SBnation B1G Power Rankings

[anon_is9z1n0h3zblb]

Nothing here that's a surprise if you followed the team previews, but I do like that Connelly created a separate tier of suckiness for Illinois. The hiring of Lovie Smith is proof that thinking outside the box is not always a good thing. I look forward to a discussion in a few years on whether hiring Lovie Smith or Herm Edwards was the second worst head coaching hire of the decade. Charlie Weis being hired by Kansas will be hard to top.

This closes out the B1G previews.

Enjoy

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/7/10/17531442/big-ten-football-2018-power-rankings

I'll post Pitt preview when I see it since we do play them.

 

[BBrown]

Nothing here that's a surprise if you followed the team previews, but I do like that Connelly created a separate tier of suckiness for Illinois. The hiring of Lovie Smith is proof that thinking outside the box is not always a good thing. I look forward to a discussion in a few years on whether hiring Lovie Smith or Herm Edwards was the second worst head coaching hire of the decade. Charlie Weis being hired by Kansas will be hard to top.

This closes out the B1G previews.

Enjoy

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/7/10/17531442/big-ten-football-2018-power-rankings

I'll post Pitt preview when I see it since we do play them.

2 things after reading that.
Michigan better be lights out good or the excuses are going to be epic.
>>
Tier 3
9. Indiana
10. Maryland
11. Nebraska
12. Rutgers
13. Minnesota

Any of these teams could break through to about 8-4 or so, and if the Big Ten ends up being college football’s best conference this season, it’s because this tier actually didn’t stink.<<

There is no way I can see RU getting to 8 wins, not with that schedule.

 

[Obliviax]

I don't know how he could rank our WR below some of those teams. tOSU's WR have not been good for years. Wisconsin? MSU has one good WR, IMHO.

I also think PSU, Sparty and tOSU would have beaten Wiscy in the B1G. I like Wiscy but I would put them fourth in the B1G East.

 

[78SweetRevenge]

Nothing here that's a surprise if you followed the team previews, but I do like that Connelly created a separate tier of suckiness for Illinois. The hiring of Lovie Smith is proof that thinking outside the box is not always a good thing. I look forward to a discussion in a few years on whether hiring Lovie Smith or Herm Edwards was the second worst head coaching hire of the decade. Charlie Weis being hired by Kansas will be hard to top.

This closes out the B1G previews.

Enjoy

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/7/10/17531442/big-ten-football-2018-power-rankings

I'll post Pitt preview when I see it since we do play them.

I'm not going to say Lovie or Herm were good hires but I understand why those programs would take a shot at those guys. Just like I understand why Kansas took a shot on Weis.

I like the tiers. The top 5 is obvious. I'd have Purdue in the third tier though.

 

[bison13]

2 things after reading that.
Michigan better be lights out good or the excuses are going to be epic.
>>
Tier 3
9. Indiana
10. Maryland
11. Nebraska
12. Rutgers
13. Minnesota

Any of these teams could break through to about 8-4 or so, and if the Big Ten ends up being college football’s best conference this season, it’s because this tier actually didn’t stink.<<

There is no way I can see RU getting to 8 wins, not with that schedule.

Minnesota is weird. I think they are probably better than Rutgers and end up 12th but I also think that they could be that team that finishes above those others in tier 3. They always have good backs, secondary should be good with Winfield, it all depends on how the new QB works with Fleck's O.

 

[NedFromYork]

2 things after reading that.
Michigan better be lights out good or the excuses are going to be epic.
>>
Tier 3
9. Indiana
10. Maryland
11. Nebraska
12. Rutgers
13. Minnesota

Any of these teams could break through to about 8-4 or so, and if the Big Ten ends up being college football’s best conference this season, it’s because this tier actually didn’t stink.<<

There is no way I can see RU getting to 8 wins, not with that schedule.

I agree with the other poster, Minnesota above Rutgers. There are some really solid teams in that Tier 3, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska with Frost is going to be better, Minnesota. That's a "good" Tier 3.

 

[rohrmd9]

Are our special teams really going to be worse than all the other contenders?!

 

[Kmase21]

Pretty funny that "Bill C" and the rest of America is sleeping on PSU's WR's & DL.

