This one was probably used before, but I couldn’t find any references on OTE since 2015 to this legendary actor. To be clear, when compared to some previous power polls when we were looking at the character themselves, this one is more focused on the quality of the entire movie that Denzel Washington starred in. For example, “Cry Freedom” wasn’t as good of a movie as it could have been, but at no fault of Washington who was captivating in his role. There are so many GREAT movies on this list, the man sure
can compile stats!
NOTE 1 : MANY SPOILER ALERTS!
NOTE 2: How in the heck did the Academy just announce that they require their voters to watch all the films to be eligible to vote. How were they not doing that before? It’s not like a Big Ten power poll!
Without further adieu …
1 – Ohio State – Malcolm X (1992)
FPV: 6 H: 1 L: 2 LW: 1
Malcolm X is a biographical film of the controversial black activist, you’ll never guess which one. There was controversy in every aspect of casting, production, direction, filming locations, etc. except for one aspect, the selection of Denzel Washington in the lead role. Eventually Spike Lee was chosen as director a few short years before he was mocked by Reggie Miller. During his life, Malcolm X was known as a skilled orator who articulated the need for Black autonomy and self-determination.
Again, this list is about the film regardless of whether or not you agree with the character or his performance and this movie is awesome. Many of our readers may be far from fans of Ohio State, but give credit where credit is due. The Buckeyes humbled the anointed legend Arch Manning for a massive Week 1 victory and cruising through two patsies. Another test comes this weekend when Washington laces them up for an intriguing matchup.
What else is there to say about the defending National Champions? Moving on to more surprising teams, perhaps even those underranked …
2 – Indiana – He Got Game (1998)
FPV: 2 H: 1 L: 4 LW: 5
Denzel was so good in this movie as his character, I completely forgot he was even in this film when I first put the list together. Often many of us prior to last year forgot Indiana had a football team until we saw them on the schedule.
This movie follows the journey of fictional Jesus Shuttlesworth (played by Ray Allen) as he navigates the ups and downs of being a high profile high school basketball player recruited by every college in the nation. Washington plays his father Jake who was jailed for murdering Jesus’s mother, though it was more accidental than intentional so you don’t HATE him. The state governor wants Jesus to attend “Big State,” so Jake is released with the sole purpose of convincing his son to commit there.
Again, this list is about the film regardless of whether or not you agree with the character or his performance and this movie is awesome. The blue blood of Big Ten hoops is probably the closest thing to the fictional school based on their colors, reputation, and even court markings.
The ending to this movie is quite sad in one interpretation, will the Hoosiers face a similar fate? As much as I am not a fan of this program, imagine if their 1976 undefeated team also happened to have Larry Legend in the starting lineup.
Now back to football …
3 – Oregon – Glory (1989)
FPV: 1 H: 1 L: 4 LW: 2
We are still in the territory that this could be considered for the #1 spot on the list. An all-time classic all of you watched in High School at least once, Glory follows the first black regiment in the Union Army during the Civil War. What a coincidence that the Ducks’ rivalry game has the same name …
It’s a unit of misfits not earning their proper respect including its white officers and black volunteers that come from all walks of life available to them at that time, including many escaped southern slaves. This film was not Denzel in a starring role (he instead won the Oscar for best supporting actor), but it wasn’t about one man. Matthew Broderick against his typecast, Morgan Freeman establishing his typecast, and basically everyone was awesome in this film including Cary Elwes, Andre Braugher, Bob Gunton, and Richard Riehle. Oregon is not in a traditional Big Ten region, nor do they play a traditional style of Big Ten ball. There is no doubt the 54th regiment was the most unorthodox in the entire Union army.
That being said, the Ducks come at you with so many weapons, just as the cast of this film that outperformed expectations, not even factoring in how many of us watched VHS tapes. That’s harder to track than the number of different style Duck jerseys floating around the world.
Oregon barely squeaked by their next opponent for the #3 spot and the winner of this game likely will find their place jumping to the top. It’s the first conference heavyweight fight of the season.
