Did Penn State drop in the Big Ten Power Rankings this week?

Hard to believe but we have entered the penultimate weekend of the college football season. We wait so long for it to arrive and the season flies by in a flash. In the Big Ten East, the race for the division is down to two teams as the Penn State football team was eliminated this past Saturday. In the West, the Hawkeyes can lock up the division with one more win over the next two weeks. If Iowa somehow loses both of their final two games, it will get messy in the power rankings.

With the second to last Saturday upon us, let’s take a look at the latest power rankings. Did Penn State’s loss cost them a spot or two this week?

No. 14 Michigan State 3-7 (Last week 12)

After a beat down in Columbus where the Spartans did not look like they belonged on the same field, Michigan State now has arrived at the basement of the power rankings. If they beat Indiana on Saturday, they will move out of it.

This is a completely lost season for the Spartans. No fault of his own, but interim coach Harlon Barnett likely will not be considered for the head coaching gig permanently.

No. 13 Indiana 3-7 (Last week 13)

The Hoosiers offense did its part, racking up over 450 yards and scoring 45 points. Unfortunately, the defense gave up over 660 yards and 48 points to Illinois. The loss eliminated the Hoosiers from bowl contention.

The final two games for the Hoosiers are a pair of trophy games in Big Ten play. They host Michigan State followed by a road trip to in-state rival Purdue with hopes of increasing their Big Ten power rankings.

No. 12 Purdue 3-7 (Last week 14)

Purdue had its largest offensive output of the season as the Boilermakers defeated Minnesota 49-30. Hudson Card posted his best game of the season, throwing three touchdowns and 251 yards.

While Purdue will not be going bowling, they will try to finish the season strong in the Big Ten power rankings. They are at Northwestern next.

No. 11 Nebraska 5-5 (Last week 8)

Nebraska once again blew a one-score game, falling to Maryland 13-10 in a defensive battle. The Cornhuskers turned over the ball five times. Quarterback Jeff Sims, a turnover machine, was the cause of three of those turnovers.

If Nebraska fails to make a bowl game, it will be an epic failure considering they were 5-3 at the end of October. A road trip to Wisconsin is up next.

No. 10 Maryland 6-4 (Last week 11)

It was not pretty but the Terps got a victory versus Nebraska for their sixth win of the season to secure bowl eligibility. This was not what Maryland had hoped for at mid-season but they will have to settle for it.

Maryland will play their final home game of the season when they face undefeated Michigan.

No. 9 Minnesota 5-5 (Last week 7)

Minnesota could not slow down Purdue in a loss, allowing over 600 yards to the Boilermakers. Athan Kaliakmanis did pass for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns on 18 completions.

Minnesota is still searching for their sixth win. They are not likely to get it at Ohio State this week.

No. 8 Illinois 5-5 (Last week 10)

A week after coming off the bench against Minnesota to throw the game-winning touchdown, John Paddock followed that performance with a 507-yard and four-touchdown game against Indiana.

With a bowl game on the line, it is crazy that Bret Bielema is going back to Luke Altmyer against Iowa. The Illini only need one more win for bowl eligibility.

No. 7 Wisconsin 5-5 (Last week 6)

Wisconsin had the return of Tanner Mordecai under center but it did not matter as the Badgers were defeated by Northwestern 24-10. The health of the Badgers looks grim. Braelon Allen returned but he only had three carries and sat out most of the game.

Wisconsin can still keep their bowl appearance streak alive with one more win but it will be tough. They play their final home game of the season against Nebraska on Saturday night.

No. 6 Northwestern 5-5 (Last week 9)

Northwestern led Wisconsin 24-3 and stifled the Badgers from doing much of anything offensively. Returning under center Ben Bryant was a big boost for the Wildcats as he threw for a pair of touchdowns.

Northwestern is one of the biggest surprises of the Big Ten season and rewarded interim coach David Braun for it. The Wildcats host Purdue next.

No. 5 Rutgers 6-4 (Last week 5)

Rutgers was blanked by Iowa 22-0. The Scarlet Knights entered the game 34th nationally in rush offense and only could muster 34 yards on the ground against the Hawkeyes.

Rutgers has certainly improved this season but they are still not good enough to compete at the highest level in the conference. The Scarlet Knights stay on the road this week against Penn State.

No. 4 Iowa 8-2 (Last week 4)

Iowa posted their first shutout in Big Ten play since the 2019 season. Again the Hawkeye defense was the story, holding Rutgers to just 127 total yards and seven first downs.

The Hawkeyes are one win away from punching their ticket to Indianapolis. Perhaps it will come against Illinois this week. But they will have to do it without their star defensive back Cooper DeJean, who is now out for the rest of the season.

No. 3 Penn State 8-2 (Last week 3)

Another year, same old story for Penn State. They lost again to the only two teams on their schedule that mattered and will fail to make the College Football Playoff during the four-team era. The performance against Michigan cost offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich his job.

Despite the bitter disappointment, there is still another 10-win season and an NY6 bowl game on the line. The Nittany Lions will look to finish strong with a win against Rutgers this week.

No. 2 Ohio State 10-0 (Last week 2)

The Buckeyes cruised through Michigan State without breaking much of a sweat. Ohio State was without several starters on defense, including top linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, but it did not matter. Marvin Harrison Jr. continued his march to a trip to the Heisman ceremony with a stellar performance with 149 yards and three touchdowns, one of them on the ground.

Only a small bump in the road in the name of Minnesota stands in their way before the showdown in Ann Arbor in two weeks.

No. 1 Michigan 10-0 (Last week 1)

Michigan took care of business against Penn State without Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines. The Wolverines did not even attempt a pass officially in the second half and they did not even need to, guessing correctly the Nittany Lions could not do anything offensively to get back into the game.

So Michigan finally played a team with a pulse and passed the test. Michigan will likely make easy work of Maryland before the big one against Ohio State.

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