Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 9

Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten)

Ranking: 1

LW: 2

Move: UP 1

Ohio State needed a late rally to take down Penn State, and thanks to two touchdown passes by JT Barrett, the Buckeyes control their own destiny in the Big Ten and in the College Football Playoff.

Next Week: at Iowa

Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten)

Ranking: 2

LW: 1

Move: DOWN 1

Penn State looked like they were poised to shatter the Buckeye’s hopes in 2017, but fell apart late in the game, giving way to an improbably Ohio State win. The Nittany Lions will need to recover quickly to avoid another letdown.

Next Week: at Michigan State

Wisconsin Badgers (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten)

Ranking: 3

LW: 3

Move: —

The Badgers visited Champaign over the weekend and did not look like an undefeated team against the young Illini. Failing to get much going on offense, Wisconsin will take a 14-point win against the rebuilding Illini.

Next Week: at Indiana

Michigan Wolverines (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten)

Ranking: 4

LW: 5

Move: UP 1

Michigan looked like the team many expected against Rutgers this weekend, winning by 21. The Wolverines will look to build on this success as this bowl eligible team looks to sneak into a New Years Bowl.

Next Week: vs Minnesota

Michigan State Spartans (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten)

Ranking: 5

LW: 4

Move: DOWN 1

With two fumbles lost and an interception, the Spartans likely beat themselves against Northwestern, as they were handed their first loss in Big Ten play.

Next Week: vs. Penn State

Northwestern Wildcats (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten)

Ranking: 6

LW: 7

Move: UP 1

Northwestern played host to Michigan State and took a win late in the third overtime, giving the Wildcats their fifth win of the season. Northwestern looks poised to make a bowl game in 2017.

Next Week: at Nebraska

Maryland Terrapins (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten)

Ranking: 7

LW: 8

Move: UP 1

The Fighting Turtles held on against Indiana to notch their second Big Ten win this year. Maryland is establishing themselves as an ever improving team in 2017 and beyond.

Next Week: at Rutgers

Iowa Hawkeyes (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten)

Ranking: 8

LW: 10

Move: UP 2

Iowa gained a win against Minnesota this past weekend and their defense was stellar throughout the game. The Hawkeyes appear to be on their way to bowl eligibility.

Next Week: vs Ohio State

Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten)

Ranking: 9

LW: 6

Move: DOWN 3

Minnesota was held scoreless until the fourth against mediocre Iowa this past weekend. The Gophers will look to to improve next weekend as they visit Michigan.

Next Week: at Michigan

Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-4, 3-2 Big Ten)

Ranking: 10

LW: 11

Move: UP 1

Nebraska went on the road and took down Purdue thanks to a Tanner Lee TD pass with 14 seconds left, securing a one point victory. A win is a win, but this is not what most expect from Nebraska.

Next Week: vs Northwestern

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-5, 2-3 Big Ten)

Ranking: 11

LW: 9

Move: DOWN 2

Rutgers played some football this weekend, but unfortunately it was not good football. A 21 point loss to skidding Michigan reaffirms Rutgers still has a way to go in order to be a reputable football program.

Next Week: vs Maryland

Indiana Hoosiers (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten)

Ranking: 12

LW: 12

Move: —

In news that isn’t too surprising, Indiana found another way to lose a football game, this time allowing Maryland to play exponentially better than them in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers and still Loosiers in 2017.

Next Week: vs Wisconsin

Purdue Boilermakers (3-5, 1-4 Big Ten)

Ranking: 13

LW: 13

Move: —

For all the praise Purdue has received for playing so much better in 2017, their three wins just don’t do it for me. Then again, they still aren’t the worst team in the Big Ten.

Next Week: vs Illinois

Illinois Fighting Illini (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten)

Ranking: 14

LW: 14

Move: —

Hello darkness, my old friend. The Illini only lost by 14, a moral victory I suppose. The good news is, according to sources, the Illini are nearly Moral Victory Bowl Eligible.

Next Week: at Purdue

Austin Jabs is a writer for The Champaign Room. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram for pictures of his little girl, average memes, sports depression, and the ramblings of an IT professional.