NOTE, this is NOT my ranking, this is just my now usual weekly comparison of how the teams have done relative to their opponents' other opponents.
Notes:
For the four teams that have played seven games (IU, PSU, RU, IA), their opponents are simply ranked 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 based on raw score differential. Example, IU:
- tOSU did the best against them, winning by a TD so the Buckeyes get a 1.00
- MSU did the worst against them, losing 24-0 so the Spartans get a 7.00
For the six teams that have played six games (MSU, M, NU, IL, UNL, PU), their opponents are ranked 1.5-2.5-3.5-4.5-5.5-6.5 based on raw score differential. Example, MSU:
- Iowa did the best against them, winning by 42 so the Hawkeyes get a 1.50
- Northwestern did the worst against them, losing by 9 so the Wildcats get a 6.5
These rankings are the average of the possibilities IF the team in question had played seven rather than six games.
For the two teams that have played five games (tOSU, MN), their opponents are ranked 2-3-4-5-6 based on raw score differential. Example, tOSU:
- Indiana did the best against them, losing by a TD so the Hoosiers get a 2.00
- MSU did the worst against them, losing by 40 so the Spartans get a 6.00
These rankings are the average of the possibilities IF the team in question had played seven rather than five games.
For the two teams that have played four games (UW, UMD), their opponents are ranked 2.5-3.5-4.5-5.5 based on raw score differential. Example, UW:
- Northwestern did the best against them, winning by 10 so the Wildcats get a 2.5
- Michigan and Illinois tied for worst against them so the Wolverines and Illini get 5.00 each
For all of the above:
- OT games are considered closer than games decided in regulation so winning by 1 in regulation is a bigger win than winning by 8 in OT.
- Ties are split between the two teams. Ie, Michigan and Illinois tied for 3rd/4th out of four against Wisconsin. Third should get a 4.5 and fourth should get a 5.5 so those are averaged and both teams get a 5.00
Averages based on that:
Average of 1.80:
- Ohio State: First of seven against IU and RU (1.00), first of six against UNL (1.50), second of six against MSU (2.50), third of seven against PSU (3.00).
Average of 2.79:
- Iowa: First of seven against PSU (1.00), first of six against MSU (1.50), second of six against NU (2.50), third of six against IL and UNL (3.50), fifth of six against PU (5.5).
Average of 2.88:
- Wisconsin: First of six against IL and M (1.50), third of seven against IU (3.00), fifth of six against NU (5.5).
Average of 3.21:
- Indiana: First of five against tOSU (2.00), second of six against M (2.50), tied for 2nd/3rd of seven against RU (2.5), second of four against UW and UMD (3.5), third of six against MSU (3.5).
Average of 3.50:
- Northwestern: Second of seven against IA (2.0), first of four against UW and UMD (2.5), tied for 2nd/3rd of six against PU (3.0), fourth of six against UNL (4.5), sixth of six against MSU (6.5).
Average of 4.00:
- Penn State: Second of seven against IU (2.0), tied for 2nd/3rd of seven against RU (2.5), second of five against tOSU (3.0), third of six against M (3.5), fourth of four against UMD (5.5), fifth of six against UNL (5.5).
Average of 4.08:
- Nebraska: First of six against PU (1.5), third of seven against IA (3.0), fourth of seven against PSU (4.0), fourth of six against NU (4.5), fourth of five against tOSU (5.0), sixth of six against IL (6.5).
Average of 4.25:
- Maryland: Second of seven against PSU (2.0), third of five against MN (4.0), tied for 4th/5th of seven against IU (4.5), sixth of six against NU (6.5).
Average of 4.42:
- Purdue: First of seven against IA (1.0), third of six against NU (3.5), fourth of six against IL (4.5), fourth of five against MN (5.0), sixth of seven against RU (6.0), sixth of six against UNL (6.5).
Average of 4.60:
- Minnesota: Second of six against IL (2.5), third of four against UMD (4.5), fourth of six against PU (4.5), fifth of seven against IA (5.0), sixth of six against M (6.5).
Average of 4.67:
- Illinois: Second of six against UNL (2.5), fourth of seven against IA and RU (4.0), tied for 3rd/4th of four against UW (5.0), fifth of five against MN (6.0), sixth of six against PU (6.5).
Average of 4.86:
- Rutgers: Tied for 2nd/3rd of six against PU (3.0), third of five against tOSU (4.0), tied for 4th/5th of seven against IU (4.5), fourth of six against MSU (4.5), fifth of six against IL and M (5.5), seventh of seven against PSU (7.0).
Average of 5.08:
- Michigan: Second of five against MN (3.0), tied for 3rd/4th of four against UW (5.0), fifth of seven against RU (5.0), fifth of six against MSU (5.5), sixth of seven against IU and PSU (6.0).
Average of 5.50:
- Michigan State: First of six against NU (1.5), fourth of six against M (4.5), fifth of five against tOSU (6.0), seventh of seven against IU, IA, and RU (7.0).
So if we ranked by this it would be:
- 1.80 Ohio State
- 2.79 Iowa
- 2.88 Wisconsin
- 3.21 Indiana
- 3.50 Northwestern
- 4.00 Penn State
- 4.08 Nebraska
- 4.25 Maryland
- 4.42 Purdue
- 4.60 Minnesota
- 4.67 Illinois
- 4.86 Rutgers
- 5.08 Michigan
- 5.50 Michigan State