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B1G Power Rankings after Week 13: Ohio State, Minnesota dominate Rivalry Week
Published:
Why not?
The B1G season has been absolutely bonkers from the opening kickoff, so why wouldn’t we see some incredible drama in the final weekend of the season. Four games were decided by one possession, we saw two big-time upsets and two teams punched their postseason tickets.
Like always, it was a really fun way to close the book on a wild year.
Now that the 2018 regular season is behind us, let’s take a look at the B1G power rankings as we await Championship Saturday and bowl mania. And yes, there are plenty of changes this week, especially at the top:
14. Rutgers, 1-11 (lost to Michigan State 14-10)
It was right there. Rutgers had every opportunity to beat Michigan State and end a gloomy season on a bright note. Instead, the Scarlet Knights came up short yet again. Chris Ash received an endorsement from athletic director Pat Hobbs, ensuring the head coach will be back in 2019. But after this abysmal season, it feels like Ash is running out of chances to right the ship.
13. Illinois, 4-8 (lost to No. 19 Northwestern 24-16)
A lot of fight from the Illini on Saturday (no pun intended), but it wasn’t enough to knock of the B1G West champs. There are plenty of question marks surrounding Illinois entering the offseason. What will the defense look like? Can Rod Smith continue to put offensive playmakers in good situations? Will the youth movement finally start to age and produce results? At times, the Illini appeared to be taking steps in the right direction. But this seems like an important offseason for Lovie Smith and Co.
12. Maryland, 5-7 (lost to No. 12 Penn State 38-3)
Not the way Maryland’s season deserved to end, but even at 5-7, what the Terrapins accomplished this year was remarkable. Considering all the turmoil and adversity this program faced all year, it’s surprising that this wasn’t a two-win team. Instead, Maryland banded together under Matt Canada, pieced together five wins, and had an opportunity to upset Ohio State a week ago. The results weren’t always the best, but this is a team the university should be proud of.
11. Indiana, 5-7 (lost to Purdue 28-21)
So close, yet so far away. Again. For the second straight year, the Hoosiers came up one win short of bowl eligibility. Indiana was a tough team to figure out in 2018. In games against Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State, they looked like one of the better teams in the conference. At other times, the Hoosiers didn’t show much fight. Inconsistent might be the best word to describe the year in Bloomington.
10. Nebraska, 4-8 (lost to Iowa 31-28)
If we were to start the season over, Nebraska would probably be much higher on the list. It would probably be bowl eligible and would have a much more memorable year. Instead, the Huskers finish the year essentially they same way they started it: with heartbreak. There’s a bright future under head coach Scott Frost and Adrian Martinez will certainly be on a Heisman Trophy ballot sometime before his career in Lincoln comes to a close.
9. Purdue, 6-6 (def. Indiana 28-21)
For a second straight year, Purdue is breaking out the bowling shoes. It was a pretty rocky season in West Lafayette, but with wins over Ohio State, Iowa, Boston College and Indiana, the highs certainly outweighed the lows. Jeff Brohm says he’s comfortable in West Lafayette and plans on sticking around for awhile. If he’s truthful and doesn’t have plans to head to Louisville, the Boilermakers are a team to keep an eye on headed into 2019.
8. Wisconsin, 7-5 (lost to Minnesota 37-15)
Biggest disappointment in the B1G? Wisconsin was a lock to win the West, expected to challenge for a spot in the College Football Playoff and be a top 10 team all season long. But the Badgers lost a home non-conference game to BYU, got blown out by Michigan and lost to Minnesota for the first time since 2003. Sure, the Badgers are bowl eligible, but for a program that’s been accustomed to 10-win seasons and B1G Championship Game appearances, there were a lot of goals that went unmet.
7. Minnesota, 6-6 (def. Wisconsin 37-15)
P.J. Fleck’s decision to make a change at defensive coordinator late in the year was the difference between a four-win season and bowl eligibility. Credit the head coach for making the tough decision and credit the players even more for responding. The Gophers were riddled with injuries, had a lot of youth on the field and didn’t have much experience playing winning football. Somehow, this team found a way to get victories in two of the final three games and secure a bowl berth for the first time in Fleck era.
6. Michigan State, 7-5 (def. Rutgers 14-10)
Another B1G team that experienced its share of disappointments this season. The Spartans had one of the best defenses in the nation. The problem? The offense was horrendous all season. Michigan State had to battle injuries on the offensive line, at wide receiver, running back and even at quarterback. There are several reasons why MSU couldn’t move the football throughout the year. Still, 7-5 isn’t a great mark for a team that was thought to be a challenger to Ohio State and Michigan.
5. Iowa, 8-4 (def. Nebraska 31-28)
Just another eight-win season in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes started the year in great shape, going 6-1 through the first seven games. And they posted victories over Illinois and Nebraska to end the season the right way. It was that three-week stretch of losses that cost Iowa a chance to compete for a B1G title. All-in-all, 2018 was a pretty good season for the Hawkeyes. They were competitive in every single game and finished about where they were expected to finish.
4. Penn State, 9-3 (def. Maryland 38-3)
A bowl victory would secure a third straight 10-win season for Penn State, something that hasn’t been accomplished since the 1980s in Happy Valley. And while the Lions would’ve like a victory over Michigan State, Michigan or Ohio State, they did record wins over Pitt, Iowa and Wisconsin. It may not have been the ideal year, but nine wins is nothing to scoff at in the B1G. After the bowl game, the most difficult question comes in the James Franklin era: what will Penn State look like without Trace McSorley under center?
3. Northwestern, 8-4 (def. Illinois 24-16)
It’s never pretty, but Pat Fitzgerald just finds ways to win. In the end, that’s really all that matters. Northwestern posted another single-score victory, this time over in-state rival Illinois. The Wildcats now take that 8-1 conference record to Indianapolis and will put it on the line against Ohio State with a B1G title on the line. The eye test tells you that Northwestern is nowhere close to one of the best teams in the conference, but the win-loss record tells you the Wildcats have a legitimate shot to win a league title.
2. Michigan, 10-2 (lost to No. 10 Ohio State 62-39)
What happened? It’s not that surprising that Ohio State showed up and gave Michigan a fight, but that vaunted Michigan defense was trampled by the high-powered Buckeyes. This was Jim Harbaugh’s opportunity to prove he was on Urban Meyer’s level. It was his shot to show the country that the Wolverines absolutely belonged in the national title conversation. But on the biggest stage, Michigan laid an egg. Yes, Michigan is still the second-best team in the league, but that’s not what anyone wants to hear, especially in Ann Arbor. This loss stings.
1. Ohio State, 11-1 (def. No. 4 Michigan 62-39)
Those conversations about how Ohio State didn’t belong in the College Football Playoff discussion seem pretty dumb now, don’t they? The Buckeyes bludgeoned Michigan on Saturday, particularly in the second half. And now, Urban Meyer is competing for another B1G title. Was it always pretty? Of course not. But, like Northwestern, none of that matters. Ohio State is 11-1 and is in the B1G Championship Game. Nothing else matters.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB