The Big Ten weekend peaked after the noon slate on Saturday after the Nebraska vs Rutgers and Purdue vs Maryland games wrapped up. Although the game in Piscataway Friday night was one of the sloppiest games you’ll see all year, both were nail-biters which came down to the final moments.
Apart from that, Ohio State had another blowout, Michigan overcame a tight first half to dispose of Indiana, and Wisconsin got back on track against against Northwestern.
The primetime game Saturday night in Champaign was a beautiful rendition of the post-WWII football fans love – touchdown-less and void of any downfield passing. Nonetheless, Illinois was able to make the plays that Iowa couldn’t, and came out with a huge Big Ten West win.
Illinois has cemented themselves as the 4th-best team in the conference, while Purdue’s road wins over Minnesota and Maryland have propelled them into the top 5. Check out all the changes in this week’s edition of the Big Ten Power Rankings:
1) Ohio State (6-0, 3-0 BIG)
Last Week: 1
Week 6 Result: W 49-20 @ Michigan State
Offensive Player of the Game: WR Marvin Harrison Jr (7 rec, 131 yards, 3 TDs)
Defensive Player of the Game: DT Michael Hall Jr (3 tackles, 2 solo, 2.5 sacks, 2.5 TFLs)
Up Next: BYE
2) Michigan (6-0, 3-0 BIG)
Last Week: 2
Week 6 Result: W 31-10 at Indiana
Offensive Player of the Game: QB JJ McCarthy (28-36, 304 yards, 3 TDs, INT, 26 rush yds)
Defensive Player of the Game: LB Junior Colson (7 tackles, 5 solo, sack, TFL)
Up Next: vs Penn State
3) Penn State (5-0, 2-0 BIG)
Last Week: 3
Week 6 Result: BYE
Offensive Player of the Game: n/a
Defensive Player of the Game: n/a
Up Next: at Michigan
4) Illinois (5-1, 2-1 BIG)
Last Week: 5
Week 6 Result: W 9-6 vs Iowa
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Chase Brown (31 carries, 146 yards, 4 rec, 17 yards)
Defensive Player of the Game: DE Jer’Zhan Newton (7 tackles, 4 solo, 2.5 TFLs, QB hurry)
Up Next: vs Minnesota
5) Purdue (4-2, 2-1 BIG)
Last Week: 7
Week 6 Result: W 31-29 at Maryland
Offensive Player of the Game: QB Aidan O’Connell (30-41, 360 yards, 2 TD, INT)
Defensive Player of the Game: DE Khordae Sydnor (3 tackles, 3 solo, 2 sacks, 2 TFLs)
Up Next: vs Nebraska
6) Maryland (4-2, 2-1 BIG)
Last Week: 4
Week 6 Result: L 29-31 vs Purdue
Offensive Player of the Game: QB Talia Tagovailoa (26-38, 315 yards, 3 TDs INT, rush TD)
Defensive Player of the Game: LB Jaishawn Barham (5 tackles, 4 solo, 3 sack, 3 TFL)
Up Next: at Indiana
7) Minnesota (4-1, 1-1 BIG)
Last Week: 6
Week 6 Result: BYE
Offensive Player of the Game: n/a
Defensive Player of the Game: n/a
Up Next: at Illinois
8) Wisconsin (3-3, 1-2 BIG)
Last Week: 10
Week 6 Result: W 42-7 at Northwestern
Offensive Player of the Game: WR Chimere Dike (10 rec, 185 yards, 3 TDs)
Defensive Player of the Game: LB Nick Herbig (7 tackles, 7 solo, sack, TFL)
Up Next: at Michigan State
9) Iowa (3-3, 1-2 BIG)
Last Week: 8
Week 6 Result: L 6-9 at Illinois
Offensive Player of the Game: TE Sam LaPorta (9 rec, 100 yards)
Defensive Player of the Game: CB Quinn Schulte (9 tackles, 3 solo, INT)
Up Next: BYE
10) Nebraska (3-3, 2-1 BIG)
Last Week: 11
Week 6 Result: W 14-13 at Rutgers
Offensive Player of the Game: QB Casey Thompson (24-36, 232 yards 2 TDs, 2 INT)
Defensive Player of the Game: DE Garrett Nelson (11 tackles, 2 solo, 1.5 sacks, 2 TFLs)
Up Next: at Purdue
11) Rutgers (3-3, 0-3 BIG)
Last Week: 9
Week 6 Result: L 13-14 vs Nebraska
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Samuel Brown V (16 carries, 63 yards, rec, 9 yards)
Defensive Player of the Game: CB Christian Baswell (3 tackles, 2 solo, INT)
Up Next: BYE
12) Indiana (3-3, 1-2 BIG)
Last Week: 12
Week 6 Result: L 10-31 at Michigan
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Jailyn Lucas (4 carries, 45 yards, 3 rec, 20 yards)
Defensive Player of the Game: S Devon Matthews (9 tackles, 8 solo, TFL, INT)
Up Next: vs Maryland
13) Michigan State (2-4, 0-3 BIG)
Last Week: 13
Week 6 Result: L 20-49 vs Ohio State
Offensive Player of the Game: WR Jayden Reed (4 rec, 67 yards, TD)
Defensive Player of the Game: CB Charles Brantley (8 tackles, 3 solo, .5 TFL, INT, TD)
Up Next: vs Wisconsin
14) Northwestern (1-5, 1-2 BIG)
Last Week: 14
Week 6 Result: L 7-42 vs Wisconsin
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Evan Hull (9 carries, 13 yards, 4 rec, 62 yards)
Defensive Player of the Game: LB Greyson Mertz (7 tackles, 6 solo)
Up Next: BYE