4 – Penn State – Philadelphia (1993)
H: 2 L: 5 LW: 3
Denzel plays a relatively unknown injury attorney who is approached by Hanks after having been fired from his own job as an elite attorney. Once Washington’s character comes to understand Hanks’s character was fired after contracting HIV and revealed his sexuality, the film explores all the themes that were part of the society at the time, still somewhat taboo, and had yet been portrayed on the Silver Screen in such a mainstream way.
This may have been a little too simple with the geographic connection, though if Rutgers was ranked they might have gotten this honor. Like Philadelphia is set to the aftermath of the 1980s, Penn State peaked in the 80s. Even though it starts out rather slow moving, the movie in retrospect seems obvious with near peak Denzel and peak Tom Hanks, just like we may look back right now and think we should have obviously known Penn State would win it all.
The Nittany Lions are a ho hum undefeated, but haven’t been as impressive as we expected. They have a golden aforementioned opportunity.
5 – USC – Training Day (2001)
H: 4 L: 6 LW: 6
Some of you may have this in the number one spot, though I consider it the beginning of the second tier. Theoretically, UCLA looks more like it’s their first day on the job when limiting to the geographic connections. Denzel won his first Best Actor in a lead role Oscar in this film when he plays Los Angeles detective Alonzo Harris, arguably his most famous role. If you polled people nationally, USC may be the most recognizable football program currently in the Big Ten.
Of course, opinions are split about the coincidence that happens at the end of this movie being really good, or really bad. On one hand, you reap what you sow and Ethan Hawke’s karma came back to him, which is why some people love it. On the flip side, every screenwriting teacher frowns upon a main character surviving because of a pure coincidence. Is USC amazing? Are they average? Are they somewhere in between?
The Trojans on the field are 4-0, ranked 21st and get their biggest test of the season as reeling Illinois hosts them at noon Saturday. After Indiana shellshocked the Illini, USC might have an even better passing game on the arm of Jayden Maiava.
6 – Washington – The Equalizer (2014)
H: 5 L: 7 LW: 8
We won’t do all the films and due credit to Denzel not just making his career on sequels (see the previous Stallone power poll) so we will group these films together. The Huskies are on a revenge tour this year and we will see if it works out as well as Robert McCall played by Denzel Washington. McCall is a former government operative turned vigilante and a lot of action happens.
Clearly the best days of Robert McCall are behind him as they might be with the Huskies but they are still more than dangerous for those unlucky enough to cross his path. For now, the Washington Football team has their own big Three with Demond Williams, Jonah Coleman, and Denzel Boston. Perhaps they should get their own trilogy.
The only one of these films I ever saw in the theater was the third one, so maybe third year in the Big Ten is a charm even if this year doesn’t work out?
7 – Michigan – Inside Man (2006)
H: 6 L: 8 LW: 10
This movie (also directed by Spike Lee) revolves around a bank heist that turns into a hostage situation. Denzel plays the police detective trying to stop Clive Owen’s gang while Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, and Willem Dafoe all participate in this complex scheme that ends up becoming about some World War 2 bank document that makes no sense why it wasn’t destroyed by now. Take that for what you will.
The Wolverines healed from their out of conference wounds with a triumph over the Cornhuskers reminiscent in a game that was never in doubt. Michigan remains ranked and only has one currently ranked opponent on their slate (USC) before they face Ohio State in the season finale. The Wolverines have a devastating run game that if their QB simply is serviceable enough, they could get to the CFP.
Other than you in Ann Arbor who may disagree, there will probably be a strong consensus on this one in the rest of the conference based on the name alone. And yet at times I need to remember which scenes were Inside Man versus which were in John Q. The movie is good and all, but just doesn’t have the same impact as others on this list even though it probably should be better than it is.
8 – Maryland – Remember the Titans (2000)
H: 6 L: 10 LW: 11
I’d be shocked if anyone that follows football has not seen this film. Even if you haven’t, you could probably piece it together with all the ways it has seeped into our popular culture since its release, much like September Maryland. In short, Denzel Washington plays a high school football coach tasked with uniting the recently integrated TC Williams High School via on field success.
