CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: LittlePig on October 08, 2023, 06:02:59 AM
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1. Penn St
2. MICH - 2 Totally dominating victories in a row over Big Ten foes on the road.
3. Ohio St - looking vulnerable against tough MD team, but OSU dominates 4Q. Victory over ND does not look so great now after ND loses to Lou.
4. Wisc - so far has dominated PUR and Rut in conference. Loss to Wash St. looks worse after WSU loses to UCLA.
5. MD - played Ohio St close for 3Q. This is a good team that blew out MSU and Ind.
6. Iowa - New Iowa QB looks terrible but Iowa still finds ways to win with defense. Iowa seems to beat everybody with that similar 20-14 score.
7. Rut - Good team but just can"t compete with the Big Boys.
Ummm... This is the point where I usually skip to the bottom and work my way back up.
8. Pur - dominated by Wisc and just not good enough to beat Iowa. Well they dominated ILL at least.
9. MSU - team has been in disarray and needs to stop turning the ball over.
10. IND - tough team to slot because Ind has not played any of the bottom teams. IND loss to Lou looks better now after Lou beats ND. But Ind got blown out by MD.
11. NW - WOW, they looked awful against Howard. Well, they beat Minn at least.
12. Minn - wow, they looked awful against Mich. Well, they beat Neb at least
13. Neb - Wow, they looked awful against Mich. Well, they beat ILL at least
14. ILL - I have had Illini at bottom for the last 3 weeks now, but this is the first week that I actually feel that I may be right
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1. Penn St
2. MICH - 2 Totally dominating victories in a row over Big Ten foes on the road.
3. Ohio St - looking vulnerable against tough MD team, but OSU dominates 4Q. Victory over ND does not look so great now after ND loses to Lou.
4. Wisc - so far has dominated PUR and Rut in conference. Loss to Wash St. looks worse after WSU loses to UCLA.
5. MD - played Ohio St close for 3Q. This is a good team that blew out MSU and Ind.
6. Iowa - New Iowa QB looks terrible but Iowa still finds ways to win with defense. Iowa seems to beat everybody with that similar 20-14 score.
7. Rut - Good team but just can"t compete with the Big Boys.
Ummm... This is the point where I usually skip to the bottom and work my way back up.
8. Pur - dominated by Wisc and just not good enough to beat Iowa. Well they dominated ILL at least.
9. MSU - team has been in disarray and needs to stop turning the ball over.
10. IND - tough team to slot because Ind has not played any of the bottom teams. IND loss to Lou looks better now after Lou beats ND. But Ind got blown out by MD.
11. NW - WOW, they looked awful against Howard. Well, they beat Minn at least.
12. Minn - wow, they looked awful against Mich. Well, they beat Neb at least
13. Neb - Wow, they looked awful against Mich. Well, they beat ILL at least
14. ILL - I have had Illini at bottom for the last 3 weeks now, but this is the first week that I actually feel that I may be right
While your order makes sense and is close to my opinion- you reasoning is confusing.
Ohio State’s win over ND doesn’t look so good now? You do realize that Michigan has yet to play a team that could compete with ND’s practice squad, let alone in that type of hostile environment? Could probably say the same about PSU. Remember, Notre Dame just played three consecutive high quality opponents, and the last two of those were away games in very tough environments.
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Now that we are 5-6 games in, a little bit of clarity:
1. Michigan- best team in the Big by a meaty margin. Best QB, best defense, best RBs..on and on. Clearly one of the best 1 or 2 teams in the country. Only team in the Big that can beat Michigan, is Michigan.
GAP
2. Penn State- solid all around. Great defense, excellent QB and RBs. If they get better- could be playoff caliber.
Small gap
3. Ohio State- good team- tough out for any team. Solid defense, elite WRs, but offensive line- while good at pass blocking, not improving at run blocking
which could be a fatal flaw against CFP level teams. Could improve and be CFP level
4. Maryland.- solid.
5. Wisconsin- solid but could improve
6. ( gets jumbled here) Iowa
7. Rutgers
8. Purdue
9. Minnesota
10. Nebraska
11. Indiana
12. MSU
13. Northwestern
14. Illinois
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1. Penn State
2. Michigan
3. Ohio State
4. Maryland
5. Wisconsin
6. Rutgers
7. Iowa
8. Purdue
9. Michigan State
10. Nebraska
11. Minnesota
12. Indiana
13. Northwestern
14. Illinois
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While your order makes sense and is close to my opinion- you reasoning is confusing.
Ohio State’s win over ND doesn’t look so good now? You do realize that Michigan has yet to play a team that could compete with ND’s practice squad, let alone in that type of hostile environment? Could probably say the same about PSU. Remember, Notre Dame just played three consecutive high quality opponents, and the last two of those were away games in very tough environments.
OK, I probably put too much emphasis on ND losing in my comments. The real reason I put OSU 3rd is there are other signs OSU may be vulnerable. The OSU offense has not looked like OSU offenses in recent years. Struggling against Indiana and ND and struggling early against MD. Now MD and ND are good teams, but that did not stop OSU in the past. Oh well in 2 weeks we will get the OSU-PSU game and that will be OSU's chance to prove me right or prove me wrong.
