Every week of college football is another week closer to the end of the season. It also means it is time for Monday’s Big 10 Power Rankings. Each and every week SpikedJohnnyB has his power rankings out for the PAC 12, SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and ACC. The host of Spiked College Football Show and Units Only Go Up ranks every single power five team. Where did your team fall this week?

Big 10 Power Rankings: Playoff Contenders

#1 Ohio State

Nothing really has changed from the last few weeks. I am tired of repeating the same thing and nothing at the top of this terrible conference will change until the “Big Game” in a few weeks. I think the Buckeyes are the better team and will win that game so they are staying on top!

#2 Michigan

Literally read the above sentence and add in the fact that no one can compete with these top two teams. The Wolverines will lose to the Buckeyes in a few weeks, making them second in the standing and second in the Big 10 power rankings all year long.

Big 10 Power Rankings: Bowl Teams

#3 Penn State

I hate to admit this because they can never beat the top two teams in this conference, but the Nittany Lions are clearly three. They dominate most of the other teams besides the top two this year and every year. I am not sold that Jame Franklin will ever win a big game for them and failed twice again this year. He will, however, have another ten-win year with a roster with more than a few NFL players.  I feel until Franklin goes, the Nittany Lions will be no better than or worse than three in the Big 10 power rankings each week of each year.

#4 Illinois

They are only above the three teams below because they beat two of them, which makes sense in the Big 10 power rankings. But are they that much better? I don’t think so. They proved that last week when they could have punched their ticket to win the west. They are still in the driver’s seat to win the west, but shit will get weird I think. I think they are better than every other team below them, even the ones they lost a game against.

#5 Minnesota, Purdue, Iowa

What in the hell do I do with these teams in the Big 10 power rankings? None of them can beat the teams in the east, and all they do is beat each other. Purdue’s win last week versus Illinois gives them the inside track on them, but then they lost to the other two. If Minnesota wins out, they could go with tiebreakers and help. If Iowas wins, same thing. None of these three teams are great. They are all just there. Ugh. It is so hard to put who is better than who in the middle of this conference.

Big 10 Power Rankings: .500 Teams

#8 Maryland

This may seem low in the Big 10 power rankings for the Terrapins. The last two weeks have just proved they aren’t any better than they were last year. They are bowl eligible, but they could very easily finish 6-6 7-5 at best if they beat Rutgers. The fact that the last sentence is true, the part about “if they beat Rutgers”, is the reason they are this low in the rankings. This team I thought had more promise and more talent, but I am not always right. Just usually.

#9 Michigan State

I never usually believe in a moral victory when you lose. Somehow, though, since the loss to big brother Michigan, Sparty has looked better. They pulled the upset win at Illinois and then beat a decent Rutgers team to have back-to-back wins. This team will finish no worse than .500 this year as I believe they dominate Indiana this week. I think they could also pull a shocker the last week of the year, riding this good momentum, and knock off Penn State on the road leading to Bowl season. Tuck ain’t cumming quick this year, but if they ride this wave he might bust next year.

#10 Wisconsin

This team is exactly what the title says, .500. They are unbelievably boring when they play offense, but their defense can be great. They win games they should, lose games they should, and split the games that are toss ups. There isn’t much to say right now about the Badgers; just average.

#11 Rutgers

Not a great team at all this year. And yet, with good coaching from Schiano they could still go bowling. The birthplace of college football could pull a miracle and reach post-season play if they pull the upset of Penn State and beat a not great Maryland team. I give the chances about 8%. But shit, it ain’t 0.

Big 10 Power Rankings: Why Finish the Season?

#12 Indiana

You don’t have your guy leading your program. Fire your coach and actually start giving a damn about football. Until then you will always be an average once great basketball school with a shitty football team.

#13 Nebraska

How about you don’t screw up this coaching hire like you have done since Bo, okay? I mean we all know you will, but try hard to bring back a once great program because you are embarrassing yourselves again this year. You actually have a loss versus Northwestern, that is how pathetic you are this year.

#14 Northwestern

At least you have your guy leading the program in Fitzgerald. I mean he is your guy, right? No one can do better than him, can they? I am not being sarcastic this time. Could anybody do better? What coach would want to even go to Evanston? Y’all really suck this year.  Like even for your bad history, you suck.

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