The action around the Big Ten this past weekend was relatively modest.
Ohio State and Penn State both handled their inferior competition in Iowa and Tanner Morgan-less Minnesota, respectively. Maryland squeaked out a win against Northwestern with Billy Edwards replacing Taulia at QB. Purdue fell apart on the road against Wisconsin. And Rutgers got their first home Big Ten win in 5 years against Indiana.
Even with Purdue’s colossal meltdown against the Badgers, they are still in position to battle Illinois for the Big Ten West crown on November 12th. The Big Ten East, meanwhile, should still come down to The Game on November 26th. However, Penn State now looks like a team that could challenge the Buckeyes this upcoming weekend.
While there isn’t a ton of movement in this week’s power rankings (aside from Wisconsin, who continues to be the hardest team to read in the conference), we certainly learned a lot after another weekend of Big Ten play.
1) Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 BIG)
Last Week: 1
Week 8 Result: W 54-10 vs Iowa
Offensive Player of the Game: QB CJ Stroud (20-30, 286 yds, 4 TDs, INT)
Defensive Player of the Game: DE Zach Harrison (2 tackles, 2 solo, sack, 2 TFLs, PBU, QB hurry)
Up Next: at Penn State
2) Michigan (7-0, 4-0 BIG)
Last Week: 2
Week 8 Result: BYE
Offensive Player of the Game: N/A
Defensive Player of the Game: N/A
Up Next: vs Michigan State
3) Penn State (6-1, 3-1 BIG)
Last Week: 4
Week 8 Result: W 45-17 vs Minnesota
Offensive Player of the Game: QB Sean Clifford (23-31, 295 yds, 4 TDs, INT)
Defensive Player of the Game: LB Curtis Jacobs (14 tackles, 7 solo, 2 TFLs)
Up Next: vs Ohio State
4) Illinois (6-1, 3-1 BIG)
Last Week: 3
Week 8 Result: BYE
Offensive Player of the Game: N/A
Defensive Player of the Game: N/A
Up Next: at Nebraska
5) Maryland (6-2, 3-2 BIG)
Last Week: 6
Week 8 Result: W 31-24 vs Northwestern
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Roman Hemby (24 carries, 179 yds, 3 TDs)
Defensive Player of the Game: LB Gereme Spraggins (8 tackles, 4 solo, TFL)
Up Next: BYE
6) Purdue (5-3, 3-2 BIG)
Last Week: 5
Week 8 Result: L 24-35 at Wisconsin
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Devin Mockobee (23 carries, 108 yds, TD)
Defensive Player of the Game: S Sanoussi Kane (5 tackles, 5 solo, sack, TFL)
Up Next: BYE
7) Wisconsin (4-4, 2-3 BIG)
Last Week: 11
Week 8 Result: W 35-24 vs Purdue
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Braelon Allen (16 carries, 113 yds, TD, 39 receiving yds)
Defensive Player of the Game: S John Torchio (10 tackles, 3 solo, 2 INTs, PBU)
Up Next: BYE
8) Minnesota (4-3, 1-3 BIG)
Last Week: 7
Week 8 Result: L 17-45 at Penn State
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Mohamed Ibrahim (30 carries, 102 yds, TD)
Defensive Player of the Game: LB Mariano Sori-Marin (15 tackles, 7 solo)
Up Next: vs Rutgers
9) Iowa (3-4, 1-3 BIG)
Last Week: 8
Week 8 Result: L 10-54 at Ohio State
Offensive Player of the Game: TE Sam LaPorta (6 rec, 55 yds)
Defensive Player of the Game: S Jack Campbell (9 tackles, 4 solo, .5 TFL, INT)
Up Next: vs Northwestern
10) Nebraska (3-4, 2-2 BIG)
Last Week: 10
Week 8 Result: BYE
Offensive Player of the Game: N/A
Defensive Player of the Game: N/A
Up Next: vs Illinois
11) Michigan State (3-4, 1-3 BIG)
Last Week: 10
Week 8 Result: BYE
Offensive Player of the Game: N/A
Defensive Player of the Game: N/A
Up Next: at Michigan
12) Rutgers (4-3, 1-3 BIG)
Last Week: 12
Week 8 Result: W 24-17 vs Indiana
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Samuel Brown V (28 carries, 101 yds, TD)
Defensive Player of the Game: CB Christian Braswell (2 tackles, 2 solo, TFL, 3 PBUs, INT, TD)
Up Next: at Minnesota
13) Indiana (3-5, 1-4 BIG)
Last Week: 13
Week 8 Result: L 17-24 at Rutgers
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Jaylin Lucas (Kickoff Return TD, 27 rush yds, 39 receiving yds)
Defensive Player of the Game: LB Bradley Jennings Jr (11 tackles, 2 solo, 3 PBUs)
Up Next: BYE
14) Northwestern (1-6, 1-3 BIG)
Last Week: 14
Week 8 Result: L 24-31 at Maryland
Offensive Player of the Game: RB Evan Hull (20 carries, 119 yds, 31 receiving yds, TD)
Defensive Player of the Game: LB Bryce Gallagher (16 tackles, 7 solo, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 TFLs)
Up Next: BYE
