Yeah, that time of the week again y’all. Time for SpikedJohnnyB’s power rankings. Credit to me for saying I have been wrong on individual games, but the power rankings have been pretty damn spot on. This week I am starting with the worst power 5 conference to get it out of the way to be honest.
Tier 1 Power Rankings: Playoff Contenders
#1 Ohio State
Alright, Buckeye fans, while I do have you on top of the power rankings again, there are issues. The offense didn’t really look that great versus Iowa. I know they scored a lot of points, but look at their starting field positions. Six times they started in the Iowa half. Even with that that, only scored one touchdown on those possessions. I am not too worried, just wanted to point out a negative. The defense forced five turnovers and Jim Knowles has made them now a strength of the team. Stroud and the offense will work out the little hiccups and will make a great run at the playoff.
Tier 2 Power Rankings: Good Teams
#2 Michigan
What’s up Wolverines fans? Not much to really say this week. No one can ever jump you at number 2 and you will never jump to number 1, so you are comfortably the second best team in this conference. Beat Ohio State and I will shut my mouth. Until then you will always be in this spot this year.
#3 Illinois
Just like the team above, no changes this week in the Illinois power rankings. Idle weeks do not hurt you when teams below you are just not good. Chase Brown has been amazing for this team. I believe Tommy Devito is the best fit at QB for any team in football, except maybe Sam Hartman at Wake. He just makes the plays that are there and fits well in the Bielema offense. Can they beat Michigan in a few weeks? I honestly don’t think so, but will be rooting for it.
#4 Penn State
I mean I told you this conference was not very flashy. Everyone blew the Minnesota win out of proportion. The national media can raise the Nittany Lions higher in the standings, but not in my power rankings. Beating a Gophers team at home when they play a backup QB is not really a good win, it is mid at best. Beat Ohio State and we will talk. As for now, the Outback Bowl is looming in the horizon.
Tier 3 Power Rankings: Bowl Teams
#5 Purdue
Bad loss to a bad Wisconsin team last week. But, like, who the hell do I put here? I can’t put Maryland over Purdue because of head-to-head and Wisconsin might not make a bowl. So I guess I am stuck putting the Boilermakers here. Like I said last week, the O’Connell to Jones connection is awesome but the rest of the team is severely lacking. They should make a bowl, I guess.
#6 Maryland
You probably should be five in the power rankings, but you lost to the number five team. I think you are definitely in a better position to make a bowl than Purdue. You’ll lose to Penn State and Ohio State and go 8-4 and make a mid bowl game which isn’t a bad thing. Keep building in College Park. Maybe the DC recruits will go be a Terrapin one day.
#7 Wisconsin
This was another difficult decision whether or not to put the Gophers here or the Badgers. Power Ranking mid teams is harder than power ranking good or bad teams. I’ll put the Badgers here because I like Jim Leonard and they won last week. They should make a bowl, right?
#8 Minnesota
Literally read what I wrote above. Oh, another reason they aren’t ahead of the Badges is the injury to Morgan. If he comes back, they should win Paul Bunyan’s Axe last game of the year and make a bowl.
Tier 4 Power Rankings: Not Bowl Eligible
#9 Rutgers
I really wanted to put you as a bowl team in the power rankings, but I can’t. You will lose at least three more games, I’m sorry. Bright side is you have your coach and the rest of the league is pretty down. So maybe next year you make a run at a bowl and get yourselves higher in the standings.
Tier 5 Power Rankings: Who Cares?
#10. Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan State, Iowa
Not worth my time or energy to write even a paragraph about any of these teams. Udder ineptitude. Power Rankings are for teams that aren’t these four. No Picture For You.
Tier 6 Power Rankings: Northwestern
#14 Northwestern
I know in the power rankings you are below the teams listed in the group above. I had to do that because of the standings. The future at Northwestern is so much brighter than any of those teams. You have Fitzgerald; he will always bring you out of the dark to make a bowl. Usually it is every other year, but with covid this year doesn’t count. Next year you will go .500 in the Big 10 West and make a bowl. Book it.
I say it every time I finish this conference’s power rankings for the week. It is absolutely brutal to talk about 75% of these school’s programs. I really think the Sun Belt is a more competitive and deeper league. Like I said on the Spiked College Football Show, “The Big 10 is the 7th best conference in America”. I’ll stand by that. At least they have the Buckeyes. So go Like, Subscribe, Share and Comment my content, because I am awesome and real.
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