Is Penn State the best team in the Big Ten? If Iowa wins out, will they be left out of the national championship game? What are your thoughts on the state of the Big Ten?
On to the rankings. Last week's rank in parentheses.
1. (2) Penn State (3-1, 7-1) - How can I rank Penn State above Iowa? These power rankings are based on how well a team is playing right now, so hear me out. Iowa deserves to be ranked higher in the BCS standings, but Penn State has won its last two games by a combined score of 55-10, including a win at the Big House. Iowa, meanwhile, was stuck in an ugly 6-6 game in the 4th quarter and barely escaped with a win.
2. (1) Iowa (4-0, 8-0) - Let's review Iowa's last four games. A 24-21 scare against Arkansas State. A two-point home win against Michigan. A comeback win against unranked Wisconsin. A last-second TD to beat Michigan State. For most teams, that stretch would be just fine. But if Iowa wants to compete as the best team in college football (i.e. play in the national championship), than it can't play to its opponent's level.
Follow the jump for the rest of the rankings.
3. (3) Ohio State (4-1, 6-2) - There's clearly a three-team race for the Big Ten title, and despite losing two games (one conference game), the Buckeyes have as good a chance as Penn State or Iowa to win the conference. Especially with Penn State and Iowa still on the schedule.
4. (4) Wisconsin (2-2, 5-2) - Wisconsin could be a dark-horse candidate to snag a Jan. 1 bowl game. Despite a two-game losing streak, the Badgers are in prime position to win the rest of their games with Purdue, Indiana, Michigan, Northwestern and Hawaii remaining on the schedule.
5. (6) Michigan State (3-2, 4-4) - The Spartans jump up one spot, despite losing to Iowa, for two reasons. First, Michigan continues to slide and deserves to fall behind the Spartans. Second, the Spartans are one defensive stop away from having a four-game winning streak, with two teams against ranked opponents (at the time of the game). The Spartans have chances to gain bowl eligibility with two wins before a showdown with Penn State in the final week.
5. (6) Michigan (1-3, 5-3) - Three losses in four weeks? And the only win was against Delaware State. The Wolverines were out of their class against Penn State. Michigan committed four turnovers and QB Tate Forcier has passed for more than 200 yards only twice this season, including four games under 150 yards.
7. (9) Purdue (2-3, 3-5) - The Boilers have a legitimate chance to make a bowl game. If they want to play an extra game, the Boilers will need to win a game on the road for the first time since Sept. 22, 2008. The key may be to limit turnovers - something the Boilers haven't been able to do until this past week against Illinois.
8. (7) Minnesota (2-3, 4-4) - Two weeks ago, I said Minnesota might have peaked in these power rankings when the team reached fifth. Following blowout losses to Penn State and Ohio State, the Gophers slid back as expected. The question is, can they rebound to become bowl eligible? With one win expected against South Dakota State on Nov. 14 and a game against Illinois the week before, the Gophers have a good chance to make a bowl game.
9. (8) Northwestern (2-2, 5-3) - Next time Northwestern plays a team from the state of Indiana, the Wildcats ought to play with their scout team for the first couple quarters to guarantee a big hole. Then they can hit comeback mode with their starters and win. Purdue led 21-3 on Oct. 3 and IU led 28-3 on Saturday, but the Wildcats won both. Northwestern can't slip up the rest of the season, however, if it hopes to make a bowl.
10. (10) Indiana (1-3, 4-4) - IU could be bowl eligible today if close games against Michigan and Northwestern went in its favor. Instead, the Hoosiers begin to look like a desperate team without a significant win this entire season. Some curious coaching calls, combined with player mistakes, doomed the Hoosiers in the second half.
11. (11) Illinois (0-5, 1-6) - Ron Zook should still be worried, despite the guarantee of a job next season. What will he have to work with next year? However, Zook and the Illini still have a chance to patch up a wasted season with winnable games against Minnesota and Northwestern.
What are your thoughts? Who's the dominant team in the Big Ten? Will the conference get destroyed during bowl season?
