How do you even rank the Big Ten this week? Honestly, I don’t know. This league has some pretty incredible fluctuations week-to-week. Even UCLA has a possibly bumpy ride down the stretch. USC is down last week after getting manhandled at Wisconsin…then they do the same to THE Ohio State University. Wisconsin does that to USC, it looks like maybe there’s life in the Badgers again, then Kirk puts them back in the torture chamber. That’s a week after Iowa’s mistake-filled catastrophe in Minneapolis.
And then Minnesota channels their inner-Buffalo Bills!
Let’s rank this post-Week 9.
1. #5 UCLA (8-0, 5-0)
I have to bump the Bruins up to the top spot. Undefeated so I think we have to bump them up. It was a little uninspired against Nevada but that’s not a surprise either. But caution is in order – UCLA has to make a trip east to Minneapolis. Be wary of this one. That kickoff is early. And they have another one of these in two weeks, at Michigan. AND they still have to play USC. They have the inside track but it won’t be easy.
Week 10 – at Minnesota
2. #6 Indiana (8-1, 5-1)
Somehow, someway, they find a path to a W again, in overtime. Incredible culture win for the Hoosiers. They aren’t nearly as good as they were a year ago, but it’s a great culture now and a next-man-up sort of situation with the Hoosiers replacing their quarterback late. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good and well, that’s the Hoosiers this year. Their special teams were a mess all day and then they blast a 60-yarder to tie it. Now they get a much-needed bye.
Week 10 – Bye
3. #11 Ohio State (6-2, 4-1)
We’re getting into dicey territory here. They’re now on two losses and more wouldn’t surprise me. A third sinks the ship. This week they get the west coast team heading east that just got a huge win in Oregon.
Week 10 – Oregon
4. #18 USC (7-2, 4-2)
We immediately enter wacky territory in the top 4, as the Trojans show proof of life with that win over Ohio State. After looking lost in Madison. Shoulder shrug!
Week 10 – Bye
5. #21 Iowa (6-2, 3-2)
Welcome back, Hawks! That was a complete performance from Iowa, bossing Wisconsin from start to finish. Iowa’s just smoking Wisconsin of late and you love to see it. I have Iowa ahead of Minnesota because, well, I think Iowa’s better despite the result.
Week 10 – at Northwestern
6. Minnesota (5-3, 3-2)
Close for the Gophers. They really had this won with that 60-yarder. And IU really screwed up the clock situation, not using timeouts. Minnesota should be at 6-2 and dreaming of some really big things. Instead of getting a program-defining win, they channel the Buffalo Bills and give up a 60-yarder themselves, then lose in OT. Gut punch.
Week 10 – #5 UCLA
7. Oregon (5-3, 3-2)
I put Oregon slightly ahead of Northwestern since, well, they just beat the Wildcats. Oregon still has some life. Now they go to a really mad Ohio State. Good luck, Ducks.
Week 10 – at #11 Ohio State
8. Northwestern (6-2, 3-2)
Tough one for the Wildcats. They led in Eugene by 14 late in the first half, and then again by 10 early in the third quarter. But it was too many field goals for the Wildcats (4) and not enough touchdowns as Oregon got a nice win.
Week 10 – #21 Iowa
9. Washington (5-3, 2-3)
An incredible win for the Huskies, also heading east and getting a win in Lincoln. I turned this game on just in time to see Washington’s insane 4th and 18 conversion, then, well…we’ll get to the Huskers in a moment.
Week 10 – Penn State
10. Illinois (5-3, 3-2)
Nice job by Illinois rebounding after that 2-3 start. After the Purdue loss, they looked dead in the water. They get a close win at Michigan State, then they beat Oregon and Maryland. There’s still life here.
Week 10 – Nebraska
11. Michigan (5-3, 2-3)
Meh. Whatever. They’re not very good. They needed all hands on deck to beat Rutgers.
Week 10 – Michigan State
12. Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2)
Back to Earth for Bucky. That was an embarrassing effort from the Badgers. We shared some stats in The Morning After and geez, Iowa has them in a total head lock.
Week 10 – Rutgers
13. Nebraska (5-3, 2-3)
This team should be ranked like, 5 or 6 in the league. Maybe higher. They’re good enough. But then they do things like they did on Saturday against your, my, and our Washington Huskies. What do you even say that hasn’t already been said? You think about the Huskers losing games like this and you’re sort of speechless and not sure what to do, and then random stats start flooding your Twitter feed. They invent ways to lose games. Lead 7-3 and give up a 4th and 18 heave. Blitz your cornerback on the next play, with the head coach overriding the defense coordinator, and you do so with your best cover guy. Fail to tackle the Washington receiver to fall behind. Then throw a pick-6 15 seconds later to go down 10. Up 4 to down 10 in 30 seconds. This stuff is now the norm for the Huskers. They’ve led going into the fourth quarter of every game this year. Of their 59 losses since 2018 (LOL), 40 are by one score. Just look at this stat!
I saw a pretty great summation of their remaining schedule. They’ll lose in agonizing fashion to Illinois. They’re beat Rutgers by 7. They’ll hold leads over both Ohio State and Iowa late, and then lose at the end. Yep, that seems accurate.
Week 10 – at Illinois
14. Penn State (4-4, 1-4)
Matthew’s on the board! He gets his first Big Ten win over Purdue, who again can’t stop anyone.
Week 10 – at Washington
15. Purdue (3-5, 2-3)
They can’t stop anyone.
Week 10 – Maryland
16. Michigan State (2-6. 0-5)
Can Pat Fitzgerald channel all of that Iowa hate into Michigan? We’ll see.
Week 10 – Michigan
17. Rutgers (2-6, 1-4)
They continue to lose too. I don’t care. But at least they’re playing hard and fighting? I don’t know, this is a total reach. Trying to be positive as they head to Madison to likely get their heads caved in.
Week 10 – at Wisconsin
18. Maryland (2-6, 0-5)
You should also leave. ASAP.
Week 10 – at Purdue
