My latest Big Ten power rankings has a new leader
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – My latest Big Ten power rankings have a change at the top, thanks to the Iowa Hawkeyes, some shuffling in the middle and Rutgers once again festering in the basement.
1. Ohio State (6-1, 9-1) – Keith Duncan probably could eat and drink for free in Columbus after helping to put the Buckeyes back on top of the rankings.
2. Wisconsin (5-2, 8-2) – Barry Alvarez awards Paul Chryst after Wisconsin’s latest victory by telling Chryst that he only has to check in with him 10 times per day instead of 20.
3. Michigan (6-1, 9-1) – Kinnick Stadium is to Jim Harbaugh what any stadium is to Rutgers. It was bad enough that Michigan lost at Kinnick Stadium this past Saturday on a field-goal as time expired. But Michigan quarterback Wilson Speight also suffered a broken collar bone and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. His absence is why Michigan dropped from first to third in the rankings.
Harbaugh has been on the losing side in each of his last two games at Kinnick Stadium, with both losses decided by last-second field goals. He was Michigan’s starting quarterback in 1985 when Rob Houghtlin made a field-goal as time expired to defeat the second-ranked Wolverines.
4. Penn State (6-1, 8-2) – The three biggest factors in Penn State’s rise back to national prominence: 1. The NCAA, 2. Saquon Barkley, 3. The Big Ten Conference.
5. Nebraska (5-2, 8-2) – A survey of Nebraska fans shows that nearly 90 percent of them still believe the Cornhuskers will win the national title this season and in every season for the foreseeable future.
6. Northwestern (4-3, 5-5) – The Wildcats are without question the smartest 5-5 team from a power 5 conference, and maybe the best.
7. Iowa (4-3, 6-4) – Iowa’s next-man-in battle cry turned into the next-kid-in against Michigan as true freshman cornerback Manny Rugamba and true freshman kicker Keith Duncan both played huge roles in the 14-13 victory at Kinnick Stadium.
8. Minnesota (4-3, 7-3) – My advice to Tracy Claeys is don’t quit your real job on “Family Guy.”
9. Indiana (3-4, 5-5) – The Hoosiers are the best of the worst in the Big Ten, at least for this week.
10. Maryland (2-5, 5-5) – The Terrapins have two more chances to become bowl eligible against Nebraska on the road this Saturday and at home against Rutgers in the season finale. Just what we need, a 6-6 Maryland team in a bowl game.
11. Michigan State (1-7, 3-7) – The Spartans finally won a conference game, defeating Rutgers 49-0 this past Saturday at home. Rutgers is sort of like the Big Ten's version of penicillin
12. Purdue (1-6, 3-7) – Can we assume that Purdue is close to hiring its next head coach, considering its previous head coach, Darrell Hazell, was fired nearly a month ago? Probably not.
13. llinois (2-5, 3-7) – Lovie Smith should think about practicing twice each day this week in order to prepare for the good and bad Iowa teams.
14. Rutgers (0-7, 2-8) – Rutgers fans can take solace in knowing that the football season is almost over and that women’s basketball has started.