Edit: I suppose our TE's brought us down in ranking but still..

 

[NedFromYork]

My tiers with no ordering in the tiers.

Tier 1: Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin
Tier 2: Michigan State (have to do it b2b), Michigan (have to prove not 3rd/4th East)
Tier 3: Northwestern, Iowa
Tier 4: Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota
Tier 5: Rutgers, Illinois

 

[Obliviax]

Are our special teams really going to be worse than all the other contenders?!

We've got a really good punter but have no clue who will be kicking FG's at this point. But agree that we will have good returners and coverage on both KO's and Punts. And, just to be clear, the worst of Tier 1, which are all pretty good teams.

 

[BBrown]

I don't know how he could rank our WR below some of those teams. tOSU's WR have not been good for years. Wisconsin? MSU has one good WR, IMHO.

I also think PSU, Sparty and tOSU would have beaten Wiscy in the B1G. I like Wiscy but I would put them fourth in the B1G East.

Agree. I also didn't see anything from the Michy WR's or their RB's to have them rated so highly.

 

[BBrown]

Minnesota is weird. I think they are probably better than Rutgers and end up 12th but I also think that they could be that team that finishes above those others in tier 3. They always have good backs, secondary should be good with Winfield, it all depends on how the new QB works with Fleck's O.

Yea we'll see what Fleck can do in year 2. I wasn't impressed with year 1.

 

[78SweetRevenge]

My tiers with no ordering in the tiers.

Tier 1: Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin
Tier 2: Michigan State (have to do it b2b), Michigan (have to prove not 3rd/4th East)
Tier 3: Northwestern, Iowa
Tier 4: Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota
Tier 5: Rutgers, Illinois

I can't see justifying Penn State in tier 1 but MSU and Michigan in tier 2...if anything we'd be in tier 2 with them. The rest I agree with

 

[NedFromYork]

I can't see justifying Penn State in tier 1 but MSU and Michigan in tier 2...if anything we'd be in tier 2 with them. The rest I agree with

We were CFP cusp the past two years and they both weren't?

 

[royboy]

Yea we'll see what Fleck can do in year 2. I wasn't impressed with year 1.

He seems like an ADHD kid who would wear you out, but just my opinion. Maybe he can get his kind of guys into the program.

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

Nothing here that's a surprise if you followed the team previews, but I do like that Connelly created a separate tier of suckiness for Illinois. The hiring of Lovie Smith is proof that thinking outside the box is not always a good thing. I look forward to a discussion in a few years on whether hiring Lovie Smith or Herm Edwards was the second worst head coaching hire of the decade. Charlie Weis being hired by Kansas will be hard to top.

This closes out the B1G previews.

Enjoy

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/7/10/17531442/big-ten-football-2018-power-rankings

I'll post Pitt preview when I see it since we do play them.

Charlie Weis. His first two seasons at ND were really solid, after which he demonstrated he's a REALLY bad head coach. And an arrogant jerk (but he showed that much earlier).

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

Nothing here that's a surprise if you followed the team previews, but I do like that Connelly created a separate tier of suckiness for Illinois. The hiring of Lovie Smith is proof that thinking outside the box is not always a good thing. I look forward to a discussion in a few years on whether hiring Lovie Smith or Herm Edwards was the second worst head coaching hire of the decade. Charlie Weis being hired by Kansas will be hard to top.

This closes out the B1G previews.

Enjoy

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/7/10/17531442/big-ten-football-2018-power-rankings

I'll post Pitt preview when I see it since we do play them.

It still kills me seeing Khaleke Hudson on Michigan's roster. SMH

 

[djr4rebs]

I can't see justifying Penn State in tier 1 but MSU and Michigan in tier 2...if anything we'd be in tier 2 with them. The rest I agree with

PSU and MSU should be in the same tier. Whether that is 1 or 2 depends on how much praise one wants to heap on the Buckeyes. You either let them have 1 alone or with us, Sparty, and Wisky.

Michigan being lumped in with those 4 because they throttled us in '16 is akin to throwing Iowa up there as well because they throttled OSU in '17... nobody is doing that. Hence, Michigan needs to be below PSU and MSU until they finish 1st or 2nd place.

