Big Ten Power Rankings (Week 12): Ohio State Playing Its Best Football at the Right Time

Ohio State is coming off impressive wins in back-to-back weeks with wins over Michigan State and Minnesota. Heading into Rivalry Week, it looks like the Buckeyes are playing their best football of the season.

It's hard to believe the final week of college football's regular season has already arrived. Time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?

There are several interesting storylines and plenty of postseason implications at stake as the Big Ten heads into Rivalry Week. But before kickoff this weekend, here's what the conference's power rankings look like entering the final week of the year.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

• Records: 11-0 overall, 8-0 Big Ten
  
• Last week: Beat Minnesota 37-3 in Columbus, Ohio
• This week: Ohio State at Michigan, Noon ET. 
• TV: Fox
• The skinny: The Buckeyes have steamrolled their last two opponents, outscoring Michigan State and Minnesota by a combined 75-6. No, it's not exactly against the best competition, but it's a positive sign heading into Saturday's game against Michigan. The most impressive part has been the play of running back TreVeyon Henderson, who has eclipsed the 100-yard mark three times in the last four games.

2. Michigan Wolverines

• Records: 11-0 overall, 8-0 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Beat Maryland 31-24 in College Park, Md.
• This week: Ohio State at Michigan, Noon. ET. 
• TV: Fox
• The skinny: For a second consecutive week, Michigan found itself in a tough battle. Maryland put a scare into Michigan and threatened to ruin the Wolverines' perfect season. Were the Wolverines looking ahead to Ohio State? The team that has dominated its opponents throughout most of the season looked a little shaky last weekend.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

• Records: 9-2 overall, 6-2 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Beat Rutgers 27-6 in State College, Pa.
• This week: Penn State vs. Michigan State (Detroit), 7:30 p.m. ET (Friday). 
• TV: NBC
• The skinny: After a disappointing loss to Michigan, Penn State bounced back nicely with a big win over Rutgers. The Nittany Lions relied heavily on the ground game, with Beau Pribula, Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton each rushing for over 60 yards in the contest. Penn State's defense came up big, forcing three turnovers and getting seven tackles for loss against the Scarlet Knights.

4. Iowa Hawkeyes

• Records: 9-2 overall, 6-2 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Beat Illinois 15-13 in Iowa City, Iowa.
• This week: Iowa at Nebraska, Noon ET (Friday). 
• TV: CBS
• The skinny: We can probably just keep saying the same thing about Iowa each and every week. The Hawkeyes are getting the job done defensively and on special teams. That's especially impressive with Cooper DeJean missing last weekend's game against Illinois. Offensively, Kaleb Johnson scampered for a 30-yard touchdown run, the one explosive play Iowa needed to secure the Big Ten West title.

5. Maryland Terrapins

• Records: 6-5 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Lost to Michigan 31-24 in College Park, Md.
• This week: Maryland at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. ET.
• TV: Big Ten Network
• The skinny: Give a lot of credit to Mike Locksley. Maryland proved to be the biggest challenger to Michigan so far this season. It's particularly impressive given the Terrapins endured a four-game losing skid at one point in the year. This hasn't quite been the championship-caliber team Locksley thought he had, but the Terps continue to compete at a high level. 

6. Northwestern Wildcats

• Records: 6-5 overall, 4-4 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Beat Purdue 23-15 in Evanston, Ill.
• This week: Northwestern at Illinois, 3:30 p.m. ET. 
• TV: Big Ten Network
• The skinny: Who would have thought Northwestern would be bowl eligible this season? Last week's win over Purdue came down to an impressive defensive performance, registering four turnovers, eight tackles for loss and three sacks against the Boilermakers. This weekend, the Wildcats look to snap a two-game losing streak to Illinois.

7. Wisconsin Badgers

• Records: 6-5 overall, 4-4 in Big Ten
• Last week: Beat Nebraska 24-17 (OT) in Madison, Wis.
• This week: Wisconsin at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. ET.
• TV: Fox Sports 1
• The skinny: Wisconsin didn't compete for a Big Ten West title like many expected in Luke Fickell's first season, but securing a postseason berth is still a good first step. Having both Tanner Mordecai and Braelon Allen back on the field certainly proved beneficial for the Badgers in Saturday's overtime win over Nebraska. 

8. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• Records: 6-5 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten
• Last week: Lost to Penn State 27-6 in State College, Pa.
• This week: Maryland at Rutgers, 3:30 p.m. ET.
• TV: Big Ten Network
• The skinny: Rutgers continues to make strides under Greg Schiano. But it still can't quite compete with the big boys in the Big Ten East. The Scarlet Knights' offense really had no answers for Penn State's strong defensive front. Saturday's matchup against Maryland won't be easy, but Rutgers certainly matches up much better that it did a week ago.

9. Nebraska Cornhuskers

• Records: 5-6 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten
• Last week: Lost to Wisconsin 24-17 (OT) in Madison, Wis.
• This week: Iowa at Nebraska, Noon ET (Friday). 
• TV: CBS
• The skinny: A three-game skid has put Nebraska's bowl hopes in jeopardy heading into a Black Friday game against Iowa. The Huskers offense looked better early with Chubba Purdy at quarterback, scoring on the first two drives. After that, Nebraska managed to score just three points. The defense continues to play well, setting up an intriguing showdown with Iowa this weekend.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini

• Records: 5-6 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Lost to Iowa 15-13 in Iowa City, Iowa
• This week: Northwestern at Illinois, 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Big Ten Network
• The skinny: Illinois came incredibly close to pulling off an upset against Iowa last week, but the offense just didn't make enough plays. Now the Illini have to defeat a solid Northwestern squad to reach back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2010-11. 

11. Minnesota Golden Gophers

• Records: 5-6 overall, 3-5 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Lost to Ohio State 37-3 in Columbus, Ohio
• This week: Wisconsin at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox Sports 1
• The skinny: It seems like an eternity since Minnesota celebrated back-to-back wins over Iowa and Michigan State and appeared to be in the driver's seat of the Big Ten West. Now the Gophers' postseason hopes hang by a thread. Defensively, Minnesota has struggled the last two weekends, surrendering 49 points to Purdue and 37 points to Ohio State. That defense is going to have to make some big strides to beat Wisconsin.

12. Michigan State Spartans

• Records: 4-7 overall, 2-6 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Beat Indiana 24-21 in Bloomington, Ind. 
• This week: Penn State vs. Michigan State (Detroit, Mich.), 7:30 p.m. ET (Friday). 
• TV: NBC
• The skinny: Harlon Barnett might have salvaged something out of this season, after all. A win over Indiana doesn't completely repair a broken season, but Michigan State has now won two of its last three contests and carries some momentum into the season finale against Penn State. After the in-season situation that unfolded with Mel Tucker, the Spartans easily could have finished 2-10.

13. Purdue Boilermakers

• Records: 3-8 overall, 2-6 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Lost to Northwestern 23-15 in Evanston, Ill.
• This week: Indiana at Purdue, Noon ET.
• TV: Big Ten Network
• The skinny: From first to worst. Purdue won the Big Ten West a year ago and now will finish last in the division. It's been a rocky year for Ryan Walters and his staff, but the Boilermakers can end things on a positive note by beating Indiana to keep the Old Oaken Bucket in West Lafayette.

14. Indiana Hoosiers

• Records: 3-8 overall, 1-7 in Big Ten
  
• Last week: Lost to Michigan State 24-21 in Bloomington, Ind.
• This week: Indiana at Purdue, Noon ET.
• TV: Big Ten Network
• The skinny: The Hoosiers have been painfully close each of the last two weeks but fell to Illinois and Michigan State. Now it seems that coach Tom Allen's job might be in jeopardy, especially if Indiana loses to Purdue and ends the year with a 3-9 record. 

Related Big Ten Stories

• BIG TEN DAILY (NOV. 20): Ohio State-Michigan headlines one of the best weeks in sports. There's also several bowl bids at stake this weekend, with three teams hoping to earn that all-important sixth win. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA FALLS TO MICHIGAN STATE: The Hoosiers had their chances, but costly mistakes resulted in a 24-21 win for the Spartans in Week 12. CLICK HERE