There were a bunch of memorable games in the Big Ten in Week 11. Iowa was able to scrape by Minnesota in a rivalry game. And Michigan, oh Michigan, was able to somehow pull out a win over Indiana in Bloomington. So, despite the drama, the two favorites won, setting up what could be an amazing Week 12.
It all starts with Ohio State hosting Michigan State. The Spartans have a chance to really shake up the national title hunt with a win. Michigan travels to Penn State, where the Nittany Lions are always a little friskier. Wisconsin and Northwestern will battle in Madison for second place in the Big Ten West and for bowl seeding. With six of the seven teams in the Big Ten's top half squaring off against each other, Saturday projects to be another exciting slate of games.
With that, here is how our staff sees the Big Ten teams stacking up after Week 11:
1
Ohio State Buckeyes
RECORD: 10-0 (6-0) || LAST WEEK: 1
Ten wins. Zero losses. But games against Michigan State and Michigan to finish the season could put an end to the Buckeyes' undefeated season.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
Iowa Hawkeyes
RECORD: 10-0 (6-0) || LAST WEEK: 2 Iowa still isn't getting the national respect it probably deserves. But the Hawkeyes just need to keep winning until the Big Ten championship game.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
2
2.375
3
Michigan State Spartans
RECORD: 9-1 (5-1) || LAST WEEK: 3
Connor Cook's shoulder injury is a cause for concern in East Lansing.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
4
Michigan Wolverines
RECORD: 8-2 (5-1) || LAST WEEK: 4
Another gem from Jim Harbaugh: "I'm like Abraham. I'm going to die leaning on my staff." (h/t Jake Lourim, Michigan Daily)
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
3
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
3.625
5
Wisconsin Badgers
RECORD: 8-2 (5-1) || LAST WEEK: 5
The Badgers' two losses on the season: Alabama and Iowa... not too shabby.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
Northwestern Wildcats
RECORD: 8-2 (4-2) || LAST WEEK: 6
Another game in which Northwestern seemed to play fairly poorly overall leads to yet another win for the Wildcats.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
7
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6.125
7
Penn State Nittany Lions
RECORD: 7-3 (4-2) || LAST WEEK: 7
Like Ohio State, Penn State finishes with the two Michigan schools, but something tells us the Nittany Lions could have a tougher time facing the gauntlet.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
6
7
7
7
7
8
7
8
7.125
8
Nebraska Cornhuskers
RECORD: 5-6 (3-4) || LAST WEEK: 8
Nebraska's off this week before a huge rivalry game against Iowa.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
8
8
8
8
8
7
8
7
7.75
9
Minnesota Golden Gophers
RECORD: 4-6 (1-5) || LAST WEEK: 10
Minnesota hung with the Hawkeyes in Iowa City.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
10
11
9
9
9
9
9
9
9.375
10
Illinois Fighting Illini
RECORD: 5-5 (2-4) || LAST WEEK: 9
Despite losing both its head football coach and athletic director, Illinois has a really good shot to become bowl eligible with games against Minnesota and Northwestern left on the schedule.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
11
10
10
10
10
10
10
12
10.375
11
Indiana Hoosiers
RECORD: 4-6 (0-6) || LAST WEEK: 11
That Indiana-Michigan game was one of the most fun games of the year.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
9
9
12
11
12
11
11
10
10.625
12
Purdue Boilermakers
RECORD: 2-8 (1-5) || LAST WEEK: 12
The Boilermakers had a shot to beat Northwestern in Evanston, but, obviously, they ended up losing.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
12
12
11
12
11
12
12
11
11.625
13
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
RECORD: 3-7 (1-6) || LAST WEEK: 13
Even three Tommy Armstrong interceptions couldn't help Rutgers avoid a 17-point loss to Nebraska.
Henry Bushnell
Josh Rosenblat
Zach Pereles
Martin Oppegaard
Lyndsey Armacost
Sam Brief
Zach Wingrove
Tristan Jung
AVERAGE
13
14
13
14
14
13
13
13
13.375
14
Maryland Terrapins
RECORD: 2-8 (0-6) || LAST WEEK: 14
Mark your calendars... Maryland. Rutgers. Nov. 28. 11 a.m. BTN.