Wisconsin is iffy. Are they really tier 1 because they have the easier path or are they really bottom end of tier 2 because they struggle with true tier 1, 2 teams?

 

[michnittlion]

I like Connelly's previews as a whole --- but I think he "wimps out" when it comes to the conference summaries. He should have more tiers. He is a bit reluctant to "take a stand."

He needs to split OSU, Wisky, U-M, PSU and MSU into 2 tiers (instead of lumping together).

And he needs to group the 8-some of IU, Maryland, Rutgers, Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue, NW and Iowa into 3 tiers (instead of 2).

Come up with 6 tiers. 4 tiers is not enough.

If it was up to me (me taking my own stand):

Tier 1: Ohio State alone.
Tier 2: in alphabetical order: Michigan, MSU, Penn State, Wisconsin.
Tier 3: in alphabetical order: Iowa, Northwestern.
Tier 4: in alphabetical order: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Purdue.
Tier 5: in alphabetical order: Minnesota, Rutgers
Tier 6: Illinois alone.

I think all of Tier 1 and Tier 2 have the same up-side. I wouldn't be completely shocked if any of those 5 made the college football playoff.

I think Ohio State has the least down-side, though. They have considerably less question marks, IMO, than the Tier 2 folk. I WOULD be shocked if Ohio State went 8-4 but wouldn't be shocked if any of the Tier 2 teams went 8-4.

 

[Judge Smails]

Pretty funny that "Bill C" and the rest of America is sleeping on PSU's WR's & DL.

Edit: I suppose our TE's brought us down in ranking but still..

Wisconsin just lost both their starting DEs to injuries with no guarantee either will be back this season.

It’s fine. We’re ranked in or near the Top 10. We do what we have to do and we’ll be in good shape.

 

[78SweetRevenge]

We were CFP cusp the past two years and they both weren't?

We absolutely were not on the cusp last year. And we're not talking about the past--we're talking about 2019 in which Ohio State and Wisconsin are the clear favorites. We can absolutely win the division (thanks to the home heavy schedule) but we aren't clearly above Michigan and Michigan State. That's pure bias right there. Maybe an argument can be made for Michigan but certainly not MSU

 

[78SweetRevenge]

PSU and MSU should be in the same tier. Whether that is 1 or 2 depends on how much praise one wants to heap on the Buckeyes. You either let them have 1 alone or with us, Sparty, and Wisky.

Michigan being lumped in with those 4 because they throttled us in '16 is akin to throwing Iowa up there as well because they throttled OSU in '17... nobody is doing that. Hence, Michigan needs to be below PSU and MSU until they finish 1st or 2nd place.

Wisconsin is iffy. Are they really tier 1 because they have the easier path or are they really bottom end of tier 2 because they struggle with true tier 1, 2 teams?

I can agree with this but I think Wisconsin is being underestimated. Penn State and Michigan State can't be separated.

 

[78SweetRevenge]

I like Connelly's previews as a whole --- but I think he "wimps out" when it comes to the conference summaries. He should have more tiers. He is a bit reluctant to "take a stand."

He needs to split OSU, Wisky, U-M, PSU and MSU into 2 tiers (instead of lumping together).

And he needs to group the 8-some of IU, Maryland, Rutgers, Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue, NW and Iowa into 3 tiers (instead of 2).

Come up with 6 tiers. 4 tiers is not enough.

If it was up to me (me taking my own stand):

Tier 1: Ohio State alone.
Tier 2: in alphabetical order: Michigan, MSU, Penn State, Wisconsin.
Tier 3: in alphabetical order: Iowa, Northwestern.
Tier 4: in alphabetical order: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Purdue.
Tier 5: in alphabetical order: Minnesota, Rutgers
Tier 6: Illinois alone.

I think all of Tier 1 and Tier 2 have the same up-side. I wouldn't be completely shocked if any of those 5 made the college football playoff.

I think Ohio State has the least down-side, though. They have considerably less question marks, IMO, than the Tier 2 folk. I WOULD be shocked if Ohio State went 8-4 but wouldn't be shocked if any of the Tier 2 teams went 8-4.

I also like this as a breakdown...solid...logical.

 

[djr4rebs]

I think Wisconsin is being underestimated.

