We have a change at the top…quack quack
Well. That was one heck of a drama filled Saturday. Two early blowouts then turned into three crazy good games, and that’s not counting the Gophers comeback—though crazy good would not exactly be the correct adjectives for that game. But we have a change at the top thanks to some crazy decision making in Eugene.
#1 Oregon Ducks (Previously #3 — Win 32-31 vs Ohio State)
Well, that game was fantastic. So many small decisions that can shape a game. What an onsides kick call for the Ducks, and a great final drive led by one of the Heisman favorites now in Dillon Gabriel. Oregon moves into the drivers seat for one of the Big Ten title game spots, but has to beware the Purdue harbor this Friday night. Wouldn’t that just be insane…
#2 Penn State Nittany Lions (Previously #2 — Win 33-30 OT at USC )
I thought long and hard about dropping Penn State down one and keeping the Buckeyes at 2, but Penn State is still undefeated. It was a big come front behind win for the Nittany Lions after it looked like USC finally had shaken of some things. What a game from Tyler Warren. The PSU tight end really turned some heads on Saturday, and they get to stay at #2. They enjoy a bye this week before a trip to Madison.
#3 Ohio State Buckeyes (Previously #1 — Lose 32-31 at Oregon)
The Buckeyes put forth a heck of an effort but it just wasn’t enough in Eugene. The Buckeyes should still be in a great spot to earn a playoff berth though assuming they can take care of the rest of their business the rest of the way. That November 1st game at Penn State sure got a lot bigger though. The Buckeyes get a bye this week before hosting Nebraska the following week. Would not want to be the Huskers in that one.
#4 Indiana Hoosiers (Previous #4 Bye)
Indiana got to sit back and watch the carnage last week knowing that they are still sitting atop the conference standings with Oregon and Penn State. They play their toughest game of the season this far when they hot Nebraska in a Big Noon game—that’s actually because of them and not the Huskers.
#5 Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previously #6 Bye)
Nebraska doesn’t deserve to be #5. But I can’t not punish Illinois for nearly losing to Purdue. So the Huskers move up a spot before their huge game at Indiana on Saturday that should show us which one of these teams are actually for real.
#6 #Illinois Fighting Illini (Previously #5 Win 50-49 OT vs Purdue)
Illinois what the hell are you doing. The game wasn’t even in West Lafayette so you can’t blame the Harbor. But Purdue damn near upset Illinois for the cannon. Illinois got the win and still is in good shape but a slipup like that to any non-Purdue team and that’s a bad loss. Michigan comes to town this week in what should be a very interesting game in the standings.
#7 Iowa Hawkeyes (Previously #13 — Win 40-16 vs Washington)
This is a huge jump up for Iowa, but it’s probably more of a correction for my biases than the win over Washington. The Huskies had the hangover of a huge win the week before and came into Iowa City and just got whomped. I had Iowa fairly low after their loss to Ohio State, but when you see that their two losses are both to teams in the top ten of the country—I guess I was a bit hard on them. So they get bumped back to where they probably should be. The Hawkeyes head to East Lansing this week looking to avoid a letdown game of their own Saturday night against the Spartans.
#8 Michigan Wolverines (Previously #8 Bye)
Michigan stays in place this week because they didn’t play. Washington probably should still be ahead of them after last weekend, but the Huskies looked so bad at Iowa that recency bias wins out. The Wolverines head to Champaign this week for a sneaky good game against Illinois.
#9 USC Trojans (Previously #9 Lose 33-30 OT vs Penn State)
The Trojans suddenly have lost two in a row after a hot start and may be still a bit overvalued as we really don’t know what Wisconsin is yet. The talent is there and they looked great in the first half against Penn State, but just could not keep it together in the second half and pull off a major win. They now head across the country to Maryland this week in what should be a get right game, but as we have seen with the travel that is no guarantee at all.
#10 Wisconsin Badgers (Previously #12 — Win 42-7 at Rutgers)
Back to back blowout wins for the Badgers move them up the ranks. The Purdue win—meh, but Rutgers at least seemed better on paper than the Badgers made them look on Saturday. If Wisconsin can keep things figured out, they could be a scary team the second half of the season. They head to Northwestern on Saturday in what could easily be their third straight blowout win.
#11 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Previously #11 Win 21-17 at UCLA)
It was not pretty by any means, but the Gophers dug deep and pulled out a win when they really needed it. An awful first half was picked up by a decent second one and the last TD pass from Max Brosmer to Darius Taylor clinched the win. The Gophers get a bye this week before hosting Maryland in what basically is a must win before the schedule gets a lot harder in November.
#12 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Previously #10 Loss vs Wisconsin 42-7)
After a 4-0 start the Scarlet Knights have lot two in a row—not coincidentally in games where Athan Kaliakmanis has looked like the Athan we saw last year. He was just awful against Wisconsin going 12/32 for 103 yards and an interception. This off of 15/37 for 184 against Nebraska the week before. UCLA comes to Jersey this week in what would normally be a get right game, and as Minnesota proved you can throw on the Bruins.
#13 Washington Huskies (Previously #7 — Loss 40-16 at Iowa)
Just like Iowa jumped way up, this is also probably a good course correction for Washington. The Huskies got the big win over Michigan, but have losses to Rutgers, and Washington State. They are mid—like now about 6 or 7 different Big Ten teams that keep trading spots on a weekly basis. Their schedule is unforgiving after this bye week this week as well as they get Indiana, Penn State and Oregon all on the road while USC and UCLA come to town in their final five games.
#14 Northwestern Wildcats (Previously #17 — Win 37-10 at Maryland)
Well hello Wildcats. I don’t think anyone saw that coming. Northwestern was outgained by 75 yards, had 15!! less first downs, but had zero turnovers to Maryland’s four. That will do it. Wisconsin comes to town this weekend. Got one more upset in you cats??
#15 Michigan State Spartans (Previously #15 — Bye)
No harm no foul for Sparty on their bye week as they stay at 15. Iowa comes to town this week for the Saturday night tilt. Can The Spartans make it interesting?
#16 Maryland Terrapins (Previously #14 — Lose 37-10 vs Northwestern)
Four turnovers at home on a Friday night ends up getting you blown out by Northwestern. Not great. USC comes to town this weekend in what should be a loss, but can the Terps take advantage of the awful record of teams going full cross country for road games? We shall see.
#17 Purdue Boilermakers (Previous #18 Lose 50-49 OT at Illinois)
Well, I don’t think anyone saw that coming. And it was just about perfect Purdue to go for 2 and the win in OT and fail. Down 27- 3 at halftime the Boilers clawed back and took a lead with 43 seconds left before giving up the tying field goal as time expired. That type of effort will get you a bump up one spot this week to #17. Oregon comes to town off a huge win for a Friday night game? Can Purdue drown the Ducks in the harbor??
#18 UCLA Bruins (Previously #16 Lose at 21-17 vs Minnesota)
UCLA had the Gophers on the ropes and looked like they might win their first ever Big Ten game, but then they let the Gophers off the hook and Minnesota found a way to win. Poor Bruins. They now need to fly completely across the country to New Jersey for a 9 am West coast time kickoff. Brutal.