Does the Big Ten have a dominant team? Currently, Iowa sits at No. 6 in the BCS standings, but can anyone trust them after close calls against two FCS schools? Penn State, meanwhile, continues to dominate its cupcake schedule while losing its only game of much significance. Ohio State's offense has been MIA, especially this past week against Purdue.
On to the rankings. Last week's rank in parentheses.
1. (2) Iowa (3-0, 7-0) - Through seven games, the Hawkeyes have forced 22 turnovers, allow 15 points per game, and rank third in the conference in total defense. But while its defense is playing well, Iowa is not perfect. The team averages less than 25 points per game and has had close calls against Northern Iowa and Arkansas State.
2. (3) Penn State (2-1, 6-1) - It's hard to get excited about a 6-1 record when the six wins have come against teams with a combined 17-21 record (including Temple and Eastern Illinois with decent records in smaller conferences). The season will come down to one home game with Ohio State on Nov. 7, and even that game could lose significance if the Buckeyes continue to struggle.
Follow the jump for the rest of the rankings.
3. (1) Ohio State (3-1, 5-2) - Terrell Pryor and the Ohio State offensive linemen have a lot of work to do in the next two weeks if Ohio State hopes to repair its season (or what's left of it). The Buckeyes play home games against Minnesota and New Mexico State before a finishing stretch at Penn State, home against Iowa and at Michigan to end the season.
4. (4) Wisconsin (2-2, 5-2) - It might be difficult for the Wisconsin players not to look at their upcoming schedule and breath a sigh of relief. After losing to Ohio State and Iowa, the Badgers face Purdue, IU, Michigan, Northwestern and Hawaii (a combined 17-17 record) to end the season.
5. (6) Michigan (1-2, 5-2) - I don't mind dropping Michigan one spot after its 63-6 thumping of Delaware State. That's not exactly the type of competition the Wolverines need to prep for its game against Penn State this week.
6. (7) Michigan State (3-1, 4-3) - Two against weaker Big Ten opponents have helped the Spartans forget about their 1-3 start. Now they will be challenged against Iowa this week. The Spartans passing offense tops the Big Ten in yards per game - coupled with its 4th-place conference rank in total defense, the team can't complain.
7. (5) Minnesota (2-2, 4-3) - With a wide receiver like Eric Decker, Adam Weber's stat line shouldn't be so lacking. Last week, he finished 10-for-22 with 101 yards and an interception. For the season, he averages 189.3 passing yards (8th in the conference) and 55.1 percent of those yards go to Decker.
8. (8) Northwestern (1-2, 4-3) - The Wildcats are quietly building a bowl-eligible record without winning a single game of significance. The team's one Big Ten victory - Purdue - was handed to them by the Boilers committing six turnovers. This week's game against IU could decide who takes the final bowl spot in the conference.
9. (9t) Purdue (1-3, 2-5) - My brother (and Purdue student) said Boiler coach Danny Hope now has more significant wins in his seven-game Boiler career than Charlie Weis has in his five-season Notre Dame career. Can't disagree with him. The Boilers will be kicking themselves at the end of the season if they win a few more games but finish out of the bowl picture.
10. (9t) Indiana (1-2, 4-3) - IU has shown it can beat bad teams this year. They eked out wins against FCS school Eastern Kentucky, a currently 3-4 Western Michigan team, a currently 1-5 Akron team that played without its starting quarterback, and a 1-5 Illinois team that can't do anything right. I'd say that's a good bowl resume.
11. (9t) Illinois (0-4, 1-5) - "This is a bad, sick feeling. I told them, this is going to end when we decide it's going to end," Ron Zook said after the Illinois-IU game. Stating the obvious there, I think. Some players are still holding out hope for a bowl game - that's not even a remote possibility any more, especially with Cincinnati remaining on the schedule.
What are your thoughts? Who's the dominant team in the Big Ten? Will the conference get destroyed during bowl season?
