Ohio State….Penn State…Oregon….Indiana?????
We had some moving and shaking after Week 6. Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon secured their top three spots easily, but the Wolverines, Trojans, and Scarlet Knights all fell to drop back allowing the best story in college football…a 6-0 and bowl eligible Indiana team to move into the top four. Wow.
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (Previously #1 — Win 35-7 vs Iowa)
I said last week that Ohio State might not score the same 38 points as they did the week before against Michigan State, but that they would probably give up the same seven. Damn…I’m good at this. Iowa played the Buckeyes tough and were tied at 7 at halftime. But then Ohio State remembered who they were, and cruised. That sets up this week;s marquis game in Eugene. Gonna be a fun one.
#2 Penn State Nittany Lions (Previously #2 — Win 27-11 vs UCLA )
It wasn’t as big a blowout as some may have thought but the Nittany Lions easily controlled the play over UCLA and remain in the #2 spot. They head to a reeling USC for the 2:30 CBS game this week,
#3 Oregon Ducks (Previously #3 — Win 31 -10 vs Michigan State)
This time Oregon was not going t led a Jonathan Smith coached team take them out. The Ducks cruised to a comfortable win over the Spartans to remain in the #3 spot and set up the huge battle against Ohio State this Saturday night for the drivers seat to one of the two Big Ten Championship Game slots.
#4 Indiana Hoosiers (Previous #8 — Win 41-24 at Northwestern)
Did anyone see 6-0 Indiana happening? Here we are. Averaging over 40 points per game. The Hoosiers are the complete surprise team in the nation and are cruising all the way up to the #4 spot this week. They now get a richly deserved bye to get ready for the much tougher second half of the season.
#5 #Illinois Fighting Illini (Previously #6 — Bye)
Illinois moves up a slot just because everyone else around them lost. Sometimes the luck finds you. Purdue comes to town this week in what should be a pretty easy game off of a bye week.
#6 Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previously #9 —Win 14-7 over Rutgers)
Nebraska pulled out an ugly game at home over a previously undefeated Rutgers team. They now sit at 5-1 and get a bye this week before what suddenly is an absolutely massive game against Indiana the 19th.
#7 Washington Huskies (Previously #7 — Win 27-17 vs Michigan)
Well, I’m sure most Huskie fans would rather have won this game in January, but they do take the CFP Championship game rematch over the Wolverines in Seattle. They now have to head to what will be a slog of a game in Iowa City against the Hawkeyes this Saturday.
#8 Michigan Wolverines (Previously #4—Lose 27- 17 at Washington)
This Wolverine team is reeling after Minnesota nearly upset them with a huge comeback and then Washington completely outplayed them last week. They don’t have a competent quarterback and the secret is out. It’s going to be a rough stretch down the end here for Michigan. They get a bye this eek to regroup and try and figure some things out.
#9 USC Trojans (Previously #5 Lose 24-17 at Minnesota)
The Gophers pulled off the upset in Stadium Village and trusted their pass defense to get the job done. Lincoln Riley made a few questionable decisions and PJ Fleck got the Gophers to the finish this time. Penn State comes to the Coliseum this weekend in a game both teams really would like to find a way to win.
#10 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Previously #7 Loss at Nebraska 14-7)
it wasn’t a great day for the Scarlet Knights in Lincoln as Nebraska shut down their offense allowing just 7 points and 264 yards. Athan looked like the one Minnesota knows well as he went 15/27 for 186 yards, one TD and two interceptions. It doesn’t get any easier this week as Wisconsin comes to town off of a thrashing of Purdue looking to beat up a QB they have shut down before.
#11 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Previously #14 Win over USC 24-17)
We finally saw four good quarters of football and look what happened. The Gophers got a huge win over USC and now head to California and the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1962 to try and pick up a win over a struggling UCLA team. Its virtually a must win for the Gophers if they want to make a bowl game.
#12 Wisconsin Badgers (Previously #13 — Win 52-6 vs Purdue)
Purdue is awful and the Badgers put together their best game of the year. It was a combination that resulted in a blowout. This week is a lot harder as the Badgers head to New Jersey to take on a 4-1 Rutgers team.
#13 Iowa Hawkeyes (Previously #11 — Lose 35-7 at Ohio State)
Iowa drops two spots as the Gophers get a huge upset win and the Badgers just got a huge win. Iowa looked good for two quarters but then got whomped in the last two. And now players are starting to flee off the sinking ship as both a wide receiver and their backup running back announced Monday they would be redshirting the rest of the season and likely transferring in December. Not great to hear in October. Washington comes to town this week off of a big win over Michigan.
#14 Maryland Terrapins (Previously #12 — Bye)
Maryland drops a pair of slots on their bye week as others had impressive wins. Northwestern comes to town Friday night in a national game that…well frankly will make people want to watch baseball instead.
#15 Michigan State Spartans (Previously #15 — Lose 31-10 at Oregon)
Back to back games against Ohio State and Oregon sure weren’t very nice. Not sure who pissed off the schedule maker there but it went exactly as expected. The Spartans get a bye week to lick their wounds this week.
#16 UCLA Bruins (Previously #16 Lose at 27-11 at Penn State)
The Bruins gave the Nittany Lions a decent game, but it wasn’t near enough. They look for their first Big Ten win this week against a Minnesota team who could be set for a let down game? It’s a big one for both teams.
#17 Northwestern Wildcats (Previously #17 — Lose 41-24 vs Indiana)
Northwestern did show up, but Indiana continued their crazy march through the conference. Maryland awaits on a Friday night this week. Don’t worry-nobody will be watching.
#18 Purdue Boilermakers (Previous #18 Lose 52-6 at Wisconsin)
Purdue is baaad. There is no way to shine that shoe. Of course this is the year the Gopher don’t play them. They head to Champaign this week to try and figure something out…but probably not.