Hello there and welcome to the Big Ten Power Rankings! Each week we’ll rank how the teams across the conference are playing, in the hopes of seeing just who is a contender, and who is a pretender over
the course of the season.
The rules are few, but resolute:
Teams are ranked by how they’re playing at that time. Not body of work, not rankings in the polls, but simply how each team is playing at that point in the season.
The approach to the rankings is not necessarily on the field results (though those do count, as an obvious, tangible data point), but more generally if the two teams played at a neutral site 100 times, which team would win 51 times (or more).
These rankings are subjective. As the author I get to follow the rules as closely or loosely as I want to, and if you don’t like the rankings, you’re wrong.
Week 12 is in the books, and I think I spy some life where all hope was presumed lost. Let’s get to it!
Tier 1: Playoff Locks
Teams that are all but guaranteed to make the playoffs, if they continue to play the way they have played thus far.
1. Ohio State
OSU took it to UCLA in a 48-10 rout. Double digit wins have been secured, and Rutgers is up next before The Game.
2. Indiana
The Hoosiers didn’t have a let down after the PSU game and throttled Wisconsin 31-7. They’ll head to a late season bye next.
3. Oregon
The Ducks clamped down on Minnesota, winning 42-13. They’ll take on west coast rival USC next, but will need some help if they want to return to Indianapolis.
Tier 2: Playoff Hopefuls
Teams that could very well end up in the playoffs, but need to continue to improve their resume and move up the rankings before they can make it.
4. USC
After some early back-and-forth struggles, the Trojans topped Iowa 26-21. Taking down Oregon could really help propel USC to playoff discussions.
5. Michigan
The Wolverines needed a last second field goal to beat Northwestern. Not so easy, is it?? Maryland is up next before The Game.
Tier 3: High-Level Bowl Teams
Teams that likely won’t make the playoffs, but will represent the conference in quality bowls, including the Citrus Bowl and the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
6. Illinois
The Illini beat down Maryland 24-6, and are quietly 7-3. A win against Wisconsin and a high level bowl is all but locked up.
7. Nebraska
The Huskers were on their bye week, and will head east to take on suddenly dangerous Penn State next.
8. Iowa
The Hawkeyes fought hard, but ultimately came up short against USC. Michigan State comes to town next.
9. Washington
The Huskies gave it good to Purdue, winning 49-13. West coast teams meet again as Washington travels to take on UCLA next.
10. Minnesota
The Gophers were outclassed across the board against the Ducks, though there’s no real shame in that. An old Big Ten West game is next against Northwestern.
Tier 4: Low-Level Bowl Teams
Teams that will end up making it to a bowl game, but likely the bowls that aren’t quite as prestigious, including the Pinstripe Bowl and the Music City Bowl.
11. Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights were on the bye, which is good. They play Ohio State next, which is bad.
12. Northwestern
The Wildcats are eerily similar to Penn State, a team that hangs around with the big dogs but comes up just short, this time against Michigan. They’ll try to get back into the win column vs Minnesota next.
13. Maryland
The Terrapins couldn’t muster much against the Illini, and are now needing back-to-back wins to get to bowl eligibility. Bad news is Michigan is next.
Tier 5: Bowl-Ineligible Teams
Teams that are on a trajectory to end the season below .500 and miss out on a post-season bowl game.
14. UCLA
The Bruins have officially crashed back to Earth with their loss to OSU being #7 on the year, and needing to win both remaining games to make a bowl. Respectability is on the line at this point, with a game against Washington on the docket.
15. Penn State
16. Michigan State
The Spartans couldn’t hang with Penn State (weird sentence to type) and succumbed 28-10 to a ferocious defense and relentless rushing attack by the Lions. The Spartans have been removed from post season contention and will play Iowa next.
17. Wisconsin
The Badgers fell to Indiana, and with 7 losses will not be bowling this year. The Illini come to town next.
Tier 6: The Basement™
The worst of the worst, teams whose fans wear paper bags over their heads and count down the days until they have a new head coach.
18. Purdue
For the first time since September, someone other than Penn State has taken up residence down here! Purdue lost 49-13 to Washington, and remain winless in B1G play. A late bye week beckons.
It’s like a horror movie where the bad guy’s flatline starts to beep again.
The top 5 all remain in place: Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, USC, and Michigan. Illinois leapfrogs Nebraska, while Iowa falls. Washington and Minnesota flip-flop, with Rutgers and Northwestern holding steady. Maryland rises while UCLA continues to fall. Penn State is back from the dead, but Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Purdue all drop down.
On to Week 13!
