Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

@SuperMario is going to laugh, but as I see it, the Buckeyes have by far the biggest gap between their ceiling and their floor. 

Their floor is frankly pretty low. If the pick-6 was dropped they'd have trailed Maryland 10-3 at the half. 

The have serious problems with short yardage situations. As a fan I almost feel more confident when facing third or fourth at 10 than when facing third or fourth and two.

They have red zone issues for the same reason.

OTOH, the defense is stout and the passing offense has looked scary good here and there. 

MSU is very bad, and #13, while statistically indefenisible I could buy.  I am very curious as how anyone could be behind Indiana at this point.

throw the bottom 5 together and maybe come out with a team (85 players) that is decent

I would extend that to 7

think you're probably right....seems like the B1G is god awful this year. 

I don't think 4-7 are Big Ten title contenders, but they are typical middle of the pack quality.  But whoever is #8 has to be the worst #8 team of the 14 team era

Here's how Brian Christopherson of Husker247 has the teams slotted in the league for now, with this weekend's matchups and TV info included with each squad.

14. ILLINOIS
Record: 2-4, 0-3 in the Big Ten

Last time out: 20-7 loss to Nebraska

This week: at Maryland, 2:30 p.m. on NBC

The Illini have given away whatever momentum last year’s team built behind a top-tier defense. For as flawed as Nebraska is on offense, it felt like the Huskers were shooting off their own toes from keeping that from being a 24- to 28-point game a week after a similar result found Illinois against Purdue. I’m surprised to see Bret Bielema’s team step back this far. A bowl game seems very unlikely with Maryland, Iowa and Wisconsin still on the slate.


13. MICHIGAN STATE
Record: 2-3, 0-2

Last time out: 26-16 loss at Iowa

This week: at Rutgers, 11 a.m. on BTN

It sure feels from a distant view that things are off the rails this season for the Spartans, with off-the-field headlines the focus after the firing of Mel Tucker. They don’t have any losses to bad teams – and frankly trickled a game down their leg at Iowa. So they could rise up and beat some of the middling teams in this league. They could also implode. Nebraska’s game at East Lansing in early November has seemed to become more gettable.


12. NORTHWESTERN
Record: 3-3, 1-2

Last time out: 23-20 win over Howard

This week: BYE (next at Nebraska on Oct. 21)

The Wildcats are limited on offense and didn’t exactly have an inspiring performance this past weekend, winning by 3 against Howard. They do have a comeback win over Minnesota to bolster their standing here for now, and the losses are against Penn State, Duke and Rutgers. We’ll start to better sort out the pecking order of the middle and lower half of the league by games like next weekend’s in Lincoln between Nebraska-Northwestern.


11. PURDUE

(Photo: © Alex Martin/Journal and Courier, USA TODAY Sports)
Record: 2-4, 1-2

Last time out: 20-14 loss at Iowa

This week: Ohio State, 11 a.m. on Peacock

The Boilermakers had a solid 44-19 win over Illinois a couple weekends back that made everyone take a peek that direction. And Purdue could have had that last game against the Hawkeyes but got Iowa’d.  It’s quite possible they’re better than this ranking, but in addition to the losses to Fresno State and Iowa, they’ve lost 35-20 to Syracuse and 38-17 to Wisconsin at home.


10. INDIANA
Record: 2-3, 0-2

Last time out: 44-17 loss at Maryland

This week: at Michigan, 11 a.m. on FOX

The Hoosiers aren’t on anybody’s radar but they don’t belong on the lowest of the low right now when you look at their losses, which come against Ohio State (23-3 final), Maryland and a stout Louisville team by just a touchdown. Still, a very tough schedule continues on this week and Penn State still awaits before October ends. Brutal.


9. NEBRASKA

Record: 3-3, 1-2

Last time out: 20-7 win at Illinois

This week: BYE (next against Northwestern on Oct. 21)

It’s the Blackshirts that gives you thought the Huskers could make a run in October to open up those bowl possibilities. No gimmes, but nothing that can’t be handled in the next few weeks if they keep playing defense like they have in most of the quarters against teams not named Michigan. I’ve always said the first step up the ladder for this program was not games against marque programs, but getting the best of teams like Illinois, Northwestern and Purdue and building off it. The schedule just happened to put all three of those teams on the platter in the same month. One down, but can they get two more?


8. MINNESOTA
Record: 3-3, 1-2

Last time out: 52-10 loss to Michigan

This week: BYE (next at Iowa on Oct. 21)

The Gophers would probably be bottom two or three on this list had those final five minutes against Nebraska not given them a tiebreaker edge over some of the field. Although, they also biffed up a three-touchdown lead at Northwestern to lose. Their game at Iowa after the bye will tell a lot about their season’s direction and also how muddled (or not) the Big Ten West could be.


