No changes at the top as we set up the final few weeks
The Top six stay the same from last week as the top four keep winning and well…nobody wants to pass Iowa and Minnesota after bad losses. This week should be pretty easy for the top teams yet again, but in that lower middle there are quite few interesting games that will either earn teams bowl berths…or eliminate them.
#1 Oregon Ducks (Previously #1 — Win 39-18 vs Maryland)
Another week another yawner for Oregon. They basically have their bags packed for Indy and a berth in the Big Ten Championship game. First the head to Madison this week in what looked like a much better game two months ago, but now will be disappointing if it’s not a 3 TD win for Oregon.
#2 Indiana Hoosiers (Previous #2 Win 20-15 vs Michigan)
It wasn’t pretty, but the Hoosiers did what they needed to do to move to 10-0 and set up a massive game at Ohio State in a defacto Big Ten Semifinal next weekend. This week they get a bye to prepare for the Buckeye game, arguably one of the most important games in Indiana Football history.
#3 Ohio State Buckeyes (Previously #3 — Win 45-0 over Purdue)
The Buckeyes have a pair of back to back yawners before Indiana next weekend. First a 45-0 crushing of Purdue, and this week they head to Wrigley Field to play Northwestern in front of probably 75% Ohio State fans. Will they get caught looking ahead to their much tougher end to the season this week?
#4 Penn State Nittany Lions (Previously #4 — Win 35-6 vs Washington)
Another Whiteout, another easy win for the Nittany Lions as they crush Washington to get back on track. This week it’s their time to crush Purdue.
#5 Iowa Hawkeyes (Previously #5 — Lose 20-17 at UCLA)
Remember when Iowa was getting hot and had a new quarterback and figured things out. Yeah that was fin for about 5 quarters. But, the Hawkeyes don’t lose any ground because everyone else around them lost or had a bye. Iowa gets a week off this week to prepare for their final two games against Maryland and Nebraska.
#6 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Previously #6 Lose 26-19 at Rutgers)
The Gophers lost their annual game I can’t believe they played that poorly in in conference play to Rutgers on Saturday. The first half was a total disaster on defense, nd the second half with the exception of the first drive of the third quarter was a total disaster on offense. This team just can’t get out of their own way. They stay at 6 this week by default and have a bye to get ready for a tough finish of Penn State and at Wisconsin to try and avoid losing three straight in November….again.
#7 #Illinois Fighting Illini (Previously #7 BYE)
Illinois probably moves up a spot if they hadn’t just lost to the Gophers the week before. But with a final three game stretch of VERY winnable opponents in Michigan State, Rutgers and Northwestern, the Illini very easily could be 9-3 and headed to Florida in January 1st.
#8 Wisconsin Badgers (Previously #8 Lose 42-10 at Iowa)
Wisconsin also stays put as most of the immediate teams behind them lose. The Badgers need at least one win to go bowling over Oregon, at Nebraska, and Minnesota. It won’t be easy by any means.
#9 UCLA Bruins (Previously #12 Win 20-17 vs Iowa)
Who is the hottest team in the conference not named Oregon or Indiana—it’s the Bruins. Minnesota barely beat UCLA four weeks ago and since then the Bruins have won three in a row over Rutgers, Nebraska and Iowa. Once thought for dead UCLA needs to win two of their last three against Washington, USC and Fresno State to make a bowl….and it easily could happen.
#10 Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previously #10 Bye)
Nebraska stays at 10 after a bye week. The need to fins one more win to make a bowl. They sit at 5-4 and finish at USC, at home vs Wisconsin and at Iowa. Not an easy path to get to 6 there for sure. And then they made an offensive coordinator change this week announcing on Monday that Dana Holgorsen who was hired as a consultant six days ago will call plays the final three games of the year, and Matt Rhule wants him to stay for next year. Sucks to be you Marcust Satterfield. Wil Raiola play this week? He’s questionable heading into USC.
#11 Michigan Wolverines (Previously #9 — Lose 20-15 at Indiana)
The Wolverines game the Hoosiers a good game, but it wasn’t good enough. They fall to 5-5 and get a bye week this week. The Wolverines obviously end with The Game, but should still get into a bowl with a win over lowly Northwestern next weekend.
#12 Washington Huskies (Previously #11 — Lose 35-6 at Penn State)
Washington has to go cross country for a White out. Yeah they were never going to win that game. The CFP runner-up’s a season host UCLA on Friday night in what is basically a bowl eligibility elimination game, The Huskies must win if they want to make a bowl as they finish the season against Oregon.
#13 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Previously #15 Win 26-19 vs Minnesota
Bye Week Kirk strikes again. The Gophers handed the game to Rutgers on a silver platter in the first half and they took it scoring just enough to pick up a big win and get back into the hunt for bowl eligibility. Rutgers needs to win one of their final three which includes a trip to Maryland this week before finishing against Illinois and Michigan State,
#14 Michigan State Spartans (Previously #13 — Bye)
The Spartans drop one spot as Rutgers leaps them on their bye week. Will the extra week get them ready for a big game in Champaign against Illinois this Saturday?
#15 USC Trojans (Previously #14 BYE)
Did USC get right after a bye week? We will find out when Nebraska comes to LA this week.
#16 Northwestern Wildcats (Previously #16 BYE)
Northwestern got a bye last week to rest up for hosting Ohio State at Wrigley Field this Saturday. This one’s gonna be ugly fast.
#17 Maryland Terrapins (Previously #17 Lose 39-18 vs Oregon)
No shame in getting killed by the Ducks. The Terps season is on life-control as they need to win two of their last three to make a bowl game. They host Rutgers this week in what is pretty much a must win with Iowa and Penn State still to come.
#18 Purdue Boilermakers (Previous #18 Lose 45-0 at Ohio State)
Purdue can’t wait for this season to be over. A 45-0 spanking by Ohio State turns right into a home game against Penn State this week which easily could be just as ugly. After a bye next weekend they finish with…Indiana. Ooof.