Editor’s note: Every week, The Daily Illini football staff ranks the football teams in the Big Ten 1-12 and compiles the lists into its own Big Ten power rankings.
1. Ohio State (last week: 1)
2. Wisconsin (2)
3. Michigan State (5)
The Spartans may not have had the biggest jump in our power rankings, but they may have made the most significant one. At 7-1 and 4-0 in Big Ten play, Michigan State is the only undefeated team in the conference other than Ohio State and is impossible to ignore any longer. The toughest tests are yet to come, including this week’s battle with in-state rival Michigan.
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4. Michigan (4)
T-5. Minnesota (8)
Minnesota’s win over Nebraska last week was the statement this team has been trying to make in the three-year span of the Jerry Kill era. With its coach still sidelined from health problems, this team snapped a 16-game losing streak against Nebraska. The Gophers (6-2, 2-2) are bowl eligible and still have four games left to play. It’s difficult to predict where they go from here. It’s not impossible for this team to finish with eight or nine wins, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if the Gophers lost the remainder of their games.
T-5. Nebraska (3)
7. Iowa (9)
The defense came up clutch for the Hawkeyes, holding Northwestern to just 10 points last week and giving Iowa its fifth win of the season. Iowa (5-3, 2-2) has four games to get its sixth win and secure a bowl appearance. But three of those games come against Wisconsin, Michigan and Nebraska. A trip to Purdue on Nov. 9 is the best chance for a win, but on the road that game’s not a given, either.
8. Penn State
T-9. Indiana (7)
T-9. Northwestern (6)
What a terrible four weeks for Northwestern football. When October started, the Wildcats were 4-0 and ranked No. 16 in the country. As Halloween approaches, they sit at 4-4 with an 0-4 conference record. And it doesn’t get any easier. Pat Fitzgerald’s squad travels to Nebraska this week in a matchup of two teams coming off disappointing losses (or in the Wildcat’s case, four).
11. Illinois (11)
12. Purdue