7. IOWA
Record: 5-1, 2-1

Last time out: 20-14 win over Purdue

This week: at Wisconsin, 3 p.m. on FOX

The Hawkeyes lost QB Cade McNamara for the year but still won in Hawkeye style over the Boilermakers. Defense and special teams stands tall enough here to give them a shot in this league. Would it make the West race more interesting for a few teams if the Hawkeyes beat Wisconsin this Saturday? Probably. Do I think they will? Probably not.


6. RUTGERS

Record: 4-2, 1-2

Last time out: 24-13 loss at Wisconsin

Michigan State, 11 a.m. on BTN

Greg Schiano has built some toughness in that program. No doubt kicking themselves, though, for a 95-yard interception return at Wisconsin that titled that game. With the Scarlet Knights' other loss to Michigan by a count of 31-7, and easy wins over Virginia Tech and Temple, the Scarlet Knights belong in the upper half of the league standings for now.


5. WISCONSIN
Record: 4-1, 2-0

Last time out: 24-13 win over Rutgers

This week: Iowa, 3 p.m. on FOX

Kind of a blah squad so far but definitely the favorite in the West right now when you look at the standings and schedules ahead. Luke Fickell's team has been up and down on offense but opportunistic on defense and could really put their foot down more firmly in the race by beating the Hawkeyes this weekend.


4. MARYLAND

Record: 5-1, 2-1

Last time out: 37-17 loss at Ohio State

This week: Illinois, 2:30 p.m. on NBC

Mike Locksley's done a real nice job building up a program here. The Terps were 7-6 two years ago, 8-5 last year, and trending toward that or better this season. If you look closely, the non-con wins were attached to nothing of great substance and they got to play Michigan State right as the mess was unfolding in East Lansing. Still, they've positioned themselves to be among the best of the Big Ten teams not in that top tier of 3 as I see it right now. They're coming to Lincoln in a month. Nebraska needs to do its work to make that a big opportunity for the Huskers against a team that could possibly be ranked then and will be fresh off a game against Penn State.


3. PENN STATE
Record: 5-0, 2-0

Last time out: 41-13 win over Northwestern

This week: UMass, 2:30 p.m. on BTN

The Nittany Lions seem to be handling their business quietly. And it's hard to argue with how they've done it. A 31-0 demolition of Iowa, a 38-15 win over 4-1 West Virginia. James Franklin's team is doing what they need to do to set themselves up with a chance to surprise in the East Division race.


2. OHIO STATE
Record: 5-0, 2-0

Last time out: 37-17 win over Maryland

This week: at Purdue, 11 a.m. on Peacock

The Buckeyes seem like they haven't hit their stride and yet wouldn't so many programs love to say that after a 20-point win against a solid Terrapins squad. They're not playing as well as Michigan but they do have a better win on their resume than Wolverines do and an unblemished record themselves. Ryan Day also has my mind wandering every few days what Lou Holtz is doing right now.


1. MICHIGAN

Record: 6-0, 3-0

Last time out: 52-10 win at Minnesota

This week: Indiana, 11 a.m. on FOX

If there was a reality to offset how badly Husker fans watching their game get dismantled by Michigan, it's that these Wolverines are really quite good. They're put together well in all parts and know exactly who they want to be, and usually do a sound job in putting that mission on film. They beat the Gophers with just as much ease as the Huskers and will probably do the same to the Hoosiers. The gap is large between them and probably not everyone named Ohio State and Penn State. And compared with those teams, I wonder if Michigan has created and is maintaining separation.

@SuperMario is going to laugh, but as I see it, the Buckeyes have by far the biggest gap between their ceiling and their floor.

Their floor is frankly pretty low. If the pick-6 was dropped they'd have trailed Maryland 10-3 at the half.

The have serious problems with short yardage situations. As a fan I almost feel more confident when facing third or fourth at 10 than when facing third or fourth and two.

They have red zone issues for the same reason.

OTOH, the defense is stout and the passing offense has looked scary good here and there.

@medinabuckeye1 lol. I have no idea how I didn’t see this until today but it genuinely made me laugh. Most of my buddies are OsU fans and we have all agreed we can’t quite figure them out. I do think their ceiling is very high. I think key to success is their offensive line. When McCord has time and can be stationary in the pocket, they’re dangerous. I think him throwing on the run is a weakness.

I also really don’t understanding their play calling in the red zone inside the 10. I don’t know why they arent letting Stover and Marvin just dominate the opposition ever time.