Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, November 13, 2016
Michigan?s stunning 14-13 loss at Iowa means there is a new king in the Big Ten. It's a familiar one, at that, in Ohio State, which spent most of the season atop the list before losing at Penn State.
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Check out my latest Big Ten Power Rankings, presented by ArcelorMittal, below.
1. Ohio State (9-1, 6-1). Last week, the Buckeyes had 62 points vs. Nebraska. This week, 62 more at Maryland. Yes, the Ohio State offense is officially back.
Last week: 2
Up next: at Michigan State
2. Michigan (9-1, 6-1). Questions about the offense (run game) are again relevant after an upset loss at Iowa. And Wilton Speight looked ? not good.
Last week: 1
Up next: Indiana
3. Wisconsin (8-2, 5-2). That?s four wins in a row for the Badgers, who control their own destiny in the West after obliterating Illinois. Don?t forget about these guys.
Last week: 3
Up next: at Purdue
4. Penn State (8-2, 6-1). It wasn?t pretty, but the win at Indiana showed a lot of grit for a team that has won six in a row. And Michigan?s loss means PSU is a step closer to maybe winning the East. Amazing.
Last week: 4
Up next: at Rutgers
5. Nebraska (8-2, 5-2). The Huskers got back on track by topping Minnesota to end a two-game slide. How good is Tommy Armstrong? Very impressive. And so tough.
Last week: 5
Up next: Maryland
6. Northwestern (5-5, 4-3). The Wildcats ended a two-game slide with an emphatic win at Purdue as the offense came back to life.
Last week: 7
Up next: at Minnesota
7. Iowa (6-4, 4-3). The upset of Michigan shows the heart and desire of this program. Akrum Wadley for president! Can the Hawkeyes win out?
Last week: 8
Up next: at Illinois
8. Minnesota (7-3, 4-3). The Gophers? four-game winning streak is over. And they also no longer control their own destiny. The run game got stuffed at Nebraska.
Last week: 6
Up next: Northwestern
9. Indiana (5-5, 3-4). The two-game winning streak ended, as IU probably let one get away vs. Penn State. Turnovers remain an issue, as the Hoosiers have nine in the last two games.
Last week: 9
Up next: at Michigan
10. Maryland (5-5, 2-5). Another week, another blowout. The Terps lost 59-3 at Michigan last week and got demolished this week, 62-3, vs. Ohio State.
Last week: 10
Up next: at Nebraska
11. Illinois (3-7, 2-5). It was back to reality for the Fighting Illini a week after beating Michigan State, as Illinois got clobbered at Wisconsin.
Last week: 11
Up next: Iowa
12. Michigan State (3-7, 1-6). Finally! The Spartans ended a seven-game losing streak by notching their first Big Ten win of the season. Hey, it was vs. Rutgers. But it still counts.
Last week: 13
Up next: Ohio State
13. Purdue (3-7, 1-6). That?s five losses in a row for the Boilermakers in a season that can?t end soon enough for a hopelessly undermanned roster.
Last week: 12
Up next: Wisconsin
14. Rutgers (2-8, 0-7). The misery continues for the Scarlet Knights, who remain the lone winless team in Big Ten action. The offense took a big step back at Michigan State.
Last week: 14
Up next: Penn State