The biggest issue with rating Wisconsin is they play in the West. Take '15. They avoided OSU, MSU, Michigan, and Penn State (granted, we would have been an easier game that year in comparison to '16-present). Ironically, Iowa avoided all 4 as well until meeting MSU for the CCG.

'16, Wisconsin went 1-3 against us 4. (Sparty was 3-9 so, not much of a brag there).

'17, Wisky went 1-1, beating a not great Michigan during the regular season and losing to the Bucks in the CCG.

'18s schedule actually favors Iowa over Wisconsin. Wisky plays us and Michigan. Iowa only plays us. Wisky/Iowa meet 9/22 in a game that will basically settle the West unless Northwestern comes out of their b2b Michigan/MSU weeks no worse than 1-loss.

Even when Wisconsin is great, they have still been beaten by the East team who finished first and sometimes, arguably, not as quality of a team as the East runner up. Until they win the conference, it's hard not to be skeptical. That's all.

 

[78SweetRevenge]

The biggest issue with rating Wisconsin is they play in the West. Take '15. They avoided OSU, MSU, Michigan, and Penn State (granted, we would have been an easier game that year in comparison to '16-present). Ironically, Iowa avoided all 4 as well until meeting MSU for the CCG.

'16, Wisconsin went 1-3 against us 4. (Sparty was 3-9 so, not much of a brag there).

'17, Wisky went 1-1, beating a not great Michigan during the regular season and losing to the Bucks in the CCG.

'18s schedule actually favors Iowa over Wisconsin. Wisky plays us and Michigan. Iowa only plays us. Wisky/Iowa meet 9/22 in a game that will basically settle the West unless Northwestern comes out of their b2b Michigan/MSU weeks no worse than 1-loss.

Even when Wisconsin is great, they have still been beaten by the East team who finished first and sometimes, arguably, not as quality of a team as the East runner up. Until they win the conference, it's hard not to be skeptical. That's all.

I don't understand why playing in the West is an issue. Wisconsin is a heavy favorite in the east--Northwestern is better than Iowa IMO. Doesn't mean Wisconsin will win the west or the Big Ten but they're clearly one of the two favorites. I'm judging the team solely based on how good they should be on the field. On paper, at least IMO, they're clearly the second best team--the schedule only helps them with the chances of winning 10+.

 

[djr4rebs]

I don't understand why playing in the West is an issue. Wisconsin is a heavy favorite in the east--Northwestern is better than Iowa IMO.

It's really about perspective. It's easy to project Wisky against east teams they won't play outside of the CCG, but it's worthless talk until it happens. OSU, MSU, Michigan, us. We all are going to play. It will be settled on the field. Wisconsin can lose two games and still win the West. 2 losses in the East and you are out.

Does winning the West really mean you are one of the two best teams in the league?

 

[78SweetRevenge]

It's really about perspective. It's easy to project Wisky against east teams they won't play outside of the CCG, but it's worthless talk until it happens. OSU, MSU, Michigan, us. We all are going to play. It will be settled on the field. Wisconsin can lose two games and still win the West. 2 losses in the East and you are out.

Does winning the West really mean you are one of the two best teams in the league?

No, which is why Ohio State made the playoff finishing second in the east. Winning either division or the conference doesn't prove you're the best team--just deserving of what you've earned. My issue is I think you (and many others) undervalue Wisconsin because they're in the west. If all 5 teams were in one division I'd still have Wisconsin #2 right now (based on paper) because of the team they have. Some years the top 3-4 might be in the same division but this isn't one of those IMO

 

[djr4rebs]

My issue is I think you (and many others) undervalue Wisconsin

Plenty of respect for the Badgers. They just don't have a great win against a very good or better East team in the time frame mentioned. Hence my skepticism.

You have them ranked #2. You think they get over the hump this year, and beat Michigan and us.

 

[78SweetRevenge]

Plenty of respect for the Badgers. They just don't have a great win against a very good or better East team in the time frame mentioned. Hence my skepticism.

You have them ranked #2. You think they get over the hump this year, and beat Michigan and us.

