Northwestern Wildcats Football

Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 11

Can we please make this Big Ten season more exciting?

By Inside NU Archives Nov 10, 2016, 2:15pm CST

The Big Ten season, frankly, has been remarkably boring. The only real upset was Penn State’s shocked Ohio State. Otherwise, it’s been mostly chalk. It’s time to shake things up, college football script writers. Let’s have Minnesota in the Big Ten Championship Game! Who’s with me?!

1

Michigan Wolverines

RECORD: 9-0
WEEK 11: at Iowa
AVERAGE RANK: 1.0

Is there a more fun player to watch than Jabrill Peppers?

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

2

Ohio State Buckeyes

RECORD: 8-1
WEEK 11: at Maryland
AVERAGE RANK: 2.0

The Buckeyes reminded everyone that they can't be forgotten with a blowout of Nebraska last week.

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

3

Wisconsin Badgers

RECORD: 7-2
WEEK 11: vs. Illinois
AVERAGE RANK: 3.0

Paul Chryst has his team in the driver's seat for a Big Ten West crown.

Zach Pereles	3	Zach Wingrove	3
Martin Oppegaard	3	Sam Brief	3
Josh Rosenblat	3	Caleb Friedman	3

4

Penn State Nittany Lions

RECORD: 7-2
WEEK 11: at Indiana
AVERAGE RANK: 4.0

Penn State has put a 2-2 September behind it in a big, big way.

Zach Pereles	4	Zach Wingrove	4
Martin Oppegaard	4	Sam Brief	4
Josh Rosenblat	4	Caleb Friedman	4

5

Nebraska Cornhuskers

RECORD: 7-2
WEEK 11: vs. Minnesota
AVERAGE RANK: 5.0

Tommy Armstrong may play this week after taking a scary hit against Ohio State.

Zach Pereles	5	Zach Wingrove	5
Martin Oppegaard	5	Sam Brief	5
Josh Rosenblat	5	Caleb Friedman	5

6

Northwestern Wildcats

RECORD: 4-5
WEEK 11: at Purdue
AVERAGE RANK: 6.0

Bowl eligibility is still in sight for Northwestern, but a loss to an improving Purdue team could severely damage its chances.

Zach Pereles	6	Zach Wingrove	6
Martin Oppegaard	6	Sam Brief	6
Josh Rosenblat	6	Caleb Friedman	6

T-7

Iowa Hawkeyes

RECORD: 5-4
WEEK 11: vs. No. 2 Michigan
AVERAGE RANK: 7.5

A night game at Kinnick could be fun -- or horribly sad for Hawkeye fans.

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

T-7

Minnesota Golden Gophers

RECORD: 7-2
WEEK 11: at No. 21 Nebraska
AVERAGE RANK: 7.5

At 7-2, Minnesota is quietly still alive in the Big Ten West race.

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

9

Indiana Hoosiers

RECORD: 5-4
WEEK 11: vs. No. 12 Penn State
AVERAGE RANK: 9.0

Two close wins over Maryland and Rutgers don't really inspire much confidence in an Indiana upset this weekend.

Zach Pereles	9	Zach Wingrove	9
Martin Oppegaard	9	Sam Brief	9
Josh Rosenblat	9	Caleb Friedman	9

10

Maryland Terrapins

RECORD: 5-4
WEEK 11: vs. No. 6 Ohio State
AVERAGE RANK: 10.0

Will Maryland lose by less than the 56 points by which it lost to Michigan last week?

Zach Pereles	10	Zach Wingrove	10
Martin Oppegaard	10	Sam Brief	10
Josh Rosenblat	10	Caleb Friedman	10

11

Purdue Boilermakers

RECORD: 3-6
WEEK 11: vs. Northwestern
AVERAGE RANK: 10.875

So Purdue's playing better, but is still riding a four-game losing streak. Huh.

Zach Pereles	12	Zach Wingrove	11
Martin Oppegaard	11	Sam Brief	11
Josh Rosenblat	11	Caleb Friedman	12

12

Michigan State Spartans

RECORD: 2-7
WEEK 11: vs. Rutgers
AVERAGE RANK: 11.75

Michigan State's seven-game losing streak should end when Rutgers visits East Lansing.

Zach Pereles	12	Zach Wingrove	12
Martin Oppegaard	12	Sam Brief	12
Josh Rosenblat	12	Caleb Friedman	12
Henry DaMour	12	Caleb Friedman	12

13

Illinois Fighting Illini

RECORD: 3-6
WEEK 11: at Wisconsin
AVERAGE RANK: 13.0/span>

Illinois can still, technically, make a bowl. So Lovie Smith *should* have his team fired up to play Wisconsin, right?

Zach Pereles	13	Zach Wingrove	13
Martin Oppegaard	13	Sam Brief	13
Josh Rosenblat	13	Caleb Friedman	13

14

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

RECORD: 2-7
WEEK 11: at Michigan State
AVERAGE RANK: 14.0

Rutgers has lost its last two games by a combined 8 points.

Zach Pereles	14	Zach Wingrove	14
Martin Oppegaard	14	Sam Brief	14
Josh Rosenblat	14	Caleb Friedman	14