Big Ten Power Rankings: # 9Windiana

Coming at you with some early week power rankings. Pardon my french but the absolute shit show that is the Big Ten's Covid protocol has prompted the Sunday Fun Day edition for the week to be postponed until Thursday. I will place each teams projected bowl game according to ESPN this week with their profile. Onward!

1. Ohio State (5-0)

    CFP Rank: #4

    Last Week: Michigan State (W 52-12)

    Next: Who The Hell Knows State

    Bowl Projection: CFP (Rose Bowl)

The Buckeyes remain #1 this week after blitzing Rocky Lombardi and the Spartans on Saturday. Even with the absence of Ryan Day, 23 players, half the coaching staff, and a stadium full of Spartan fans , Ohio State simply reloaded. It makes me feel very small to see a team that had to start 4 new offensive linemen in a game look just as good (if not better) than they were before. Justin Fields also acts as the ultimate insurance policy for any roster weakness as the dude is simply a baller. The Game Day crew briefly mentioned the possibility of the game being close and then showed this live shot of Spartan stadium where a colossal Ohio State player, clad in White robes, was addressing his team at midfield...

The Game ended right then and there.

2. Indiana: Big Ten East Champions? (6-1)

    CFP Rank: #12

    Last Week: @Wisconsin (W 14-6)

    Next: Purdue?

    Bowl Projection: New Years Six (Fiesta Bowl)

Congratulations to the 2020 Big Ten East Champions?! The dream of a 9 win season is alive, but only just. I came away extremely impressed with Indiana's win over Wisconsin. Overall, it was equally as impressive as their close game with Ohio State. After losing Micheal Penix for the season (ACL), the Hoosiers rallied to pull out a sloppy slug fest against the Badgers. They gained under 300 yards of offense with new quarterback Jack Tuttle under center but the defense showed up in a big way forcing four Badger turnovers. Its well known Indiana can put up points on anybody, but if they start winning games when their offense has an off day, that's the recipe for a sustainable program. In other news, it's a sad day when The Old Oaken Bucket game might not be played.

The Old Oaken Bucket is one of the most classic rivalry trophies in college football

3. Wisconsin (2-2)

    CFP Rank: NR

    Last Week: Indiana (L 6-14)

    Next Week: @ #19 Iowa

    Bowl Projection: Music City Bowl

This may come as a surprise to some but the Badgers are still really good. I'm putting them at 3 soley because their defense is just that elite. Wisconsin is only allowing their opponents to gain an average of 229 yards a game... Thats insane. The fact they are also averaging over 400 yards on offense makes it hard to believe they are 2-2. Turnovers have plagued this team in their last two games and the moment that changes, they will be tough to beat. Hopefully not this week against the Hawkeyes though🙏. 

4. Iowa (5-2)

    CFP Rank: #16

    Last Week: @Illinois (W 35-21)

    Next: Wisconsin

    Bowl Projection: Outback Bowl

Iowa remains below Wisconsin with a chance to pass them after this weeks battle for the Heartland trophy. The Hawkeyes are HOT! with their win over Illinois on Saturday, The Hawkeyes increase their winning streak to 5 games after a dreadful 0-2 start to the season. It wasn't a pretty start to the game as Iowa fell behind 14-0. The start prompted an unbelievably relatable reaction from Kirk Ferentz. How has this turn around to the season happened? Well first off they are healthy. With key contributors missing on defense for the Purdue and Illinois games, the Hawks couldn't quite get the job done. Like Wisconsin, this team leans on a stout defense to win ball games. Iowa is allowing 17.8 points per game on the season and after holding Illinois to 21 points on Saturday, the Hawkeyes kept alive a streak of 20 games where they held an opponent under 25 points. That is the longest streak in the nation with the second best streak being only 7 games. If you exclude two garbage time touchdowns against with the back ups in against Minnesota and Illinois, the Iowa starters are allowing only 12.4 points per game during the win streak. That is elite. If Spencer Petras is able to build off of his 3 touchdown performance and Brian Ferentz remains creative with his play calling, Iowa could run the table. Winning Benny The Bull on Saturday is a start.

 

The Bull has been in Madison for nine of the last ten years.

5. Northwestern: Big Ten West Champions (5-1)

    CFP Rank: #14

    Last Week: Minnesota (Canceled)

    Next: Illinois

    Bowl Projection: Citrus Bowl

I know Northwestern beat both Iowa and Wisconsin this year but did so when both teams had key players missing. In fact, Northwestern has been quite fortunate on that front this year. These are power rankings and when you lose to Rocky Lombardi you drop. Maybe I'm just jealous. I base the rankings off of who would win if they played right now and Northwestern just isn't that dominant. They are great team. The defense is well documented and Pat Fitzgerald is the best coach in the league in my opinion. They just don't have the horses on offense however and that finally caught up with them against Michigan State. But hey, they're the ones who are playing for a Big Ten championship while the Hawkeyes and Badgers watch so I doubt Pat Fitzgerald cares.

6. Everybody Except Nebraska

    CFP Ranks: Not a chance in hell

    Last Week: A combination of all the teams beating each other and losing to each other

    Next: F*** if I know.

    Bowl Projection: Something called "The Duke's Mayo  Bowl"

Thank God the Big Ten is great at basketball this year. I can't remember the last time the Big Ten sucked this bad. None of these teams deserve any mention in the power rankings as all of them have 2 wins and somewhere between 3 and 5 losses. Honestly its a shame that the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City was canceled because a freezing cold football game played on a frozen baseball field in front of nobody is the appropriate punishment for the "best" of these bad teams.  Why did I even write this much? This is enough to symbolize this group of Big Ten teams.

14. Nebraska (2-4)

    CFP Rank: ...😂

    Last Week: @Purdue (W 37-27)

    Next: Minnesota

    Bowl Projection: Nope. 4 years in a row of nope.

Congrats Nebraska you beat Purdue in a game where everything went your way. Have a clap.

Oh wait... Sorry Scott, I forget that's not allowed. I'm just praying Minnesota wins next week so I can keep these guys down here.

15. COVID-19

       CFP Rank: #1

        Last Week: (192,000 new cases per day average)

        Next: Probably more than 192,000 cases per day average

        Bowl Projection: In all of them

COVID can just go to hell.  At least the new Mandalorian is sweet.