They don't have to beat us on the road to be a better team than us
But yeah, I think Wisconsin is the favorite in that game as of now--far off though

 

[djr4rebs]

They don't have to beat us on the road to be a better team than us
But yeah, I think Wisconsin is the favorite in that game as of now--far off though

At this point, it makes no sense to say that Wisconsin can be a better team than us even if Penn State beats them because of home field. Right now, weeks out, with no games to judge the '18 versions, you pick one over the other and say they are going to be a better team.

I don't think Wisconsin can cover our WRs and pressure Trace enough to disrupt him, particularly with the Badgers DL injuries. Today, it's a key difference. By the time that game rolls around, circumstances could be different...

 

[bmw199]

Oh the nay sayers... after this season tier one will have only one team: Pennsylvania State University

 

[NittanyOpp]

Preseason rankings are for media+ratings which equates to $$. There is no reason to rank teams until the end of October. It gives deserving teams an unfair advantage of reaching the Final 4, creates misconceptions about teams and false narratives.

If some media moron wants to write in a book to sell, fine. Its cool to look at to get excited about your team. But for any poll to carry any weight in the first 8 weeks of the season is laughable.

 

[Woodpecker]

IF both Rand and Loudermilk (some name like that) come back from injuries..

Rand won't be back this year

 

[mean15]

"This conference has lots of solid quarterbacks but only one who has proven truly awesome."

 

[Woodpecker]

TY

Hadn't heard that before

Rand

 

[78SweetRevenge]

At this point, it makes no sense to say that Wisconsin can be a better team than us even if Penn State beats them because of home field. Right now, weeks out, with no games to judge the '18 versions, you pick one over the other and say they are going to be a better team.

I don't think Wisconsin can cover our WRs and pressure Trace enough to disrupt him, particularly with the Badgers DL injuries. Today, it's a key difference. By the time that game rolls around, circumstances could be different...

It absolutely makes sense--was Pitt a better team than us 2 years ago? Was Pitt better than Miami last year or Clemson two years ago? A team beating another doesn't mean they're better than them. It has never meant that and will never mean that. It means on that given Saturday one team found a way to win. The more you write the more I think you undervalue Wisconsin--or simply greatly overvalue Penn State

 

[djr4rebs]

It absolutely makes sense--was Pitt a better team than us 2 years ago? Was Pitt better than Miami last year or Clemson two years ago? A team beating another doesn't mean they're better than them. It has never meant that and will never mean that. It means on that given Saturday one team found a way to win. The more you write the more I think you undervalue Wisconsin--or simply greatly overvalue Penn State

How many of those upsets did you predict?

Again, we have nothing to go off of yet. Week 1 last year, Alabama looked amazing thumping Florida State. People were predicting that both schools could meet again in the playoff. Didn't happen. FSU was mediocre. In the scheme of things, it didn't mean anything more than "facing Saban week 1 sucks".

To think Penn State is going to be better than Wisconsin isn't undervaluing one, overvaluing the other to anybody but you.

 

[78SweetRevenge]

How many of those upsets did you predict?

Again, we have nothing to go off of yet. Week 1 last year, Alabama looked amazing thumping Florida State. People were predicting that both schools could meet again in the playoff. Didn't happen. FSU was mediocre. In the scheme of things, it didn't mean anything more than "facing Saban week 1 sucks".

To think Penn State is going to be better than Wisconsin isn't undervaluing one, overvaluing the other to anybody but you.

You remember why FSU fell apart, right?
You're undervaluing them or overvaluing us--the more you post the more evident that becomes

 

[nittany dave]

Nothing here that's a surprise if you followed the team previews, but I do like that Connelly created a separate tier of suckiness for Illinois. The hiring of Lovie Smith is proof that thinking outside the box is not always a good thing. I look forward to a discussion in a few years on whether hiring Lovie Smith or Herm Edwards was the second worst head coaching hire of the decade. Charlie Weis being hired by Kansas will be hard to top.

This closes out the B1G previews.

Enjoy

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/7/10/17531442/big-ten-football-2018-power-rankings

I'll post Pitt preview when I see it since we do play them.

Ain't no way in hell Michigan is ahead of us.

 

[78SweetRevenge]

Ain't no way in hell Michigan is ahead of us.

I agree but we all know Michigan is stacked with athletes...if Shea Patterson lives up to the hype they could content. Right now, on paper, we should be ahead of them. And we have an easier schedule