With the geographic connection here the choice was obvious. Denzel is all about offense in this flick, with plenty of rigged officiating in the film to boot. Just like you can’t replace a Gary Berteer, I thought you couldn’t replace a Taulia Tagovialoa. And yet, the Terps slaughtered Wisconsin.
Far from being number one by consensus, there is a chance someone will see September Maryland and actually put them first this week in their vote. The Terps do remain undefeated, so there’s a case to be made. Their schedule includes only one of the Big Four, that being the one who is not undefeated, Michigan. They do face undefeateds Washington and Indiana with the only gimme coming against UCLA, so there’s a chance …
9 – Nebraska – Flight (2012)
H: 8 L: 12 LW: 7
Flight is a drama about airline pilot Whip Whitaker, who miraculously crash-lands a malfunctioning plane, saving nearly everyone on board. An investigation reveals troubling details about his drug and alcohol abuse tarnishing his image. Blowing lines with Sofia from the League? Screw you rimage, way too many people would sign up for that.
After seeing the Matt Rhule Akron halftime video, maybe it really is time for the Cornhuskers to take off. Strategic Air Command Museum shout out which I surely recommend a visit if you are in the area. And hey, for the first time maybe ever the Huskers are a throwing team!
Nebraska was steamrolled by Michigan on the ground and yet still was able to hang around and put themselves in position where one odd play goes their way and boom, they pull an upset. So is that a Frost type loss or no? I digress. Only two ranked teams remain on their schedule, USC and Penn State who they get after a bye week. Could they be this year’s Indiana?
10 – Iowa – Courage Under Fire (1996)
H: 8 L: 11 LW: 13
Courage Under Fire is a military drama about Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling, tasked with investigating whether Captain Karen Walden deserves the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Gulf War. There’s lots of interviews, conflicting stories, and PTSD in this film. Iowa is almost always winning close games, hence the association. And Mark Gronowski playing like he did against a porous Rutgers defense, is that sustainable?
Conflicting accounts such as some Iowa fans thinking they were hosed by the refs against Rutgers? You were called for two penalties all day, both of which the DB tackled the receiver mid route! As a fan of modern football, this Iowa team is a joke. As a fan of old time football, blocking, tackling (mostly), grabbing, QB running, etc. this team is awesome.
Congrats to Kirk Ferentz on his wins record, you can take that Medal of Honor while you are still coaching, unlike Walden in the film. At the same time, this movie was third at the box office behind Independence Day and Phenomenon its opening weekend just like Iowa hasn’t been able to get over that hump since 1985 (unless you count that shared titles in 1990, 2002, and 2004). Matt Damon supposedly contemplated suicide for being so overlooked in his small role even though this got him the role or Private Ryan, so sometimes perception is completely out of touch with reality.
11 – Illinois – Fences (2016)
H: 8 L: 17 LW: 4
Fences follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball player turned garbage collector in 1950s Pittsburgh. They say garbagemen have the happiest job satisfaction of any profession, but not this one. This bitter man takes it out on his family.
This is a great film even if the historical accuracy has had a few liberties taken with it and doesn’t count as a remake because it was based on a play. The Illini were one idiotic Greg Schiano decision away from a forgettable bowl game in 2024. Instead they went from the Citrus Bowl to getting mollywhooped by Indy-freaking-ana in nine months. They better turn the page quickly as they host the other best pass offense in the conference as USC comes to town this week.
This movie begins in 1957 but ends in 1963 I believe, when Illinois was Big Ten champions. Maybe there is a chance to turn things around?
From one half of Illinutgers to the other …
12 Rutgers – American Gangster (2007)
H: 11 L: 14 LW: 12
This film is biographical in its story of Frank Lucas who rose through the ranks and became the drug kingpin of New York City and Northern New Jersey. Frank has to battle fellow rival gangs, at times his own people, and most challengingly a slew of corrupt cops. It’s basically the story of Rutgers football, down to the fact they don’t win at the end.
So far this year, the Rutgers offense has been exciting, while their defense hasn’t stopped anyone. Their games have taken no prisoners, no defense to be had anywhere, pretty much how everyone ends up in jail or dead like in this film.
