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The bye week was a good week overall for the Wolverines. Penn State, a team ahead of them in the Big Ten championship race fell, and Michigan State blew a 28-3 lead against Illinois. Even with those moves, Michigan falls back in my Big Ten power rankings. There were some huge Big Ten games last week, so expect some big changes in the rankings. You can check them out below.
1. OHIO STATE 9-0 (6-0)
Ohio State came off their bye with a suspension from their star defensive end Chase Young. No length has been determined for his suspension, but he didn’t play against Maryland last week and most likely won’t play Rutgers this week.
Moving to the action last week against Maryland, the offense never put their foot off the gas in the 73-14 beatdown. Ohio State put up 705 yards of offense, 322 came from the four different quarterbacks that played and combined for four touchdowns. The other 383 yards came on the ground as eight different people ran the football for those yards and six touchdowns.
The defense played hard, holding Maryland to 139 yards of offense. They had Maryland try out both quarterbacks Josh Jackson and Tyrrell Pigrome, holding them to 77 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Buckeyes take on Rutgers this week in what could be a repeat of this game.
2. MINNESOTA 9-0 (6-0)
Minnesota was able to pull off the upset last week, beating Penn State 31-26. Quarterback Tanner Morgan played lights out, going 18/20 for 339 yards and three touchdowns.
The defense was able to create some big turnovers, forcing Penn State to throw three interceptions and make it a struggle to pass the ball on them. The win moves Minnesota to the second spot as they look to keep their Big Ten championship hopes alive as they are in the driver seat. They play Iowa this week as a win would officially eliminate the Hawkeyes and make it come down to their game next week to clinch their spot in Indianapolis.
3. PENN STATE 8-1 (5-1)
Penn State possibly just knocked themselves out of the playoff picture and the Big Ten title picture with their 31-26 loss to Minnesota. Quarterback Sean Clifford struggled, going 23/43 for 340 yards with only one touchdown and three interceptions. The running game had some better production, as the leading running back Journey Brown had 14 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
The defense couldn’t stop the Minnesota passing game and only forced one fumble all day long. They did hold the Golden Gophers to 121 rushing yards and a touchdown on 40 carries, so they were forced to pass and it was still working. Penn State will look to rebound this week against Indiana as they try and keep their playoff and Big Ten championship hopes alive.
4. WISCONSIN 7-2 (4-2)
Wisconsin moves up with their 24-22 win over Iowa as they take over the second-place spot in the Big Ten West, with hopes that Minnesota slips up just once before they take them on in the season finale. Running the football with Jonathan Taylor was the main focal point of the offense, as Taylor had a whopping 31 carries for 250 yards, but he never found the endzone.
The defense made it a mission to shut down the Hawkeyes ground game and they did just that, holding the Hawkeyes to 87 yards on 23 carries. Wisconsin looks to keep their Big Ten title hopes alive as they take on Nebraska this week.
5. MICHIGAN 7-2 (4-2)
Michigan was on a bye week this week as they fall a spot with Wisconsin winning over Iowa. They take on Michigan State this week as they try and keep the Paul Bunyan trophy in Ann Arbor for at least another year.
6. INDIANA 7-2 (4-2)
Indiana moves up with the Iowa loss as they were on a bye week as well. The Hoosiers have a chance to ruin Penn State’s season this week and what better way to do that than in front of their own fans.
7. IOWA 6-3 (3-3)
Iowa falls a spot after their 24-22 loss to Wisconsin as they need a miracle to reach the Big Ten championship game now. Quarterback Nate Stanley went 17/28 for 208 yards with two touchdowns and a fumble. The running game struggled to get into the end zone, getting held to just 87 yards.
The defense was able to hold quarterback Jack Coan in place, having him go 16/25 for 173 yards with two touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble, but stopping Taylor wasn’t possible unless it was out of the endzone as he ran for 250 on them. Iowa takes on Minnesota this week as they look to try and ruin their perfect season and keep their Big Ten title hopes alive.
8. ILLINOIS 6-4 (4-3)
Illinois got a huge win last week as they came back down 28-3 and beat Michigan State 37-34. Quarterback Brandon Peters played very well, going 22/42 for 369 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe had a great game too, with four catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
The defense, while allowing over 500 yards of offense, held MSU quarterback Brian Lewerke in check by forcing him to go 19/36 for 251 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Illinois gets a week off this week but takes on Iowa next week.
9. PURDUE 4-6 (3-4)
Purdue jumps after their own comeback as they came back down 14-0 to win 24-22 over Northwestern. It was behind their quarterback Aidan O’Connell who went 34/50 for 271 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The defense did their best in stopping Northwestern’s passing game and it did as well as it could, holding them to 184 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Purdue gets a week of rest as they take on Wisconsin as they try and keep their bowl hopes alive.
10. MICHIGAN STATE 4-5 (2-4)
Michigan State falls two spots after blowing a 25 point lead to Illinois at home. While Lewerke struggled, the running game had some better success, getting 275 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as the team was able to average 5.4 yards per carry.
The defense is where things fell apart as they let Illinois get back into the game with a 25 point lead. While they couldn’t stop Peters that much, they did well in stopping the Illinois rushing attack, holding them to 36 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. They take on Michigan this week as they try and upset the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
11. NEBRASKA 4-5 (2-4)
Nebraska sits still after their bye week. This week they take on Wisconsin as they try and eliminate the Badgers from the Big Ten title picture. Nebraska is looking to make a bowl game as well as they need to win two of their final three games.
12. MARYLAND 3-7 (1-6)
Maryland is officially out of the bowl game picture after its 73-14 loss to Ohio State. Maryland couldn’t do much on offense, and it showed as they were only able to muster up 139 total yards on offense as the running game had 62 yards and a touchdown on just 32 carries.
The defense couldn’t do anything to stop Ohio State, allowing 705 total yards and 10 touchdowns. Six came on the ground, and four in the air. Maryland has a bye week this week, but they take on Nebraska next week.
13. RUTGERS 2-7 (0-6)
Rutgers had a bye week last week and this week they look to have a huge upset as they try and take down Ohio State.
14. NORTHWESTERN 1-8 (0-7)
Northwestern blew a 14 point lead and lost to Purdue 24-22 as they couldn’t keep their offense moving constantly. The running game was the bread and butter for the team, getting 251 yards and a touchdown on 45 carries.
The defense had troubles in stopping the passing game, but when it came to stopping the run they had more success, holding Purdue to 74 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Northwestern takes on UMASS this week in a late non-conference game.