Big Ten Football Power Rankings, Week 16: Ohio State, and everyone else

The journey to Indianapolis is now complete, with Ohio State coming back to down Wisconsin 34-21 in the Big Ten title game. The Buckeyes are playoff bound as the no. 2 seed, while the Badgers will enjoy a trip to sunny Pasadena to take on Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Here are the final B1G power rankings from a wild, wacky, entertaining season:

1. Ohio State (13-0, 10-0 B1G)

Bowl Game: CFP Semifinal vs. Clemson

After a first half scare against Wisconsin, Ryan Day once again made effective halftime adjustments to come back and handedly win the Big Ten title game. Now, the Bucks face Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl with a trip to the national championship on the line.

2. Penn State (10-2, 7-2)

Bowl Game: Cotton vs. Memphis

The Nittany Lions were rewarded with a bid to the Cotton Bowl, and they’ll face a dangerous Memphis squad. This team was good and young this year, just not yet ready for Ohio State. Next year should bring a dandy.

3. Wisconsin (10-3, 7-3)

Bowl Game: Rose vs. Oregon

The Badgers annihilated upstart Minnesota to make it to Indy, but they just simply weren’t on the same level as Ohio State. Can Jonathan Taylor add a Rose Bowl win to his impressive resume?

4. Minnesota (10-2, 7-2)

Bowl Game: Outback vs. Auburn

The boat might have been rowed a tad too quickly, for Minnesota showed fallibility against tougher conference foes and couldn’t secure the West. The Gophers draw a tough Auburn team in Tampa.

5. Michigan (9-3, 6-3)

Bowl Game: Citrus vs. Alabama

If Michigan and Minnesota played, Michigan might win. But another dismantling at the hands of Ohio State matches a sour ending to a sour beginning of the season. AND, they get Bama (in a non-New Years Six bowl!).

6. Iowa (9-3, 6-3)

Bowl Game: Holiday vs. USC

Okay, Iowa eclipsed 8 wins. Cool. The Hawkeyes got their typical home win over a ranked team. Cool. Hope they have fun in their road bowl game. WIll they make it two-straight wins for the B1G in San Diego?

7. Indiana (8-4, 5-4)

Bowl Game: Gator vs. Tennessee

The Hoosiers avoided losing three of their last four by eeking out an overtime win over Purdue to secure their first eight-win campaign since 1993. If they can beat Tennessee in the Gator Bowl, Tom Allen make #9WINdiana a thing for the first time since 1967, when they made the Rose Bowl.

Michigan State (6-6, 4-5)

Bowl Game: Pinstripe vs. Wake Forest

It’s unclear what Mark D’antonio’s fate is, though it seems like he’ll be around for at least another season. An ugly win over struggling Maryland qualified them for bowl eligibility, but that won’t quiet the critics in East Lansing.

Illinois (6-6, 4-5)

Bowl Game: Redbox vs. Cal

Lovie got them bowl eligible and on the upswing just to get run over by Andrew Marty, Drake Anderson, Coco Azema and Ray Niro. HAT.

Nebraska (5-7, 3-5)

Bowl Game: N/A

Burrow is this year’s likely Heisman winner. Nebraska went 5-7.

Purdue (4-8, 3-6)

Bowl Game: N/A

Injuries, man. Certainly a fun team to watch when healthy.

Northwestern (3-9, 1-8)

Bowl Game: N/A

Let’s see what Bajakian can do.

Maryland (3-9, 1-8)

Bowl Game: N/A

Remember when the Terps were 2-0 and ranked 21 in the nation?

Rutgers (2-10, 0-9)

Bowl Game: N/A

Handled in the most Rutger way possible, Jersey native Greg Schiano is back with the Scarlet Knights. This isn’t the Big East in which he’s trying to build them up, though.