Big Ten Football Power Rankings by Tiers Following Week 10: B1G Buckeyes Win

TIER V – THE BOTTOM: NORTHWESTERN & PURDUE

Record-wise, you can make a case for Northwestern being in the tier above, but other than a win over Maryland, that hasn’t played out on the field this season. Considering they needed overtime to beat Purdue, these teams are close to even.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (4-5, 2-4)

The Wildcats played one of their best offensive games, averaging 6.1 yards per play. Quarterback Jack Lausch bounced back from his 82-yard game versus Wisconsin and 62-yard game at Iowa in the previous two weeks to throw for a career-high 250 yards, including the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to RB Joseph Himon II. The sophomore running back also rushed for a career-high 78 yards, including a 51-yard TD run. And yet, they barely beat Purdue.

Week 11 | Idle

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (1-7, 0-5)

Credit to the Boilermakers for coming back from a 17-3 deficit to send the game into overtime and not just packing it in when they fell behind by two touchdowns. Since Ryan Walters took over the play-calling duties, they’ve shown some life, but you have to question passing up a field goal on fourth and five in overtime and throwing on second and third downs if you knew you would go for it on fourth down. This was their last best chance to get a B1G win.

Week 11 | 12:00 | FOX | +37.5 @ Ohio State

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TIER II – THE CHALLENGERS: INDIANA & PENN STATE

With their first conference loss, Penn State dropped to fourth in the odds to win the Big Ten at +3000, while Indiana (+1100) took their place as the most likely challenger to the top two. PSU is still ahead of them with +2000 odds to win the National Championship (+1200 last week), compared to +3000 for the Hoosiers (+5000 last week), but IU is closing the gap.

INDIANA HOOSIERS (9-0, 4-0)

Were you worried when the Hoosiers fell behind 10-0 in East Lansing? I wasn’t. IU responded with 47 straight points behind four Kurtis Rourke TD passes. Indiana’s defensive front was even more impressive, as it burst through for seven sacks and held the Spartans to 1.5 yards per carry (sack adjusted). EDGE Mikail Kamara had a game with 2.5 sacks and 4.5 TFLs, upping his season totals to a B1G-leading 9.5 sacks and 14.5 TFLs.

Week 11 | 3:30 | CBS | -14 vs. Michigan

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (7-1, 4-1)

This was another disappointing big-game result for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions. They had their chances. Twice, PSU had first-and-goal from the Ohio State three-yard line and failed to come away with any points. Penn State ran four plays at the OSU three-yard or closer with a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, and neither Tyler Warren nor Nicholas Singleton touched the football or were even targeted—pure negligence.

Week 11 | 8:00 | Peacock | -13 vs. Washington

TIER III – THE BEST OF THE REST: ILLINOIS, IOWA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, USC & WASHINGTON

Iowa is starting to look like the best of this group, while USC is barely hanging on, severely depleted on the defensive side of the ball.

IOWA HAWKEYES (6-3, 4-2)

The Hawkeyes thumped the rival Badgers on Saturday night. Four Iowa players had at least nine carries and averaged 5.6-plus yards per carry. Kaleb Johnson rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns, while freshman Kamari Moulton averaged 8.2 YPC on his way to a career-high 74 yards. QB Brendan Sullivan added 58 yards (6.4 YPC) and a TD rushing while throwing for 93 yards. He wasn’t asked to do much but was efficient: 7-10, 70 percent, 9.3 yards per pass, 1 TD, 0 INTs. That’s all they need.

(FRI) Week 11 | 9:00 p.m. ET | FOX | -6.5 @ UCLA

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (5-4, 3-3)

Michigan quarterback Davis Warren (2 TDs, 0 INT) had arguably his best performance, and TE Colston Loveland (7 catches, 112 yards, 16 YPC) looked like a future first-round pick. Those types of performances might have been the difference between winning and losing against Washington or Illinois, but wasn’t nearly enough against Oregon. Michigan competed but was again out-coached and made too many mistakes to make it a game.

Week 11 | 3:30 | CBS | +14 @ #8 Indiana

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (6-3, 4-2)

Minnesota won their fourth straight behind the rushing of Darius Taylor (131 yards), who turned in his third 100-yard game of the season on 6.0 YPC, his best yards per carry effort in a Big Ten game since Week 2 of last season. This team is learning how to win, as three of their wins during this run have come when they entered the fourth quarter trailing, including two on the road.

Week 11 | 12:00 p.m. ET | NBC | -6.5 @ Rutgers

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI (6-3, 3-3)

After winning a couple of games, the Illini easily could have lost; they dropped one at home that they easily could have won. Illinois outgained Minnesota 5.7 yards per play to 5.2; however, they couldn’t overcome a minus-two turnover margin or a leaky offensive line that allowed eight tackles for loss, including four sacks. They get an extra week to regroup, coming off their first losing streak of the season.

Week 11 | Idle

WASHINGTON HUSKIES (5-4, 3-3)

After losing four times while outgaining their opponent, the Huskies flipped the script on Saturday, beating the Trojans despite an 84-yard deficit (375-459). Linebacker Carson Bruener (game-high 12 tackles) had two interceptions to set up nine points, while Grady Gross made both his FG attempts (was 5-of-12 in his first four B1G games). This is a good team when they don’t beat themselves.