This is another Denzel classic that has an ending where a viewer could look at glass half-full or half-empty. Is this Rutgers team decent, are they not? Is going to the any Bowl again a “good ending” to 2025? So many questions persist at this point. At the end, protagonist Richie Roberts who is the only person still walking as a free citizen becomes a defense attorney, so .. too little, too late? Their schedule is not only tough, but littered with meddling teams that will still score a ton of points on them (Purdue, Maryland, Washington) in their “winnable games.”
They have to travel to Minnesota this week and as one of only two remaining opponents ranked below them this week, it’s a must win.
13 – Michigan State – The Book of Eli (2010)
H: 11 L: 15 LW: 9
This post-apocalyptic action? Drama? Both? about a wanderer named Eli is worth watching. The ending is somewhat predictable in a sense, but just like in a show like Columbo where you already know whodoneit, how it all unfolds is pretty cool. When Commissioner Gordon is sacrificing Jackie from that 70s show, you know all kinds of crazy sh– is about to happen. And a blind Alex Owens from Flashdance, sign me up!
There aren’t many famous Eli’s in the Big Ten, but MSU did have Eli McLean an Academic all Big Ten selection! This movie is probably rated high (or lower) for those more religious readers of the site just as the variance with the perception of MSU’s past and future vary widely across the conference. The premise feels stronger than how the movie came out, just as the Spartans 3-1 start feels like it should be more satisfying.
Michigan State showed flashes last year and has come out strong with a solid win over the Benedict Arnold Boston College Eagles. They even hung around with USC into the 4th quarter. They have to play Indiana, Penn State, and Michigan, so the schedule is unforgiving so a win against Nebraska would be HUGE.
14 – Minnesota – Crimson Tide (1995)
H: 11 L: 14 LW: 15
This film may be underrated on the list as 2-1 Minnesota might be. Set aboard a nuclear submarine, the internal conflict among the crew could result in nukes flying that could destroy humankind. It doesn’t quite hit as hard now that we are somewhat removed from the state of inevitable nuclear war.
Row that boat Baby! Unfortunately, trying to outrow a team from a state with an absolutely massive coastline didn’t work out very well in their previous game. The Gophers next opportunity comes against their own nuclear frenemy, Rutgers. Washington and Gene Hackman are an incredible duo, but they’ve got nothing on Schiano and Fleck’s “feud.” A win would allow Minnesota to “live to fight another day” in the words of their former head man Lou Holtz, but is a loss the beginning of a nuclear holocaust?
The Gophers were lucky to be on a bye as the rest of the conference started its general debauchery. Their QB seems to be progressing and they currently have the #1 defense in the country in yards allowed. We will find out over the next few weeks beginning with my Scarlet Knights heading to the Twin Cities this weekend.
15 – Purdue – Man on Fire (2004)
H: 14 L: 17 LW: 16
Denzel plays an alcoholic former CIA assassin named John Creasy tasked to protect a young girl in Mexico played by Dakota Fanning. Spoiler alert, her father organizes her kidnapping so he can extort part of the insurance money on a recent policy he took out. And then in one of the rawest, most emotional controlled rages caught on screen, Creasy goes on an epic rampage. Everyone is “just a professional.”
The Boilermakers are a much proud program who themselves are trying to prove doubters wrong that they can return to their previous performance. Their two losses came against ranked teams, but in both instances they put up points. Christopher Walken’s character remarks that Creasy is an artist as a killer which must count for something in the Purdue-verse.
This may be my personal favorite film in the list and in theory could be disqualified because this could be considered the same character as the Equalizer if you don’t think he died at the end and somehow escaped Mexican cartel custody to team up with Fanning again.
16 Northwestern – All the remakes: The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), The Preacher’s Wife (1996), The Magnificent Seven (2016)
H: 15 L: 17 LW: 17
Minus points because these were remakes. I don’t regret watching these films, but other than maybe Manchurian Candidate, I have no desire to watch them again. Instead of seeing Liev Schrieber during non-existent Mets playoff games, I could watch this miltary/political drama. If you have never seen the Manchurian Candidate, it’s pretty hardcore and might have you thinking about aspects of why our current political system is insane.
