BIG TEN

Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 13

Go through the gallery to see The Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings for Week 13 of the college season, compiled by Matt Charboneau.
Go through the gallery to see The Detroit News Big Ten Power Rankings for Week 13 of the college season, compiled by Matt Charboneau.
Al Goldis, Associated Press
1. Wisconsin (11-0, 8-0) – The Badgers finally got a win over a ranked opponent, wearing down Michigan to remain unbeaten. Jonathan Taylor ran for 132 yards for the Badgers, who have locked up the Big Ten West and a spot in the conference title game. They finish with Minnesota before preparing to face Ohio State with a spot in the College Football Playoff likely on the line. Last week: 1.
1. Wisconsin (11-0, 8-0) – The Badgers finally got a win over a ranked opponent, wearing down Michigan to remain unbeaten. Jonathan Taylor ran for 132 yards for the Badgers, who have locked up the Big Ten West and a spot in the conference title game. They finish with Minnesota before preparing to face Ohio State with a spot in the College Football Playoff likely on the line. Last week: 1.
Stacy Revere, Getty Images
2. Ohio State (9-2, 7-1) – The win over Illinois was about what was expected as the Buckeyes scored 28 points in the first quarter and were never challenged. The win locked up the Big Ten East title for the Buckeyes, who will take on Wisconsin in the conference title game. Before that, however, they head to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan. Last week: 2.
2. Ohio State (9-2, 7-1) – The win over Illinois was about what was expected as the Buckeyes scored 28 points in the first quarter and were never challenged. The win locked up the Big Ten East title for the Buckeyes, who will take on Wisconsin in the conference title game. Before that, however, they head to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan. Last week: 2.
Kirk Irwin, Getty Images
3. Northwestern (8-3, 6-2) – The usual suspects led the Wildcats in a drubbing of Minnesota. Quarterback Clayton Thorson threw for three touchdowns while running back Justin Jackson gained 166 yards. The Wildcats have now won six straight games and head into the final week of the season with a trip to Illinois and looking to improve their bowl standing. Last week: 3.
3. Northwestern (8-3, 6-2) – The usual suspects led the Wildcats in a drubbing of Minnesota. Quarterback Clayton Thorson threw for three touchdowns while running back Justin Jackson gained 166 yards. The Wildcats have now won six straight games and head into the final week of the season with a trip to Illinois and looking to improve their bowl standing. Last week: 3.
David Banks, Getty Images
4. Michigan State (8-3, 6-2) – The Spartans bounced back from last week’s ugly loss to Ohio State by getting the job done at home against Maryland. They did nothing through the air but ran for 271 yards as LJ Scott gained 147 yards and scored a touchdown. The Spartans close the season at Rutgers with a chance to land a solid bowl bid. Last week: 4.
4. Michigan State (8-3, 6-2) – The Spartans bounced back from last week’s ugly loss to Ohio State by getting the job done at home against Maryland. They did nothing through the air but ran for 271 yards as LJ Scott gained 147 yards and scored a touchdown. The Spartans close the season at Rutgers with a chance to land a solid bowl bid. Last week: 4.
Al Goldis, Associated Press
5. Penn State (9-2, 6-2) – Saquon Barkley led an offensive explosion in a win over Nebraska by gaining 224 total yards and scoring three touchdowns, giving him a program-record 39. The defense had its troubles slowing the Cornhuskers but it was just enough as the Nittany Lions head to Maryland to close out the season with their eye on a New Year’s Six bowl game. Last week: 5.
5. Penn State (9-2, 6-2) – Saquon Barkley led an offensive explosion in a win over Nebraska by gaining 224 total yards and scoring three touchdowns, giving him a program-record 39. The defense had its troubles slowing the Cornhuskers but it was just enough as the Nittany Lions head to Maryland to close out the season with their eye on a New Year’s Six bowl game. Last week: 5.
Chris Knight, Associated Press
6. Michigan (8-3, 5-3) – Getting a big win on the road continues to be elusive for the Wolverines as they played Wisconsin tough but in the end their offense couldn’t get rolling. QB Brandon Peters was lost to an apparent head injury and his status remains unclear heading into the regular-season finale at home next week against Ohio State. Last week: 6.
6. Michigan (8-3, 5-3) – Getting a big win on the road continues to be elusive for the Wolverines as they played Wisconsin tough but in the end their offense couldn’t get rolling. QB Brandon Peters was lost to an apparent head injury and his status remains unclear heading into the regular-season finale at home next week against Ohio State. Last week: 6.
Stacy Revere, Getty Images
7. Indiana (5-6, 2-6) – The Hoosiers, a team that played some of the best in the conference tough all season, is now on a winning streak after shutting out Rutgers a week after knocking off Illinois. The Hoosiers now find themselves in position to become bowl eligible if they can win at Purdue in the regular-season finale. Last week: 8.
