Big Ten Power Rankings, Week 10: Sad Times in Nebraska
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — You really have to feel sorry for poor little ol’ Scott Frost, the head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. A few weeks ago, he was complaining about how hard his schedule was and how it was so unfair.
He was right. As it turns out, playing mighty Indiana and Purdue on back-to-back weekends just isn’t fair. The Cornhuskers got beat two weekends in a row.
I’m taking a shot, of course, because Frost was originally complaining about having to play Ohio State and Michigan more than most teams in the Big Ten West. Indiana used the slight as motivation to get a win in Lincoln, and then Purdue followed it up with a 31-27 win Saturday in West Lafayette.
With five of the top six teams in last week’s rankings off this week, we had to put the focus on the Huskers, who were picked by many in the preseason many to win the Big Ten West. Instead they are 4-5, and 2-4 in the Big Ten, tumbling even further down our power rankings, all the way down to No. 11.
Frost just needs to stay quiet and get back to work now. He’s got a massive rebuilding project on his hands.
Here are my rankings after the games of Nov. 2, with last week’s ranking and this week’s opponent included:
1. Ohio State (8-0) *** Last week: 1
Last week: Bye week
This week: Maryland (3-6) at Ohio State, Noon ET (TV: FOX)
The skinny: The Buckeyes surely got a little healthier and this week should be a breather for them against Maryland. Still No. 1 in our Big Ten power poll and I still feel like they are the best team in the country. A playoff team for sure at the moment.
2. Penn State (8-0) *** Last week: 2
Last week: Bye week
This week: Penn State at Minnesota (8-0), Noon ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: It’s a rare day when a Big Ten game features two 8-0 teams and NEITHER is Michigan or Ohio State. But that’s what we’ve got Saturday in Minneapolis, and this one is darn interesting, to be sure. Penn State is an early 6.5-point favorite.
3. Minnesota (8-0) *** Last week: 3
Last week: Bye week
This week: Penn State (8-0) at Minnesota, Noon ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Minnesota has had to fight the critics all season over its 8-0 start, because the Gophers weren’t all that impressive in their three narrow nonconference wins, and their five Big Ten wins so far are against all the BOTTOM FIVE teams in our weekly rankings. That’s shockingly hard to do from a schedule standpoint. This is the Gophers’ chance to really show the nation something.
4. Michigan (7-2) *** Last week's ranking: 4
Last week: Beat Maryland 38-7
This week: Bye week
The skinny: Michigan seems to be finally putting it together, this time getting an impressive win over Maryland. That’s two weeks in a row counting the Notre Dame romp, and then there’s a bye week before the big finish with Michigan State, Indiana and Ohio State. Rest up, fellas.
Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts after tight end Nick Eubanks (not pictured) third quarter touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
5. Wisconsin (6-2) *** Last week: 6
Last week: Bye week
This week: Iowa (6-2) at Wisconsin, 4 p.m. ET (TV: FOX)
The skinny: Wisconsin and Iowa were both on byes this week, but I flipped them in my rankings anyway. Yes, I can change my mind when I have time to think about it. Part of it has to do with my feelings on Illinois now, and that Wisconsin loss to the Illini not being as egrigous as I first thought. They can settle it on the field on Saturday, the Badgers and the Hawkeyes.
6. Iowa (6-2) *** Last week 5
Last week: Bye week
This week: Iowa at Wisconsin (6-2), 4 p.m. ET (TV: FOX)
The skinny: Iowa drop without even playing a game? I’m figuring that more on the offense, which still concerns me. I just don’t think they can run the ball on anyone decent, and I’m starting to figure the Hawkeyes might really struggle down the stretch here in the next couple of weeks.
7. Indiana (7-2) *** Last week: 7
Last week: Beat Northwestern 34-3
This week: Bye week
The skinny: Indiana is 7-2, and I thought long and hard about moving them up ahead of Wisconsin and Iowa. The only thing that stopped me was looking hard at who Indiana has beaten. Still a little more to prove for me if they want to be in the top five. But the Hoosiers sure are looking good. Can they pull off an upset against Penn State or Michigan. Sure looks like they have a chance.
Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Ty Fryfogle (3) gets tackled by Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Blake Gallagher (51) during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
8. Michigan State (4-4) *** Last week: 8
Last week: Bye week
This week: Illinois (5-4) at Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports1)
The skinny: Hopefully the Spartans fixed some of their offensive woes during the bye week. This game with Illinois seemed like a gimme a month ago, but that’s changed now after the Illini have reeled off three wins in a row. The struggling Spartans need to get their act together.
9. Illinois (5-4) *** Last week: 10
Last week: Beat Rutgers 38-10
This week: Illinois at Michigan State (4-4), 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: FoxSports1)
The skinny: You can say it’s just Rutgers, and that would be true, but the Illini will take any win they can get right now, and this was a good one. Getting a win on the road at Michigan State would make Illinois bowl eligible. Kudos for Lovie Smith for keeping this team together.
10. Purdue (3-6) *** Last week: 11
Last week: Beat Nebraska 31-27
This week: Purdue at Northwestern (1-7), Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: The Boilermakers came up with a huge win against Nebraska, and they did it in a way I didn’t think was possible, scoring points late with a third-string quarterback making it happen. That’s a great win for Aidan O’Connell and the Boilers.
Purdue quarterback Jack Plummer played well against Nebraska before having to leave with an injury. (USA TODAY)
11. Nebraska (4-5) *** Last week: 9
Last week: Lost to Purdue 31-27
This week: Bye week
The skinny: Nebraska was in the game late the past two weeks against Indiana and Purdue, but neither time could they make enough plays to finish the deal. At 4-5, missing out on a bowl game for the third straight year is starting to look like a scary possibility, with Iowa and Wisconsin still on the schedule.
12. Maryland (3-6) *** Last week: 12
Last week: Lost to Michigan 38-7
This week: Michigan (6-2) at Maryland, Noon ET (TV: ABC)
The skinny: Maryland simply had no answer for Michigan on Saturday, and it’s really turning into a struggle for the Terrapins. This team, I have to say, has been mildly disappointing, not so much for not winning, but for getting blown out so bad every week.
13. Northwestern (1-7) *** Last week: 13
Last week: Lost to Indiana 34-3.
This week: Purdue (3-6) at Northwestern, Noon ET (TV: BTN)
The skinny: I said last week that Northwestern’s offense was the worst I’ve ever seen during the Pat Fitzgerald era, and after seeing it in person Saturday night in the loss to Indiana, now I’m sure I was right. It’s really sad to see what’s happened to this team, which won the Big Ten West a year ago. Only 41 points in six Big Ten games is crazy. That’s less than a touchdown a game.
14. Rutgers (2-7) *** Last week 14
Last week: Lost to Illinois 38-10
This week: Bye week
The skinny: Give Rutgers this: At least they are still playing hard. That’s all you can ask from an undermanned team.
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