Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 9
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Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings for Week 9 of the college football season, compiled by Matt Charboneau.
Go through the gallery to see the Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings for Week 9 of the college football season, compiled by Matt Charboneau. Dale G. Young, Detroit News
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1. Michigan (7-1, 5-0) – The Wolverines are in a position they haven’t been in quite some time, sitting atop the division more than halfway through the season. Back-to-back wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State have them in place to reach the Big Ten title game if they can win out. They’ll get the upcoming week off before hosting Penn State. The Ohio State game looms at the end of the season. Last week: 2.
1. Michigan (7-1, 5-0) – The Wolverines are in a position they haven’t been in quite some time, sitting atop the division more than halfway through the season. Back-to-back wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State have them in place to reach the Big Ten title game if they can win out. They’ll get the upcoming week off before hosting Penn State. The Ohio State game looms at the end of the season. Last week: 2. Rod Sanford, Detroit News
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2. Iowa (6-1, 3-1) – Not many people have been noticing since the Hawkeyes lost to Wisconsin early in the season, but Kirk Ferentz’s team is quietly putting together a solid campaign. They handled Maryland easily and kept pace in the West. Next week presents a significant challenge as they head to Penn State, a game that could make or break the regular season. Last week: 3.
2. Iowa (6-1, 3-1) – Not many people have been noticing since the Hawkeyes lost to Wisconsin early in the season, but Kirk Ferentz’s team is quietly putting together a solid campaign. They handled Maryland easily and kept pace in the West. Next week presents a significant challenge as they head to Penn State, a game that could make or break the regular season. Last week: 3. Charlie Neibergall, AP
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3. Ohio State (7-1, 4-1) – The Buckeyes did it again – went on the road and lost in spectacular fashion to throw a massive kink in their playoff plans. They were thoroughly dominated by Purdue and now must regroup over the final four weeks. They still travel to Michigan State and host Michigan, meaning a trip to the conference title game is beginning to look precarious. Last week: 1.
3. Ohio State (7-1, 4-1) – The Buckeyes did it again – went on the road and lost in spectacular fashion to throw a massive kink in their playoff plans. They were thoroughly dominated by Purdue and now must regroup over the final four weeks. They still travel to Michigan State and host Michigan, meaning a trip to the conference title game is beginning to look precarious. Last week: 1. Michael Conroy, AP
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4. Northwestern (4-3, 4-1) – The Wildcats haven’t made things look pretty the last couple weeks, but the bottom line is they’ve won three straight and control their destiny in the Big Ten West. They host Wisconsin next week in what could essentially amount to a West Division championship game as the winner will be in prime position to head to Indy. Last week: 4.
4. Northwestern (4-3, 4-1) – The Wildcats haven’t made things look pretty the last couple weeks, but the bottom line is they’ve won three straight and control their destiny in the Big Ten West. They host Wisconsin next week in what could essentially amount to a West Division championship game as the winner will be in prime position to head to Indy. Last week: 4. Julio Cortez, AP
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5. Purdue (4-3, 3-1) – Not many people were giving the Boilermakers a chance against Ohio State but they responded by winning in dominating fashion in the biggest game in West Lafayette in years. After four straight wins, Purdue finds itself tied atop the Big Ten West but needing some help to reach the conference title game. Tough games await, including next week at Michigan State. Last week: 8.
5. Purdue (4-3, 3-1) – Not many people were giving the Boilermakers a chance against Ohio State but they responded by winning in dominating fashion in the biggest game in West Lafayette in years. After four straight wins, Purdue finds itself tied atop the Big Ten West but needing some help to reach the conference title game. Tough games await, including next week at Michigan State. Last week: 8. Michael Conroy, AP
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6. Penn State (5-2, 2-2) – Forgive the Nittany Lions if they were a bit sluggish this week after dropping two straight to Ohio State and Michigan State for the second consecutive year. They kept it together enough to get a win at Indiana but face a tough road over the next three weeks with Iowa and Wisconsin at home sandwiching a trip to Michigan. Last week: 6.
6. Penn State (5-2, 2-2) – Forgive the Nittany Lions if they were a bit sluggish this week after dropping two straight to Ohio State and Michigan State for the second consecutive year. They kept it together enough to get a win at Indiana but face a tough road over the next three weeks with Iowa and Wisconsin at home sandwiching a trip to Michigan. Last week: 6. Doug McSchooler, AP
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7. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1) – The Badgers rebounded from last week’s loss to Michigan by getting well against Illinois. It will get tougher next week with a trip to Northwestern, a must-win if the Badgers hope to get a return trip to the conference championship game. Games at Penn State and Purdue still loom, however, even if they can get past the Wildcats. Last week: 7.
7. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1) – The Badgers rebounded from last week’s loss to Michigan by getting well against Illinois. It will get tougher next week with a trip to Northwestern, a must-win if the Badgers hope to get a return trip to the conference championship game. Games at Penn State and Purdue still loom, however, even if they can get past the Wildcats. Last week: 7. Andy Manis, AP
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8. Michigan State (4-3, 2-2) – The Spartans lost to their rival at home and continued to lose even more as wide receiver Felton Davis ruptured his Achilles. The injury simply adds to a growing list as the Spartans are playing severely short-handed on offense. Bowl position is about all the Spartans have to play for as surging Purdue comes to town next week. Last week: 5.
8. Michigan State (4-3, 2-2) – The Spartans lost to their rival at home and continued to lose even more as wide receiver Felton Davis ruptured his Achilles. The injury simply adds to a growing list as the Spartans are playing severely short-handed on offense. Bowl position is about all the Spartans have to play for as surging Purdue comes to town next week. Last week: 5. Dale G. Young, Detroit News
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9. Indiana (4-4, 1-4) – Life in one of the toughest conferences in college football continues to take its toll on the Hoosiers, who once again played tough only to fall short against Penn State for a third straight defeat. The Hoosiers are better than their record shows, but the road is tough. They get a shot next week at Minnesota to end the skid and get closer to six wins. Last week: 11.
9. Indiana (4-4, 1-4) – Life in one of the toughest conferences in college football continues to take its toll on the Hoosiers, who once again played tough only to fall short against Penn State for a third straight defeat. The Hoosiers are better than their record shows, but the road is tough. They get a shot next week at Minnesota to end the skid and get closer to six wins. Last week: 11. Doug McSchooler, AP
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10. Maryland (4-3, 2-2) – The up-and-down play continued for the Terrapins as they got shut out at Iowa. The Terps haven’t won two straight since the first two games of the season and their running attack was stuffed by the Hawkeyes. Hosting Illinois next week provides an opportunity to continue their back-and-forth season as they need two more wins to become bowl-eligible. Last week: 9.
10. Maryland (4-3, 2-2) – The up-and-down play continued for the Terrapins as they got shut out at Iowa. The Terps haven’t won two straight since the first two games of the season and their running attack was stuffed by the Hawkeyes. Hosting Illinois next week provides an opportunity to continue their back-and-forth season as they need two more wins to become bowl-eligible. Last week: 9. Charlie Neibergall, AP
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11. Nebraska (1-6, 1-4) – Well, the Cornhuskers didn’t have to wait for Bethune-Cookman. It turns out Minnesota, winless in the Big Ten, did the trick as coach Scott Frost got his first win with his alma mater. Odds are the Huskers make it two in a row next week, but the finish will be tough as Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa are all still on the schedule. Last week: 13.
11. Nebraska (1-6, 1-4) – Well, the Cornhuskers didn’t have to wait for Bethune-Cookman. It turns out Minnesota, winless in the Big Ten, did the trick as coach Scott Frost got his first win with his alma mater. Odds are the Huskers make it two in a row next week, but the finish will be tough as Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa are all still on the schedule. Last week: 13. Nati Harnik, AP
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12. Minnesota (3-4, 0-4) – The Golden Gophers lost their fourth straight as they were the victims in Nebraska’s first victory of the season. The Gophers are reeling in P.J. Fleck’s second season, not the position many hoped they’d been in when they hired the former Western Michigan coach. A trip to Illinois in two weeks might be the only winnable game left on the schedule. Last week: 10.
12. Minnesota (3-4, 0-4) – The Golden Gophers lost their fourth straight as they were the victims in Nebraska’s first victory of the season. The Gophers are reeling in P.J. Fleck’s second season, not the position many hoped they’d been in when they hired the former Western Michigan coach. A trip to Illinois in two weeks might be the only winnable game left on the schedule. Last week: 10. Nati Harnik, AP
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13. Illinois (3-4, 1-3) – The Fighting Illini have now lost four of five and the good feelings that were around after the win over Rutgers a couple of weeks ago have faded. They’ll need to win three of the final four games to be bowl-eligible, not exactly a likely scenario for a team that hasn’t won more than three games in a season under Lovie Smith. Last week: 12.
13. Illinois (3-4, 1-3) – The Fighting Illini have now lost four of five and the good feelings that were around after the win over Rutgers a couple of weeks ago have faded. They’ll need to win three of the final four games to be bowl-eligible, not exactly a likely scenario for a team that hasn’t won more than three games in a season under Lovie Smith. Last week: 12. Andy Manis, AP
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14. Rutgers (1-7, 0-5) – There was something positive this week for the Scarlet Knights, but in the end they lost their seventh straight. Northwestern needed another rally to overcome the home team that was desperate for its first conference win. That might not come as the Scarlet Knights close the season with Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State. Last week: 14.
14. Rutgers (1-7, 0-5) – There was something positive this week for the Scarlet Knights, but in the end they lost their seventh straight. Northwestern needed another rally to overcome the home team that was desperate for its first conference win. That might not come as the Scarlet Knights close the season with Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State. Last week: 14. Julio Cortez, AP
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