BIG Ten Power Poll: The Last Hope
Upsets and upheaval come after another week of conference play, but one team remains if the Big Ten wants representation in the upcoming CFP.
The Wisconsin Badgers are the BIG Ten’s last hope to represent the conference in this year’s CFP.
Quite the change from only a week ago.
If you missed the weekend action, don’t fear, because BadgerBlitz.com has you covered with this year’s wildest conference power poll yet.
1. Wisconsin (9-0, 6-0; 45-17 W against Indiana)
To reach the CFP, UW will need to display more commanding wins, as they did against Indiana last week. True freshman running back Jonathan Taylor (and Heisman candidate @HeismanTropyVoters; yes, I'm talking to you) deserves credit for leading the offense once again, totaling 183 yards on the ground Saturday. Moving forward, the Badgers will face their toughest two-game stretch of 2017 and their undefeated season, as well as CFP odds, will surely be tested.
2. Michigan State (7-2, 5-1; 27-24 W against Penn State)
Spartans kicker Matt Coghlin was the hero East Lansing needed, and deserved, after MSU defeated the Nittany Lions, 27-24, on a game-winning field goal last weekend.
What a turnaround after winning just three games and finishing second-to-last in the Big Ten East just a year ago.
Next week, the Spartans travel to Columbus for a matchup that will pit two division contenders head-to-head.
3. Penn State (7-2, 4-2; 24-27 L against Michigan State)
As Cohglin’s field goal passed through the uprights, Penn State waved their playoff hopes goodbye on Saturday evening. Additionally, running back Saquon Barkley’s quiet 63-yard showing certifies he does not deserve the Heisman runaway accolades many predicted at the beginning of the season.
4. Ohio State (7-2, 5-1; 24-55 L against Iowa)
The Buckeyes defense was absent on Saturday, allowing the Hawkeyes to finish with five touchdowns.
It was OSU’s first loss to Iowa since 2004.
This week, head coach Urban Meyer will face the surging Spartans in a game that has major implications for the probable BIG Ten East representative in the 2017 conference championship.
5. Michigan (7-2, 4-2; 33-10 W against Minnesota)
It was a quiet performance from Michigan quarterback Brandon Peters (8/13, 56 yards and one touchdown), but another healthy showing from the Wolverine rushing corps. Both Chris Evans (13 carries for 191 yards) and Karan Higdon (16 carries for 200 yards) recorded two touchdowns. A road matchup against Maryland is next on head coach Jim Harbaugh’s agenda before facing Wisconsin in Week 12.
6. Iowa (6-3, 3-3; 55-24 W against Ohio State)
The Hawkeyes almost defeated conference foe Penn State at home earlier this year but ensured another top-ranked opponent would not experience similar success. Last weekend, Iowa tallied 487 yards of offense and outscored a highly-praised OSU defense 28-7 during the second and third quarters.
Moving forward, the Hawkeyes hope to play spoiler to Wisconsin’s perfect record at Camp Randall this weekend.
7. Northwestern (6-3, 4-2; 31-24 W against Nebraska)
The Wildcats bested the Cornhuskers in overtime last Saturday, silencing the fans in Lincoln 31-24.
Wildcats quarterback Clayton Thorson did not record his best numbers (19/35, 243 yards and two interceptions), but he didn’t need to because running back Justin Jackson (154 yards and one touchdown) and the Northwestern defense overpowered Nebraska late.
8. Minnesota (4-5, 1-5; 10-33 L against Michigan)
If head coach P.J. Fleck and the Golden Gophers are going to play in a bowl game, he must start by addressing the Gophers' rushing defense, which allowed 371 yards against Michigan. Additionally, the offense was nothing less than dreadful. Quarterback Demry Croft throwing for just 74 yards and the team’s largest rushing total (38 yards) courtesy of junior Rodney Smith.
9. Purdue (4-5, 2-4; 29-10 W against Illinois)
Congratulations, Purdue. You beat Illinois, but you shouldn’t be celebrating your increased chance of playing in a bowl game, though.
The Boilermakers lost their starting quarterback David Blough to a leg injury, who was promptly carted off the field against the Fighting Illini.
Rather than preparing backup Elijah Sindelar, head coach Jeff Brohm should gear up for an overtime battle between Northwestern.
10. Nebraska (4-5, 3-3; 24-31 L against Northwestern)
Quarterback Tanner Lee has thrown 13 interceptions this year, three of those coming from Saturday’s matchup between Nebraska and Northwestern. Although they led 24-17 entering the final quarter, the offense and defense did not have an answer against the Wildcats. They [Nebraska] face Minnesota this weekend.
11. Indiana (3-6, 0-6; 17-45 L against Wisconsin)
Last Saturday, Indiana captured an early 10-0 lead but couldn’t silence Wisconsin, who outscored the Hoosiers 45-7 the rest of the game.
Indiana is without a conference win, but not all hope is lost. A bowl game is not out of reach just yet, and wins during the final three weeks (Illinois, Rutgers and Purdue) could propel Indiana to a low-tier bowl game.
12. Rutgers (4-5, 3-3; 31-24 W against Maryland)
The Scarlet Knights sit one game behind Michigan and Penn State in the BIG Ten East after 10 weeks of play. Head coach Chris Ash has brought attention back to Rutgers this year and the team could contend for a bowl game, but Michigan State and Penn State are two opponents that may be too much for the Scarlet Knights to overcome.
13. Maryland (4-5, 2-4; 24-31 L against Rutgers)
In 2017, the Terrapins have as many wins as used quarterbacks (four).
Yikes.
Arguably one of the conference’s hardest three-game schedule remains for Maryland, who face Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State to close out an injury-riddled season.
14. Illinois (2-7, 0-6; 10-29 L against Purdue)
The Fighting Illini are nowhere near the end of the tunnel, as head coach Lovie Smith is amidst a seven-game losing streak and hasn’t beaten a conference opponent in 2017. The team is rebuilding, no doubt, but may have to rip out the foundation rather than striving to retool piece-by-piece.