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With Chris L. on new dad duty for the second time, I duck in to handle this week’s edition of Big Ten Power Rankings and hopefully we’re not too far apart on our opinion
1. Ohio State
Welp. Ohio State went out in “The Game” this weekend and reminded everyone that despite its faults, it’s still extremely talented.
2. Michigan
Hahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhaaha.
3. Penn State
It took about an entire season, but the Nittany Lions finally played a complete game on Saturday and smacked up on their neighbors to the south.
4. Northwestern
Injuries aside, the Wildcats looked lackluster on the way to an eight-point victory over lowly Illinois. Maybe they were looking ahead to the B1G Championship game which Penn State fans should hope OSU puts away by halftime.
5. Iowa
The Hawkeyes got by Nebraska by the skin of their teeth. Do Hawks have teeth? Well, you know what I mean.
6. Michigan State
This is where the conference gets really, really bad.
7. Purdue
The Boilermakers grabbed Indiana state supremacy, whatever that’s worth, en route to becoming bowl eligible for the second consecutive season.
8. Minnesota
Awwww yeah. You bring that giant axe back to the Land of 10,000 lakes!
9. Wisconsin
Casual reminder that some people thought this team was a playoff contender. Yikes.
10. Nebraska
It’s sort of a sad state of affairs when you’re happy about finishing the season 4-8, but the Huskers were clearly better over the last half, going 4-2 down the stretch/
11. Indiana
It may not quite be time to hit the reset button in Bloomington. But while Nebraska and Minnesota seem to be on the rise, the Hoosiers seem to be stagnating.
12. Maryland
I was all aboard the “keep Matt Canada” train heading into this weekend and then he decided to kick a field goal down 24-3 and inside the Penn State 30 on Saturday. Woof.
13. Illinois
The Illini sorta almost beat the Big Ten West champs and then gave Lovie a new contract because of it!
14. Rutgers
So close! But yet so far away. Poor Rutgers. Hire Jeff Monken.