Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, November 5, 2017
What a crazy Saturday! Ohio State goes down! Penn State goes down ? again. What?s it all mean?
[ MORE: Week 10 video | Best of Week 10 | Week 10 predictions revisited ]
We have two new teams at the top of my Big Ten Power Rankings, presented by ArcelorMittal.
1. Wisconsin (9-0, 6-0). Another week, another methodical win for the Badgers, who are 9-0 for the first time since 2004. Now, the heavy lifting begins.
Last week: 3
Up next: Iowa
2. Michigan State (7-2, 5-1). The Spartans continue to show that last year?s 3-9 mark was a mirage, as we watch QB Brian Lewerke become a star.
Last week: 5
Up next: at Ohio State
3. Ohio State (7-2, 5-1). All those questions after the 33-16 loss to Oklahoma are back after a 55-24 evisceration at Iowa.
Last week: 1
Up next: Michigan State
4. Penn State (7-2, 4-2). Those national title and Big Ten championship dreams are toast after dropping consecutive games by a total of four points.
Last week: 2
Up next: Rutgers
5. Northwestern (6-3, 4-2). Three overtime games in a row-three wins in a row. No one has more mojo, as the Wildcats are hitting their stride.
Last week: 4
Up next: Purdue
6. Iowa (6-3, 3-3). Another year, another major upset for the Hawkeyes in Kinnick Stadium. How good is QB Nate Stanley going to be? Dang good.
Last week: 7
Up next: at Wisconsin
7. Michigan (7-2, 4-2). The thumping of Minnesota helped new QB Brandon Peters continue to develop for a big stretch run.
Last week: 6
Up next: at Maryland
8. Rutgers (4-5, 3-3). Chris Ash is making progress in Piscataway, as the Scarlet Knights now have three Big Ten wins, and have done it in the last four weeks.
Last week: 10
Up next: at Penn State
9. Nebraska (4-5, 3-3). The defense continues to get gashed on the ground in what is looking more and more like a lost season.
Last week: 8
Up next: at Minnesota
10. Purdue (4-5, 2-4). The Boilermakers ended a three-game slide. Few coaching staffs have squeezed more out of less than Purdue.
Last week: 13
Up next: at Northwestern
11. Maryland (4-5, 2-4). That?s four losses in five games for the Terrapins, who had to use their fourth-string QB this week. It?s been that type of year.
Last week: 9
Up next: Michigan
12. Indiana (3-6, 0-6). The Hoosiers are still looking for their first Big Ten win. But IU does have a shot to win out (at Illinois; Rutgers; at Purdue).
Last week: 11
Up next: at Illinois
13. Minnesota (4-5, 1-5). Struggles on offense continue to haunt the Golden Gophers. Will this team win again?
Last week: 12
Up next: Nebraska
14. Illinois (2-7, 0-6). Too many injuries, too much youth ? you know where this is going.
Last week: 14
Up next: Indiana