No Big Ten Power

Hello there and hello to the Big Ten Power Rankings! Each week we’ll post how teams play throughout the conference, in hopes of seeing just who’s a contender and who’s a pretender over the course of the season.

The precepts are few, but firm;

Teams are counted according to how they play then. Not a body of work, not a no-brainer, but how each team is playing at that point in time.

The approach to the order of numbers does not necessarily result in the field (although you count those as a significant, tangible point), but more generally if the two teams in the middle position have played 100 times, which team 51 times (or more).

These are not subjective. I want the author to follow the rules as closely or loosely as possible, and if you don’t like the order, you’re wrong.

Week 6 is in the books, with a few upsets to help move the needle (squiggles) a bit. Let’s get to it!

ROUND 1: Playoff Locks

Parts that are almost certainly safe to invest in if they just continue to play.

1. Ohio State

A month later we have a new top dog in the conference. The Buckeyes beat Maryland 45-16 and seem to be in full season form. It’ll be fun to see how they really adjust next week when they take on #5 Indiana (who just got kicked out by the powers that be, which is objectively better than the AP Poll).

2. Indiana

Credit where it’s due, the Hoosiers showed off a comeback win over a feisty Nebraska squad, 20-17. But you can’t go down in games like against better opponents. A visit from #4 Ohio State will prove who really belongs at the top of the conference.

RANGE 2: Playoff Hopefuls

A team that could very well end up in the playoffs, but they need to continue to improve their resumes and move up the ranks before they can do that.

3. Iowa

The Hawkeyes destroyed Washington 41-24, and sit quietly behind the leaders in the conference. I’ll get back to it bye week.

4. UCLA

I tried to tell TITUS I’LL FIND BACK CHESNEY but you wouldn’t listen. UCLA defeated Oregon on the road 17-15. Could Penn State beat Oregon at home? Neither position? The bobbing for apples competition?? I digress. The Bruins roll under Chesney NOT WHAT I AM AND VISIT WISCONSIN NEXT WEEK SO WE CAN SEE HOW THE TWO TEAMS COMPARE AGAINST A COMMON OPPONENT. Again though not crazy.

5. USC

The Trojans held off a surprisingly lively Penn State team 31-23 on the road at White Ex. Chapter eight will be bye weeks.

Tier 3, High Level Bowl Teams

Teams that likely won’t make the playoffs, but will represent the conference in bowl qualifiers, including the Lemon Bowl and the Rational Guarantee Bowl.

6. Nebraska

All is not lost for the Cornhuskers, who had a lead but couldn’t hold it against Indiana. You still have those opportunities when they arise. The next interesting test is when they take a road trip to Oregon’s healthiest team.

7. Northwestern

The Wildcats got their lone non-conference game on the road with a 45-14 win over the state bowler. They will then travel to Michigan State.

8. Oregon

The Ducks were harassed by the Bruins and came up short, 17-15 in a perfect Western B1G score. Nebraska will be the host which will tell us exactly where both teams stand.

9. Wisconsin

The Honeys had a good week and will now travel to take on #12 UCLA.

Tier 4: Low-Level Bowl Teams

Teams that do end up in the bowl hunt, but likely the ones that aren’t quite as prestigious, include the Pinstripe Bowl and the Music Bowl.

10. Michigan

The Wolverines had a bye week, and they hope to get some luck before hosting Penn State this coming weekend.

11. Purdue

The bottom line of this interview is the absolute Charlie foxtrot. Purdue somehow beat Minnesota 41-13, and so they will send this list with the next few weeks, so you don’t think they can make a bowl. Make sense. They will host Washington on Friday night and see how bad they can get.

12. Penn State

The Lions showed more signs of life than I expected in a 31-23 loss to USC. They will head out west to take on Michigan in their next slap battle.

13. Minnesota

What the hell, Gopher? Jekyll and Hyde himself appears this year, with ham rust at the hands of Purdue’s newest Hyde (I. to think Which analogy makes sense? Should I hide the thin ham or make the ham burst?). Good bye on the Sabbath.

14. Illinois

A fun 38-37 overtime win over Michigan State moves the Illini a bit, but again, the end result of this conference is just a mess. Chapter eight will be bye weeks.

15. Washington

The Huskies couldn’t hang with Iowa, losing 41-24. I’d say it’s easier when they take Purdue on the road, but uh, yeah, the Boilermakers like a few this year.

RANGE 5: Bowl-Ineligible Teams

Teams that are on a trajectory to finish the season below .500 and miss out on a postseason bowl game.

16. Michigan State

The Spartans battled against Illinois, but couldn’t pull it off, losing 38-37 in overtime. The hosts will have #25 North up next in what could be their last break of the season.

17. Maryland

The Terrapins got blown out by Ohio State 45-16, and Mike Locksley looks like a dead man walking. The farmhands beat each other up as Rutgers comes into town.

CLASS 6: THE BASE™

Worst of all, teams whose fans wear paper bags over their heads and count the days until they have a new head coach.

18. Rutgers

The crimson knights were strong in the week, so that they did not proceed less successfully. The pillow fight against Maryland is next to see who truly deserves to live in the Basement™.

There is a top, a middle, and a whole bunch at the bottom.

Ohio State takes the top spot, while Indiana slips. Iowa and UCLA are trending up, while USC is holding hands. Nebraska drops, and Northwestern holds steady. Oregon falls, but Wisconsin stands pat. Michigan and Purdue rise, while Penn State treads water. Minnesota sinks while IL climbs. Washington and Michigan State have fallen, with Maryland and Rutgers chilling at the bottom.

On to Week 7!

No Big Ten Power – Week 6