to buy the proverbial pump-fake of a blowout win over Nebraska. The Hawkeyes are the prototypical middle-of-the-road Big Ten team. Nice win over Ohio State balanced by five conference losses.
7. Purdue Boilermakers (6-6, last time: 12): Gets a nice bump up after closing the regular season with wins against Iowa and Indiana. Yes, Iowa beat them, but Purdue has a better scoring defense, total offense and scoring offense.
6. Michigan Wolverines (8-4, last time: 5): We hear the debate. "Can't beat their rivals" vs. "didn't have a quarterback." Both arguments hold water, but the fact remains they win the games they're supposed to and didn't have that "splash" victory this season.
5. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2, last time: 4): Finished the season as expected, successfully navigating the Rutgers-Nebraska-Maryland cakewalk in dominating fashion. But much like Michigan, the losses to Ohio State and Michigan State define their season.
4. Michigan State Spartans (9-3, last time: 6): Speaking of the Spartans, they did have those "splash" victories – literally, if you consider the weather – against Michigan and Penn State. Reaffirmed that last season's woes were merely a blimp on the radar.
3. Northwestern Wildcats (9-3, last time: 3): Who saw this coming? A seven-game winning streak to end the season after consecutive losses to top-tier Big Ten squads Wisconsin and Penn State. None of their team stats dazzle, just solid all around.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-2, last time: 2): We still can't figure out how they got destroyed at Iowa. They looked pretty good – but not perfect – in the win at Michigan. Favored against Wisconsin, just keep the camera people away from J.T. Barrett on the sideline.
1. Wisconsin Badgers (12-0, last time: 1): Still no good retort for undefeated, so the Badgers remain No. 1. Win Saturday in Indianapolis and they'll be the third different Big Ten team in four years to reach the College Football Playoff.
