Here we go with more bumps in the road. Ohio State’s current form sees them out of the playoff altogether. USC is alive and well in the playoff hunt. Ditto Iowa. So is Oregon? Yeah – the league is crazy.
1. #4 UCLA (9-0, 6-0)
These guys are the clear top dogs again after an impressive win in Minneapolis. The Gophers hung around, but two long UCLA touchdowns on back-to-back plays put Minnesota out of their misery. Next up? A visit from suddenly resurgent Illinois.
Week 11 – Illinois (Friday)
2. #9 Indiana
(8-1, 5-1)
A good week to be off for the Hoosiers…until the playoff rankings came out and they dropped five spots coming out of a bye week. Make it make sense. They have the game of the week, a visit from alive-again USC.
Week 11 – #18 USC
3. #18 USC (7-2, 4-2)
Also a nice week to be off after the Ohio State win. They move up in the rankings while the Hoosiers go down. Now off to Bloomington where the Trojans can fully jump back into the playoff race with a win.
Week 11 – at #9 Indiana
4. #15 Iowa (7-2, 4-2)
Just a nice, comfy Saturday night in Evanston as the Hawks earn a good win over Northwestern. Fully agree with David in his playoff path column – Iowa’s going to need style points, so having Purdue next, in Iowa City, at night, is a blessing. Iowa had opportunities to get them against Northwestern but couldn’t push the score into the 30s with the Northwestern interception and the Tony Diaz fumble.
Week 11 – Purdue
5. #16 Oregon (6-3, 4-2)
It’s alive! It’s alive! The Ducks go into Columbus and stomp the Buckeyes. What a win. What a response for Dan Lanning’s crew. They are very much alive for a playoff spot with their remaining schedule.
Week 11 – Michigan
6. #20 Ohio State (6-3, 4-2)
Houston, we’ve had a problem. The Buckeyes just aren’t the same now with Julian Sayin out. I think they notch some wins yet but yikes – this fell apart on the back of a single injury. The Buckeyes must win out plus do so in style, and get some help, to make the playoff. That 23-3 lead over Texas…it would be nice to have that win in their pocket right about now.
Week 11 – Northwestern
7. Illinois (6-3, 4-2)
Somehow the Illini are alive too! They aren’t out of the equation for the playoff just yet. They have a good win over Oregon and still managed a win over Nebraska in which the Huskers had more first downs (6), more yards (426-376), were even in turnovers (0-0), and led in time of possession (31:57-28:03). And Illinois won by two scores.
Week 11 – at #4 UCLA (Friday)
8. Wisconsin (6-3, 4-2)
They’re not dead just yet, either. Predictably, they smashed Rutgers to keep pace in the league. Two league losses or less for everyone here up to UCLA. They have a manageable remaining schedule, with Minnesota looking like the last real test. They could easily get to 9-3. Their losses aren’t great in terms of margin, but the three losses are to teams that are all in the top 15 of the playoff rankings.
Week 11 – at Maryland
9. Northwestern (6-3, 3-3)
This just isn’t the same team without Aidan Chiles, who was a Friday scratch against the Hawks. Now they get to go to a reeling Ohio State team. If Chiles is ready, can they deliver the knockout on the Buckeyes? Probably not, but…maybe?
Week 11 – at #20 Ohio State
10. Minnesota (5-4, 3-3)
This year’s nearly team. After blowout losses to Mississippi State and Purdue (??), the Gophers squeak past Iowa but can’t get over the hump against Indiana or UCLA. They even had the game tied with UCLA early in the fourth quarter before the back-to-back big plays.
By the way, everyone after this is hot garbage. Rank them however you want.
Week 11 – at Penn State
11. Penn State (5-4, 2-4)
I guess we put them here? They looked semi-competent for a half in Seattle, then had to cling to a 3-point lead. But hey, no full collapse this time.
Week 11 – Minnesota
12. Michigan State (3-6, 1-5)
They won at Michigan, too. Nice win for Pat Fitzgerald.
Week 11 – Washington
13. Maryland (3-6, 1-5)
Damn right they go here. This was their first league win in over a year. They controlled this game, especially in the second half. Purdue got in range of a steal late, but Maryland got the sack on the last play of the game to put the fire out. The players then doused the interim coach with Gatorade and carried him off the field. Calm down, Terps.
Week 11 – Wisconsin
14. Washington (5-4, 2-4)
They’re not good. They’re the most disappointing team in the league, non-Ohio State division.
Week 11 – at Michigan State
15. Michigan (5-4, 2-4)
We’re now in the “teams with fired coordinators” section of the rankings. Now coordinators are getting fired and…the coordinator had a huge buyout too? The grift runs deep…
In most scenarios, Michigan loses out. This thing is a disaster. This stat seems…bad.
The good thing is, they don’t have any important games left (at Oregon, UCLA, at Ohio State.)
Week 11 – at #16 Oregon
16. Nebraska (5-4, 2-4)
Oh boy. OHHHHHH BOY. They did it again! No turnovers. Advantage in yardage yet again, something they’ve done in every game this year. Led in time of possession. This time, the fall man is Holgo, who was fired on Saturday after the wreckage in Champaign. Matthew Rhule showing leadership. Then there’s this…
Let’s see – Nick Saban had 11 offensive coordinators in his Alabama tenure. All but three (Doug Nussmeier, Josh Gattis, and Tommy Rees) were head coaches at schools ranging from Florida Atlantic to Colorado State to Maryland to Washington to Penn State to USC to Florida to LSU to Texas. Don’t mention the revolving door Saban had to Alabama? Just a thought? You’re not doing yourself any favors.
More news from McKewon:
Gotta hand it to Rhule. He gets this job, gets the completely unwarranted extension in the middle of last season, and this is what Nebraska gets. Penalties in practice and they of course carry over into games. You love to see it.
Week 11 – at Rutgers
17. Purdue (3-6, 2-4)
What would you say you do here, exactly? Losing at home to Maryland. You’re lucky Rutgers is somehow in this league.
Week 11 – at #15 Iowa
18. Rutgers (2-7, 1-5)
Back to the basement. Incel hell, living in the basement.
Week 11 – Nebraska