Week 11 | 8:00 | Peacock | +13 @ Penn State

USC TROJANS (4-5, 2-5)

For the fifth time this season, USC lost a game they led in the fourth quarter. That probably wasn’t even the most painful part, as on their final two possessions, the Trojans reached the Washington one-yard line and 14-yard line with a chance to score the go-ahead touchdown only to lose the ball on downs. The O-line got some of the best push from them all season, and USC should have run the ball more (5.7 YPC vs. 5.86 YPA). 

Week 11 | Idle

TIER IV – THE FRINGE: MARYLAND, MICHIGAN STATE, NEBRASKA, RUTGERS, WISCONSIN & UCLA

I’ve bumped Wisconsin and Nebraska down. The only thing both programs have proven is that they’re better than Rutgers (lost to both), Northwestern (lost to Wisconsin), and Purdue (lost to both). The good news is they play each other, so one has to make a bowl game.

WISCONSIN BADGERS (5-4, 3-3)

Do you believe me now? After boat-racing Purdue, Rutgers, and Northwestern, the Badgers have lost two straight by an aggregate score of 70-23. They have now lost four games, all by at least 15 points and two by a score of 42-10. The defense allowed a season-high 42 points by Iowa, 422 yards, and 6.6 yards per play. Meanwhile, Braedyn Locke (15-29, 2 INTs) continues to prove he is not a B1G-caliber quarterback. Next up, Oregon. Yikes.

Week 11 | Idle

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (5-4, 2-4)

What a tease Nebraska’s effort against Ohio State was. Matt Rhule’s team is now 1-3 in one-score games after their comeback against UCLA came up short. Too often, this team doesn’t look prepared to play, as they fell behind 10-0 and 27-7 against the Bruins. Don’t let the score (27-20) or yards tally fool you; the Huskers were outplayed by UCLA (6.5 yards per play to 4.5). Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola (14/27, 1TD-1INT) continues to be shaky in Big Ten play. According to Rhule, he left the game with an injury but should be back for their next game.

Week 11 | Idle

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (4-5, 2-4)

That’s two straight losses by the Spartans and five out of six defeats (after starting the season 3-0). Where’s that improvement we’ve been hearing about? After taking a 10-0 lead, MSU gave up 47 unanswered points, their second home conference loss by 40-plus points! Adding injury to insult, QB Aidan Chiles left the game in the third quarter and was seen heading into the locker room with medical staff. Head coach Jonathan Smith expects Childs to play in Illinois in two weeks.

Week 11 | Idle

MARYLAND TERAPINS (4-4, 1-4)

Don’t expect a lot out of the Terps coming off their extra week to close out the season. Maryland plays at Oregon this week, and after a winnable game against Rutgers, they close out the season with surging Iowa and playoff-bound Penn State.

Week 11 | 7:00 | BTN | +25 @ Oregon

UCLA BRUINS (3-5, 2-4)

Long left for dead, UCLA has won two in a row, with back-to-back road upsets. Before their last-minute loss to Minnesota (led 10-0 at half and 17-14 midway through the fourth quarter), the Bruins faced a Murder’s Row of Indiana, LSU, Oregon, and Penn State. That’s three likely playoff teams and potentially a fourth. In the past two, Ethan Garbers has thrown for 602 yards (67.1%, 8.25 YPA) with six TD passes and no INTs.

(FRI) Week 11 | 9:00 p.m. ET | FOX | +6.5 vs. Iowa

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (4-4, 1-4)

Of the Big Ten’s five four-win teams, Rutgers has the most winnable remaining games. Their most challenging contest might be this week against Minnesota, but it comes at home. They also host Illinois between trips to former B1G East rivals Maryland and Michigan State. We’re not saying they will win them all or even half, but the Scarlet Knights have life.

Week 11 | 12:00 p.m. ET | NBC | +6.5 vs. Minnesota

TIER V – THE BOTTOM: NORTHWESTERN & PURDUE

Record-wise, you can make a case for Northwestern being in the tier above, but other than a win over Maryland, that hasn’t played out on the field this season. Considering they needed overtime to beat Purdue, these teams are close to even.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (4-5, 2-4)

The Wildcats played one of their best offensive games, averaging 6.1 yards per play. Quarterback Jack Lausch bounced back from his 82-yard game versus Wisconsin and 62-yard game at Iowa in the previous two weeks to throw for a career-high 250 yards, including the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to RB Joseph Himon II. The sophomore running back also rushed for a career-high 78 yards, including a 51-yard TD run. And yet, they barely beat Purdue.

Week 11 | Idle

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS (1-7, 0-5)

Credit to the Boilermakers for coming back from a 17-3 deficit to send the game into overtime and not just packing it in when they fell behind by two touchdowns. Since Ryan Walters took over the play-calling duties, they’ve shown some life, but you have to question passing up a field goal on fourth and five in overtime and throwing on second and third downs if you knew you would go for it on fourth down. This was their last best chance to get a B1G win.

Week 11 | 12:00 | FOX | +37.5 @ Ohio State

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