Boiler Upload's Big Ten football power rankings: Week 9
Another eventful week around the Big Ten is in the books, including a pair of rivalry games, Ohio State further solidifying itself atop the conference, Rutgers running wild in Bloomington and more!
Boiler Upload breaks it all down and updates the Big Ten football power rankings heading into week nine.
1. Michigan: (8-0)
Week eight result: 49-0 win over Michigan State
Week nine matchup: BYE
The off field distractions with the Michigan version of “Spy Gate” didn’t have much of an impact on the field on Saturday as the Wolverines took care of business against Michigan State.
JJ McCarthy was lights out one again, tossing four touchdown passes. The Michigan signal caller is making a case for B1G offensive player of the year. The Wolverines also notched their first shutout of the season against the Spartans.
Jim Harbaugh and crew are off in week nine before a tough skate to finish out the season, with Penn State and Ohio State awaiting.
2. Ohio State: (7-0)
Week eight result: 20-12 win over Penn State
Week nine matchup: at Wisconsin
Ohio State has the best two wins of anybody in the conference after ending the Penn State hype train on Saturday to go along with a road win over Notre Dame in September.
It wasn’t pretty, as many top ten battles aren’t, but the Buckeyes got the job done at home over the Nittany Lions. Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr. torched one of the best defenses in the country in the rout, while the Ohio State defense stood tall all day long.
The Buckeyes are now in prime position for another College Football Playoff run will take on Wisconsin next week for a chance to move to 8-0.
3. Penn State: (6-1)
Week eight result: 20-12 loss to Ohio State
Week nine matchup: vs. Indiana
Another big game loss has the Penn State faithful frustrated once again. The Nittany Lions suffered their 7th straight defeat at the hands of Ohio State on Saturday and are now a step behind in the Big Ten East race.
Drew Allar has fallen back down to Earth a bit after a strong start as the offense struggled all day in Columbus. The defense gave up a season-high, but did do well enough to give the offense a chance.
Penn State isn’t out of the Big Ten title picture just yet, but need Ohio State or Michigan to falter down the stretch, which is unlikely.
4. Rutgers: (6-2)
Week eight result: 31-14 win over Indiana
Week nine matchup: BYE
The Scarlet Knights are going bowling! Rutgers notched its sixth win of the year to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2021 and have its best win total since 2014.
Gavin Wimsatt and Kyle Monangai ran all over Bloomington in the win, combining for 252 yards and three scores by Wimsatt. The Scarlet Knights are now in the top five of the conference in scoring offense and defense after the 31-14 win.
It’s a good thing Rutgers got this win as a three game stretch of Ohio State, Iowa and Penn State awaits them after a bye week.
5. Iowa: (6-2)
Week eight result: 12-10 loss to Minnesota
Week nine matchup: BYE
All of Iowa’s struggles came back to bite them in Saturday’s 12-10 loss to Minnesota. Although, the Hawkeyes were nearly saved by superhero Cooper DeJean, who saw his punt return for a touchdown called back on a questionable at best fair catch ruling.
The Hawkeye offense remained stagnant as Deacon Bill’s struggles continued, including three turnovers on the day. As always, the defense did its part, holding the Gophers to four field goals, but Hill and company couldn’t make enough plays.
Iowa has a bye week upcoming before heading into a fairly favorable schedule down the stretch.
6. Wisconsin: (5-2)
Week seven result: 25-21 win over Illinois
Week eight matchup: vs. Ohio State
Wisconsin avoided what would have been a demoralizing loss to Illinois on Saturday, coming back from 14 down in the second half to move to 5-2 on the season.
In the fourth quarter, quarterback Braedyn Locke had a pair of touchdown passes to help the Badgers claw their way back into things.
The win was a big bounce back after struggling against Iowa the week prior and now Wisconsin regains sole possession of first place in the Big Ten West. That may not be for long though, as the Badgers are set to host Ohio State in week nine.
7. Maryland: (5-2)
Week eight result: BYE
Week nine matchup: at Northwestern
Maryland had a week off following two straight losses and will look to become bowl eligible in week nine with a trip to Northwestern coming up.
8. Minnesota: (4-3)
Week eight result: 12-10 win over Iowa
Week nine matchup: vs. Michigan State
Saturday marked a big win for PJ Fleck and the Minnesota program, who beat Iowa for the first time under the head coach arrived in 2017. It wasn’t very pretty, and the Gophers were on the right side of a questionable call down the stretch, but it goes down in the win column nonetheless.
Minnesota kicker Dragan Kesich was the only source of offense with his four field goals. Fleck’s defense had its best showing since the first two weeks of the season to guide Minnesota to the win.
The Gophers will host Michigan State in week nine with a real possibility to grab a piece of first place in the Big Ten West with a victory.
9. Nebraska: (4-3)
Week eight result: 17-9 win over Northwestern
Week nine matchup: vs. Purdue
Don’t look now, but Matt Rhule and Nebraska have now won four of five and hold a winning record through seven games for the first time since 2019.
The Huskers picked up a second straight win with Saturday’s victory over Northwestern behind Heinrich Haarberg and the run game. Nebraska has also held its last two opponents under 10 points.
Rhule and company are limping into a week nine tilt against Purdue, but so are the Boilermakers. Nebraska could insert themselves in the Big Ten West title picture with a win, however.
10. Illinois: (3-5)
Week eight result: 25-21 loss to Wisconsin
Week nine matchup: BYE
On the heels of an upset win over Maryland, it looked like Illinois was ready to pick up its second straight victory over a favored opponent. Obviously, that ended up not being the case.
The Illini gave up a 14 point second half lead to Wisconsin after the offensive success earlier in the game dried up and the defense unraveled. Illinois now goes into the bye week at 3-5 and tied for last place in the pedestrian Big Ten West.
11. Northwestern: (3-4)
Week eight result: 17-9 loss to Nebraska
Week nine matchup: vs Maryland
Northwestern still hasn’t won back-to-back games this season after a 17-9 loss to Nebraska on Saturday.
The Wildcats couldn’t get much of anything going offensively, with their only points coming on three Jack Olsen field goals. Nebraska ran for 163 yards and two scores in the game, which helped guide the Huskers to a victory.
David Braun has a lot of work to do if Northwestern is to shock the world and make it to a bowl game this season, starting with a home matchup with Maryland in week nine.
12. Purdue: (2-5)
Week eight result: BYE
Week nine matchup: at Nebraska
Purdue is coming off a bye week as it looks to turn the season around against a suddenly hot Nebraska team on Saturday.
13. Michigan State: (2-5)
Week eight result: 49-0 loss to Michigan
Week seven matchup: at Minnesota
The downward spiral continues for Michigan State who dropped its fifth-straight in a lopsided defeat against Michigan on Saturday night.
The Sparty offense mustered less than 200 total yards and were shut out for the first time since 2020 against Indiana. Michigan’s offense proved to be too much for one of the worst units in the conference.
Sparty now goes on the road to play a confident Minnesota team before a gauntlet to close out the season.
14. Indiana: (2-5)
Week eight result: 31-14 loss to Rutgers
Week nine matchup: at Penn State
The Hoosiers suffered another defeat, this time allowing Rutgers to run all over them in Bloomington. Tom Allen’s seat is blazing as Indiana falls to 2-5.
Quarterback continues to be an area filled with struggles for the Big Ten’s worst scoring offense. The Hoosiers have also allowed a conference worst 37.5 points per game during Big Ten play after giving up 31 on Saturday.
Indiana now gets a motivated Penn State team in Happy Valley in what could be an ugly one.