Week 13 B1G Power Rankings
Yes, there’s a new No. 1.
Ohio State was obviously going to fall after losing to Michigan State. But the question was who was going to replace the Buckeyes? The Associated Press and Coaches Poll both agreed that while MSU’s win was impressive, an undefeated Iowa team still had something that made it too difficult to hurdle.
I could go either way, but in terms of betting on a team that you think would find a way to win any given game, Iowa is still No. 1.
The beauty is that a B1G Championship will likely settle that debate for us.
Biggest riser: Rutgers +2
Biggest faller: Maryland -2
14. Maryland (prev. 12)
The Terps are officially the only B1G team without a conference win. To have a three-touchdown lead at home and still get smoked by Indiana was a troubling site. Whoever takes over this program will have to do some major rebuilding before it can start building Maryland football into a brand.
13. Purdue (prev. 13)
At the very least, the Boilers haven’t looked awful against the B1G elite in what’s been a very solid year for the conference. If Purdue were to end the season by killing Indiana’s bowl hopes, it would make 2015 a little bit easier to swallow.
12. Rutgers (prev. 14)
Hey, if you’re a bottom three team in the B1G, winning a game goes a long way. The Scarlet Knights did so without Leonte Carroo and Steve Longa in the second half. Kyle Flood might be gone at season’s end, but winning two straight to end the season would give him a little bit more of a leg to stand on.
11. Illinois (prev. 10)
To be fair, everything for Illinois is still right in front of it. And by everything, I mean the Foster Farms Bowl. All it has to do is knock off a rolling Northwestern team.
10. Indiana (prev. 11)
The streak is finally over. For the first time in three years, IU picked up a B1G road win. Now the next streak that the Hoosiers will look to end is that seven-year bowl-less drought.
9. Minnesota (prev. 9)
I expected the improved Gophers to finally be rewarded in the win column against an inferior opponent. Tracy Claeys picked up his first victory as head coach, and he could get a whole lot of momentum if he were to lead Minnesota to a win against rival Wisconsin. That axe is pretty important in recruiting, too.
8. Nebraska (prev. 8)
We know that Nebraska studied Iowa well. I mean, Alonzo Moore literally confirmed to Saturday Tradition that he got some great notes on the commercials, too.
@Tradition Taking some great notes. Very very interested.
— Alonzo Moore (@alonzomoore0765) November 21, 2015
If that isn’t a sign that the Huskers are taking Iowa seriously, nothing is.
7. Penn State (prev. 7)
You just keep waiting for Penn State to get that quality win, and it doesn’t happen. Against a Michigan front that was gashed the week before, it couldn’t win the battle at the line of scrimmage. Quality losses are great (Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State and Temple) but they only mean something if you have a few quality wins to match.
6. Wisconsin (prev. 5)
Speaking of a team desperate for a quality win, the Badgers were a disaster offensively on Saturday. You could argue they still should’ve won if not for the odd “complete the catch” ruling, but it was the second time at home in which they let a B1G team completely stifle them. This Wisconsin team is having a year like the Bo Pelini-Nebraska days. The Badgers beat opponents they’re expected to, and lose all the borderline/headliner games en route to a nine-win season.
5. Northwestern (prev. 6)
Maybe the most overlooked team nationally in the last month has been Northwestern. Wins at Nebraska, vs. Penn State and at Wisconsin show that the Wildcats are solidly in the upper echelon of the B1G. It’s crazy to think that the Wildcats have a legitimate chance to end up with 11 wins. Pat Fitzgerald deserves plenty of B1G Coach of the Year consideration.
4. Michigan (prev. 4)
If you would’ve told Michigan fans at the beginning of the season that it would’ve had a chance to clinch a double-digit win season in a winnable game against Ohio State, they would’ve been giddy. The Wolverines are in a position to set the bar awfully high in Jim Harbaugh’s first year, B1G Championship or not.
3. Ohio State (prev. 1)
How the mighty have fallen. The Buckeyes had a chance to silence all of their doubters and they fell flat. The dream season couldn’t have come to an end in much uglier fashion than it did on Saturday. And crazy enough, Urban Meyer was out-coached for probably one of the first times in his life. This team still hasn’t figured it out in the last week of November, and that’s as shocking as anything.
2. Michigan State (prev. 3)
You can’t say enough about the toughness the Spartans showed on Saturday in picking up the best win of the year in college football. The Omaha World-Herald’s Sam McKewon threw out an interesting question to ponder. If Clemson had to play Oregon with Vernon Adams, at Michigan and at Ohio State, would it win all three? MSU’s quality wins are as good as there is in college football.
1. Iowa (prev. 2)
The time has come. Iowa has earned this spot by beating everyone on its schedule. It’s as simple as that. I get that MSU has three better wins than Iowa, but you know what the Hawkeyes don’t have? A loss. Teams always have a hiccup. Michigan State did, controversial call or not. We’re 11 games in and the Hawkeyes still haven’t had their’s. Even if Iowa lost to Nebraska this weekend, it would still have a shot to play for a Rose Bowl berth in the B1G Championship. That’s a pretty high floor to have for a program that was picked to finish in the middle of the weak B1G West.