Big Ten Power rankings: Week 9

A big matchup in Madison headlines an exciting weekend.

By Inside NU Archives Oct 28, 2016, 7:02am CDT

We’re through eight weeks of this season and the few things we’re absolutely sure of include that Michigan being really good, Illinois and Purdue being really bad, and Rutgers being Rutgers. This weekend has a ton of intriguing and important matchups. Here’s how we view the conference as a whole heading into the weekend.

1

Michigan Wolverines

RECORD: 7-0
WEEK 9: at Michigan State
AVERAGE RANK: 1.0

The Wolverines finally take over the top spot, but MSU is never easy despite what the record say.

Zach Pereles	1	Zach Wingrove	1
Josh Burton	1	Sam Brief	1
Josh Rosenblat	1	Martin Oppegaard	1
Tristan Jung	1	Caleb Friedman	1

2

Ohio State Buckeyes

RECORD: 6-1
WEEK 9: vs. Northwestern
AVERAGE RANK: 2.0

The Buckeyes had a huge hiccup and will have to win out to have a chance at the playoff.

Zach Pereles	2	Zach Wingrove	2
Josh Burton	2	Sam Brief	2
Josh Rosenblat	2	Martin Oppegaard	2
Tristan Jung	2	Caleb Friedman	2

T-3

Wisconsin Badgers

RECORD: 5-2
WEEK 9: vs. No. 7 Nebraska
AVERAGE RANK: 3.5

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BIG TEN WEST GAME VERSUS NEBRASKA UPCOMING.

Zach Pereles	4	Zach Wingrove	3
Josh Burton	4	Sam Brief	3
Josh Rosenblat	4	Martin Oppegaard	4
Tristan Jung	3	Caleb Friedman	3

T-3

Nebraska Cornhuskers

RECORD: 7-0
WEEK 9: at No. 11 Wisconsin
AVERAGE RANK: 3.5

Are the Cornhuskers for real? They still have Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa on the road.

Zach Pereles	3	Zach Wingrove	4
Josh Burton	3	Sam Brief	4
Josh Rosenblat	3	Martin Oppegaard	3
Tristan Jung	4	Caleb Friedman	4

5

Northwestern Wildcats

RECORD: 4-3
WEEK 9: at No. 6 Ohio State
AVERAGE RANK: 5.125

The Wildcats are 27-point underdogs in Columbus. Yikes.

Zach Pereles	5	Zach Wingrove	5
Josh Burton	5	Sam Brief	5
Josh Rosenblat	6	Martin Oppegaard	5
Tristan Jung	5	Caleb Friedman	5

6

Penn State Nittany Lions

RECORD: 5-2
WEEK 9: at Purdue
AVERAGE RANK: 6.0

The Nittany Lions have shrugged off a slow start and appear to be well on their way to a major bowl game.

Zach Pereles	7	Zach Wingrove	6
Josh Burton	6	Sam Brief	6
Josh Rosenblat	5	Martin Oppegaard	6
Tristan Jung	6	Caleb Friedman	6

7

Iowa Hawkeyes

RECORD: 5-3
WEEK 9: None
AVERAGE RANK: 7.0

The Hawkeyes' offense has really struggled; a bye week should help out. It can't hurt, at least.

Zach Pereles	6	Zach Wingrove	7
Josh Burton	8	Sam Brief	7
Josh Rosenblat	7	Martin Oppegaard	7
Tristan Jung	7	Caleb Friedman	7

8

Indiana Hoosiers

RECORD: 3-4
WEEK 9: vs. Maryland
AVERAGE RANK: 7.875

After a fast start, the Hoosiers face essentially a must-win at home versus Maryland if they want to make a bowl.

Zach Pereles	8	Zach Wingrove	8
Josh Burton	7	Sam Brief	8
Josh Rosenblat	8	Martin Oppegaard	8
Tristan Jung	8	Caleb Friedman	8

9

Minnesota Golden Gophers

RECORD: 5-2
WEEK 9: at Illinois
AVERAGE RANK: 9.125

The Gophers survived Rutgers by two points. Uhhhhh...

Zach Pereles	9	Zach Wingrove	9
Josh Burton	10	Sam Brief	8
Josh Rosenblat	9	Martin Oppegaard	9
Tristan Jung	10	Caleb Friedman	9

10

Maryland Terrapins

RECORD: 5-2
WEEK 9: at Indiana
AVERAGE RANK: 9.875

The Terrapins are now 5-2 after beating Michigan State. D.J. Durkin could very well be in the conversation for B1G coach of the year.

Zach Pereles	10	Zach Wingrove	10
Josh Burton	9	Sam Brief	10
Josh Rosenblat	10	Martin Oppegaard	10
Tristan Jung	9	Caleb Friedman	11

11

Michigan State Spartans

RECORD: 2-5
WEEK 9: vs. No. 2 Michigan
AVERAGE RANK: 10.875

This has to be the lowest the Spartans have been in a long, long time.

Zach Pereles	11	Zach Wingrove	11
Josh Burton	11	Sam Brief	11
Josh Rosenblat	11	Martin Oppegaard	11
Tristan Jung	11	Caleb Friedman	10

12

Purdue Boilermakers

RECORD: 3-3
WEEK 9: vs. No. 24 Penn State
AVERAGE RANK: 12.0

Purdue played inspired football last week. Firing Darell Hazell was undeniably a positive.

Zach Pereles	12	Zach Wingrove	12
Josh Burton	12	Sam Brief	12
Josh Rosenblat	12	Martin Oppegaard	12
Tristan Jung	12	Caleb Friedman	12

13

Illinois Fighting Illini

RECORD: 2-5
WEEK 9: vs. Minnesota
AVERAGE RANK: 13.125/span>

Illinois probably has two winnable games left. A 2-10 year is not out of the question.

Zach Pereles	13	Zach Wingrove	13
Josh Burton	13	Sam Brief	13
Josh Rosenblat	13	Martin Oppegaard	14
Tristan Jung	13	Caleb Friedman	13

14

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

RECORD: 2-4
WEEK 9: None
AVERAGE RANK: 13.875

Gio Rescigno seems to ave won the quarterback battle, the only winning Rutgers has had this year.

Zach Pereles	14	Zach Wingrove	14
Josh Burton	14	Sam Brief	14
Josh Rosenblat	14	Martin Oppegaard	13
Tristan Jung	14	Caleb Friedman	14