Right now the Wildcats are treading water in their shoebox stadium with a golden opportunity against cellar dweller UCLA this weekend. Their loss to Tulane has aged well so maybe they aren’t 16th or 17th place bad? After that they get UL Monroe, so we could be talking about 3-2 Northwestern before they embark on a remaining schedule that features four ranked teams.
17 – Wisconsin – Deja Vu (2006)
H: 13 L: 17 LW: 14
Déjà Vu is a sci-fi thriller where ATF agent Doug Carlin, played by Washington, investigates a deadly ferry bombing in New Orleans. Sounds pretty bad ass to me. And that would have been fine, but the movie then delves into time travel and all this other stuff. Paula Patton’s character makes the time travel stuff rather trivial.
Admittedly, I have to take a breath to make sure I am not confusing this with the movie Out of Time featuring Eva Mendes. Both movies were watched with dates who seemed promising at the time but didn’t work out in the end, hence the confusion. And Paula Patton was married to Robin Thicke and then dated Cory Booker, or was that Rosario Dawson? Exactly, nobody cares.
So, your transfer QB gets injured early in the season. Who else could it be? This movie is equipped with a sinking ship, Hurricane Katrina carnage, and one of Val Kilmer’s final blockbuster roles. The pieces are in place but it just doesn’t coalesce into the magic it could be. Losing 27-10 to Maryland at home and now heading to Michigan!?!?!?!?!? Can see how they dropped throughout the week even below Northwestern.
18 – UCLA – The Bone Collector (1999)
H: 18 L: 18 LW: 18
Spending the entire film paralyzed, ouch. The Bone Collector is a crime thriller about a paralyzed ex-forensics detective played by Denzel who teams up with Angelina Jolie. Wait a second, how the f- can you not win a game with that alone?!?!?!?!?!? Oh, and you have Queen Latifah (Rutgers grad), Al Bundy, Merle from the Walking Dead, and NJ native Bobby Cannavale … is UCLA becoming Rutgers? Have they already become Rutgers?
The Bruins had a week to lick their wounds before their best chance at a victory this year, facing Northwestern next. DeSean Foster was put in a no win situation having never been even a coordinator so I do feel bad for him. It felt like he was set up as the fall guy so the next hire could get more buy in from donors. And of course Nico Iamaleave really overplayed his hand.
This movie made three times its budget at the box office, but Rotten Tomatoes destroys it with a 30% score, “a talented cast is wasted on a bland attempt at a suspenseful, serial killer flick.” UCLA wishes they could win just one game, nevermind 30%.
Bonus: Gladiator 2 (2024)
Some people loved this second helping, but I was extremely disappointed. What even happened at the end of the movie? The first Gladiator was amazing, one of my favorite movies of all-time. The sequel has some good action, but at the end the armies just will allow a government to get corrupted again, nice. Denzel’s performance was amazing and in my opinion, the only highlight of the film. If it weren’t for his acting, I might have turned it off during my date night with my wife because we get so few of those opportunities.
- The Pelican Brief: Tell us in the comments which school this should have been because I don’t know how it didn’t make the cut. I guess with Rutgers becoming LSU north, maybe? But the Law school isn’t even located in New Brunswick / Piscataway.
- The Hurricane – New Jersey geographical connection and we didn’t make an exemption for historical portrayals, but as a resident of the state at the time, I can confirm this was not even a blip on our radar when released.
- The tragedy of MacBeth – Shakespeare is part of separate polls, though Denzel was nominated for best actor.
- Roman J. Israel: Washington was also nominated for best actor in this film.
- Two guns – Blame Wahlberg.
- The Siege – Obviously didn’t want to confuse people with the Seagal movie Under Siege or its sequel.
- The Mighty Quinn – Ebert liked it and I just had no idea where to put this other than the whole $10,000 bills thing which means it should be in an SEC power poll.
- Safe House – Rolling Stone called this one one of the worst of his career.
- Unstoppable – Right now, no one deserves this connotation even if
