Big Ten Power Rankings – Week 14
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Hello there and welcome to the Big Ten Power Rankings! Each week we’ll rank how the teams across the conference are playing, in the hopes of seeing just who is a contender, and who is a pretender over the course of the season.
The rules are few, but resolute:
Teams are ranked by how they’re playing at that time. Not body of work, not rankings in the polls, but simply how each team is playing at that point in the season.
The approach to the rankings is not necessarily on the field results (though those do count, as an obvious, tangible data point), but more generally if the two teams played at a neutral site 100 times, which team would win 51 times (or more).
These rankings are subjective. As the author I get to follow the rules as closely or loosely as I want to, and if you don’t like the rankings, you’re wrong.
Week 14 – the regular season! – is in the books, and the final rankings of the season are here, at least until we finish up the bowl season. Let’s get to it!
Tier 1: Playoff Locks
Teams that are all but guaranteed to make the playoffs, if they continue to play the way they have played thus far.
1. Ohio State
OSU beat Michigan 27-9, ended the year 12-0, and punched their ticket to Indianapolis. They’ll take on Indiana in the B1G CCG, but they’ll be in the Playoffs regardless of that game’s outcome.
2. Indiana
The Hoosiers smashed Purdue 56-3 and finish the season 12-0. A CCG berth awaits, and the CFP after that.
3. Oregon
The Ducks got past most hated rival Washington 26-14 to end the year 11-1, and will get a week off before learning their Playoff opponent.
Tier 2: Playoff Hopefuls
Teams that could very well end up in the playoffs, but need to continue to improve their resume and move up the rankings before they can make it.
With Michigan’s loss to Ohio State, nobody finished in that Goldilocks, bubble 10-2 zone. The B1G will have three playoff teams this year, maybe next year someone will slot in here and anxiously await their fate.
Tier 3: High-Level Bowl Teams
Teams that likely won’t make the playoffs, but will represent the conference in quality bowls, including the Citrus Bowl and the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
4. USC
The Trojans defeated UCLA 29-10, and end the year a respectable 9-3. They’ll likely be one of the first two non-Playoff teams selected for a premiere bowl game.
5. Michigan
The Wolverines got bullied by OSU, but still finish 9-3 on the year. A nice bowl game awaits.
6. Iowa
The Hawkeyes smashed Nebraska 40-16 in Farmageddon, ending the year at 8-4. A quality bowl game will be next.
7. Illinois
The Illini took care of business against pesky Northwestern, winning 20-13 and finishing the season at 8-4. A decent bowl game will be next.
8. Washington
The Huskies couldn’t pull off the upset, but end the year a solid 8-4. They’ll await their bowl game destination.
Tier 4: Low-Level Bowl Teams
Teams that will end up making it to a bowl game, but likely the bowls that aren’t quite as prestigious, including the Pinstripe Bowl and the Music City Bowl.
9. Minnesota
The Gophers took down Wisconsin 17-7 to retain the Axe, and end the year at 7-5. A lower-level bowl game is on the docket.
10. Nebraska
The Cornhuskers limp down the stretch to a 7-5 record, not quite the Year 3 expected under Matt Rhule. They’ll wait to see what bowl they end up in.
11. Northwestern
The Wildcats couldn’t pull it off against Illinois, and end the year an even 6-6. Like many others, they’ll await their bowl destination.
12. Penn State
The Nittany Lions needed every bit of luck to beat Rutgers 40-36, but win they did, and a 6-6 season – and bowl eligibility! – are secured. We’ll wait to see where the Lions go bowling.
Tier 5: Bowl-Ineligible Teams
Teams that are on a trajectory to end the season below .500 and miss out on a post-season bowl game.
13. Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights gave Penn State everything they had, and were it not for a wacky fumble, very likely could have swapped places with PSU. But the ball bounced the way it did, and RU ends the year at 5-7; they’ll be home for the holidays this year.
14. Michigan State
Without much to play for, the Spartans still got up and defeated Maryland 38-28 to secure a 4-8 record on the year. Until next season, when new head coach Pat Fitzgerald takes the sidelines.
15. Maryland
The Terrapins did not have enough in the tank to beat MSU, and end the year at 4-8. We’ll see them again in the fall.
16. Wisconsin
The Badgers tried but came up short against Minnesota. ‘Til next year.
17. UCLA
The Bruins ended where many of us thought they would, though a few fun games in the middle of the season caused some repercussions across the college football landscape. A 3-9 season means we’ll see them next year, under a new head coach.
Tier 6: The Basement™
The worst of the worst, teams whose fans wear paper bags over their heads and count down the days until they have a new head coach.
18. Purdue
The Boilermakers got slammed by Indiana, and complete another year here in the basement, ending the season at 2-10 and the only team without a win in conference play. See ya in the fall!
For the last time in the regular season, let’s check on the squiggles!
The top 3 remain in place: Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon. USC and Michigan flip-flop. Iowa holds steady while Illinois and Washington swap places. Minnesota climbs, but Nebraska and Northwestern tumble. Penn State continues its upward trend (you didn’t beat us, I just ran out of time), while Rutgers slips. Michigan State makes one final stand, while Maryland and Wisconsin dip. UCLA holds steady, followed by Purdue in the basement.
On to the postseason!
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