7. Indiana (5-6, 2-6) – The Hoosiers, a team that played some of the best in the conference tough all season, is now on a winning streak after shutting out Rutgers a week after knocking off Illinois. The Hoosiers now find themselves in position to become bowl eligible if they can win at Purdue in the regular-season finale. Last week: 8.
Michael Hickey, Getty Images
8. Purdue (5-6, 3-5) – There seems little doubt first-year coach Jeff Brohm will get some votes for coach of the year as the Boilermakers are now one win from becoming bowl eligible. They’re in that position after going on the road and beating Iowa, and now must get a win at home over Indiana for the critical sixth victory. Last week: 9.
8. Purdue (5-6, 3-5) – There seems little doubt first-year coach Jeff Brohm will get some votes for coach of the year as the Boilermakers are now one win from becoming bowl eligible. They’re in that position after going on the road and beating Iowa, and now must get a win at home over Indiana for the critical sixth victory. Last week: 9.
Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press
9. Iowa (6-5, 3-5) – The most difficult team to figure out in the entire conference has to be the Hawkeyes. The same team that lost to Penn State on the final play of the game and, two weeks ago, blitzed Ohio State, lost at home to Purdue a week after getting rolled by Wisconsin. They’ll make a bowl game, but the Hawkeyes have to be reeling. Last week: 7.
9. Iowa (6-5, 3-5) – The most difficult team to figure out in the entire conference has to be the Hawkeyes. The same team that lost to Penn State on the final play of the game and, two weeks ago, blitzed Ohio State, lost at home to Purdue a week after getting rolled by Wisconsin. They’ll make a bowl game, but the Hawkeyes have to be reeling. Last week: 7.
Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press
10. Maryland (4-7, 2-6) – The Terrapins started the season with a big win at Texas but it’s been all downhill from there. They alternated their third- and fourth-string quarterbacks at Michigan State but could generate very little offense. A bowl game likely is gone now as they head into the finale against Penn State. Last week: 12.
10. Maryland (4-7, 2-6) – The Terrapins started the season with a big win at Texas but it’s been all downhill from there. They alternated their third- and fourth-string quarterbacks at Michigan State but could generate very little offense. A bowl game likely is gone now as they head into the finale against Penn State. Last week: 12.
Al Goldis, Associated Press
11. Nebraska (4-7, 3-5) – The Cornhuskers were game against Penn State but in the end simply couldn’t muster up a decent defense. Tanner Lee threw for 399 yards and three touchdowns but the Huskers gave up 609 yards to Penn State and are now likely out of a bowl game as the future of coach Mike Riley is in limbo. Last week: 13.
11. Nebraska (4-7, 3-5) – The Cornhuskers were game against Penn State but in the end simply couldn’t muster up a decent defense. Tanner Lee threw for 399 yards and three touchdowns but the Huskers gave up 609 yards to Penn State and are now likely out of a bowl game as the future of coach Mike Riley is in limbo. Last week: 13.
Chris Knight, Associated Press
12. Minnesota (5-6, 2-6) – The Golden Gophers have now lost three of four after getting blanked at Northwestern. They’ve won just twice in the last eight weeks and now they’ll need to find a way to upset Wisconsin next week to reach a bowl game in coach P.J. Fleck’s first season. Last week: 10.
12. Minnesota (5-6, 2-6) – The Golden Gophers have now lost three of four after getting blanked at Northwestern. They’ve won just twice in the last eight weeks and now they’ll need to find a way to upset Wisconsin next week to reach a bowl game in coach P.J. Fleck’s first season. Last week: 10.
David Banks, Getty Images
13. Rutgers (4-7, 3-5) – The Scarlet Knights had a two-game win streak earlier in the Big Ten season but have now lost three of four after getting shut out on the road against Indiana. There’s still a shot at reaching a bowl game but the Scarlet Knights will have to knock off Michigan State next week to make that happen. Last week: 11.
13. Rutgers (4-7, 3-5) – The Scarlet Knights had a two-game win streak earlier in the Big Ten season but have now lost three of four after getting shut out on the road against Indiana. There’s still a shot at reaching a bowl game but the Scarlet Knights will have to knock off Michigan State next week to make that happen. Last week: 11.
Michael Hickey, Getty Images
14. Illinois (2-9, 0-8) – There wasn’t a team that was likely going to stop Ohio State this week, but the Fighting Illini provided little resistance as the losing skid reached nine games. The Illini will close things at home against Northwestern as the future of coach Lovie Smith will likely start to become an issue heading to the offseason. Last week: 14.
14. Illinois (2-9, 0-8) – There wasn’t a team that was likely going to stop Ohio State this week, but the Fighting Illini provided little resistance as the losing skid reached nine games. The Illini will close things at home against Northwestern as the future of coach Lovie Smith will likely start to become an issue heading to the offseason. Last week: 14.
Kirk Irwin, Getty Images