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OK, I probably put too much emphasis on ND losing in my comments. The real reason I put OSU 3rd is there are other signs OSU may be vulnerable. The OSU offense has not looked like OSU offenses in recent years. Struggling against Indiana and ND and struggling early against MD. Now MD and ND are good teams, but that did not stop OSU in the past. Oh well in 2 weeks we will get the OSU-PSU game and that will be OSU's chance to prove me right or prove me wrong.
I actually think you are correct. Their inability to consistently run. The football will be their fatal flaw against good teams like Penn State and Michigan.
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Well HB stole my thunder....and saved me some typing thanx Brutha. I'm on board with his top 3 takes and in fact purloined them
Now that we are 5-6 games in, a little bit of clarity:
1. Michigan- best team in the Big by a meaty margin. Best QB, best defense, best RBs..on and on. Clearly one of the best 1 or 2 teams in the country. Only team in the Big that can beat Michigan, is Michigan.I will add I just hope they're blowing their wad early
GAP
2. Penn State- solid all around. Great defense, excellent QB and RBs. If they get better- could be playoff caliber.
Small gap
3. Ohio State- good team- tough out for any team. Solid defense, elite WRs, but offensive line- while good at pass blocking, not improving at run blocking. McCord had a great 2nd half when it counted
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4. Badgers coming and making less mistakes
5.Terps,stupid mistakes and not capitalizing is the difference here with UW
6. Iowa w/o Cade for perhaps the rest of the season played well and lands here for a week
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Tough to say below this who ever hasn't embarrassed themselves week to week i suppose
7.Rutgers
8.Goophs
9.Boilers
10.Hoosiers
11.MSU
12.NU
13.UNL
14.Illini
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1. Michigan - they are just starting to get the secondary healthy and OL figured out. Will Johnson = best CB in America. Looks like finally just starting to hit stride. JJ has been basically perfect in 5 of 6 games- that Bowling Green one still makes absolutely no sense…chalk it up to just a bad day at the office? It happens.
2. Ohio State - McCord took another step forward imo. OL needs to get better. Defense is top notch.
3. Penn State - OL looks a bit shaky after losing 2 starters, Allar looks like an up and down rookie- major upside and talent shines through at times but not consistent yet- they struggle to run the ball consistently and struggle manufacturing explosive play and the WRs might be an issue.
GAP
4. Wisconsin - starting to round into form. Real test is next week.
5. Maryland - here by default.
6. Iowa - defense is legit, offense is atrocious.
7. Rutgers - here by default. Man this conference sucks if they are a top half team.
8. Purdue - better team than the record indicates imo.
9. Michigan State - here by default
10. Minnesota - meh
11. Nebraska - bleh
12. Indiana - stinks
13. Illinois - sucks
14. Northwestern - sucks
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I actually think you are correct. Their inability to consistently run. The football will be their fatal flaw against good teams like Penn State and Michigan.
I hate that they can't run but this is made MUCH worse by Day's insistence on proving that they can. They waste way too many plays trying to prove they are tough by running smash-mouth plays with a team that sucks at smash-mouth football. The O-line is bad at run blocking but appears to be at least decent at pass blocking.
Balance is all well and good but we just can't run so we'd be better off using nearly all of our plays to throw to our plethora of NFL pass catchers.
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1. Ohio State
2. Penn State
3. Michigan
4. Wisconsin
5. Maryland
6. Iowa
7. Rutgers
8. Minnesota
9. Nebraska
10. Purdue
11. Michigan State
12. Illinois
13. Northwestern
14. Indiana
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I hate that they can't run but this is made MUCH worse by Day's insistence on proving that they can. They waste way too many plays trying to prove they are tough by running smash-mouth plays with a team that sucks at smash-mouth football. The O-line is bad at run blocking but appears to be at least decent at pass blocking.
Balance is all well and good but we just can't run so we'd be better off using nearly all of our plays to throw to our plethora of NFL pass catchers.
It is frustrating. Obviously his thinking is that if you just line up and pass every play, the defensive line will just Polaris back and pressure the quarterback all day. You need to blend some run in there to make them honest and have to defend it. Plus it wears them down.
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It is frustrating. Obviously his thinking is that if you just line up and pass every play, the defensive line will just Polaris back and pressure the quarterback all day. You need to blend some run in there to make them honest and have to defend it. Plus it wears them down.
I understand this line of thinking but I have two answers:
If you just plain suck at smash-mouth football then running smash-mouth football is not a worthwhile alternative.
There are alternatives specifically designed to counter the defenses you (and apparently Day) are concerned about. You can run screens and draws that effectively counter all out blitzes. Elements of Bill Walsh's West Coast and Mike Leach's offenses effectively use short high percentage passes aa substitutes for a running game.
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I understand this line of thinking but I have two answers:
If you just plain suck at smash-mouth football then running smash-mouth football is not a worthwhile alternative.
There are alternatives specifically designed to counter the defenses you (and apparently Day) are concerned about. You can run screens and draws that effectively counter all out blitzes. Elements of Bill Walsh's West Coast and Mike Leach's offenses effectively use short high percentage passes aa substitutes for a running game.
I didn’t say I agree with his thinking.
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Every time I try to do these I get to Rutgers and then give up
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Three top teams, three pretty decent teams, and then a muddle.
This isn't that unusual of course, though the top teams this year APPEAR to be really good.
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in 6 games Michigan's first string defense (which was missing 2-3 starters in the secondary for the first half/half plus of the season btw):
has scored more TDs (3) than they've given up (2), opponent offenses have scored 23 total points against Michigan's first string defense, meanwhile Michigan's first string defense has scored 21 points. Michigan's first string defense has 3 shut out games- pitching a 50% shutout rate (ECU, UNLV, and NEB), and no opponent has run a play inside their 10 yard line.
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in 6 games Michigan's first string defense (which was missing 2-3 starters in the secondary for the first half/half plus of the season btw):
has scored more TDs (3) than they've given up (2), opponent offenses have scored 23 total points against Michigan's first string defense, meanwhile Michigan's first string defense has scored 21 points. Michigan's first string defense has 3 shut out games- pitching a 50% shutout rate (ECU, UNLV, and NEB), and no opponent has run a play inside their 10 yard line.
Impressive. But I can only give them credit based on the eye test. They’ve only played two teams with a winning record. UNLV and Rutgers
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Dominating inferiors is what good teams do, more consistently than decent teams.
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Dominating inferiors is what good teams do, more consistently than decent teams.
That’s what I said basically. Eye test. Shitty opponents But they won’t even be tested until Penn State/ so stats aren’t all that.
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Yup. I agree about getting overly worked up over stats against poor teams, unless they are worrisome.
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Maybe I'm wrong, but I see a Grand Canyon sized gap between the Big Three and the other 11.
As I see it:
- Maryland is arguably playing the best out of the other 11.
- Ohio State is playing the worst of the Big Three.
- On Saturday Maryland had a good plan and played very well.
- On Saturday Ohio State wasted a substantial portion of the game trying to pound square pegs into round holes and played like garbage for the entire first half.
- In spite of the above, Ohio State ended up winning by 20 points, matching what I saw as the line.
Based on the above, there are only three games relevant to the B1G Championship this season and the official "B1GCG" isn't one of them. The relevant games are:
- 10/21 Penn State at Ohio State at noon on Fox
- Veteran's Day Michigan at Penn State at noon on Fox
- 11/25 Ohio State at Michigan at noon on Fox
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I see the big 3
then a significant gap
then Maryland and Wisconsin
then a significant gap
then crap
2 questions.......... who's the best of the top 3?
are Maryland and/or Wisconsin much better than the rest?
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(https://i.imgur.com/S6L5jUU.png)
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Every time I try to do these I get to Rutgers and then give up
Sound like Jim Delany putting together a list of possible expansion targets
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Updated SOR/SP+ playoff
- #1 Oklahoma vs. #4 Georgia
- #2 OHIO STATE vs. #3 Texas
And under the 12 team format
- #12 James Madison at #5 Texas; winner vs. #4 Florida State
- #11 PENN STATE at #6 Alabama; winner vs. #3 Georgia
- #10 Louisville at #7 Washington; winner vs. #2 OHIO STATE
- #9 MICHIGAN at #8 Oregon; winner vs. #1 Oklahoma
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Last week in parenthesis
- PENN STATE (1) - put #1 - #3 in a hat, so for this week, I won't change
- OHIO STATE (2) - put #1 - #3 in a hat, so for this week, I won't change
- MICHIGAN (3) - put #1 - #3 in a hat, so for this week, I won't change
- MARYLAND (4) - not punishing them for losing a game in Columbus where they pushed them
- WISCONSIN (5) - way to take care of business
- IOWA (6) - I honestly think Kirk would rather go out like this. Getting outgained, and going 9-3 to the Outback Bowl
- RUTGERS (7) - nobody behind them looked any better
- NEBRASKA (11) - I mean they were the one team that earned a win out of the garbage bottom half
- PURDUE (8) - got Iowad to death
- MINNESOTA (9) - really felt like this program had momentum in 2019, now feels like another coach who isn't Glen Mason
- MICHIGAN STATE (12) - bye week
- ILLINOIS (10) - no Michigan or OSU, and you get PSU at home, and this is what you are doing with it?
- NORTHWESTERN (13) - only because Indiana hasn't done anything to move up, but still pretty confident this is the worst team, 3 point home win over Howard?
- INDIANA (14) - at least they got a bye week to get healthy because Michigan pounds them into the ground
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(https://i.imgur.com/S6L5jUU.png)
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.
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1. Michigan - Looks like the best in the B1G, but their schedule is so pathetic you can throw any stats they have out the window.
2. Ohio State - ND win doesn't look so good now, but the win over MD may be much better than it seems.
3. Penn State - May have the best non conference win over WVU, and may have the best conference win over Iowa. Both IA and WVU would otherwise be undefeated. However, the wide receiver play has been poor, explosive plays are almost non-existent, and the O-Line has taken some big injury hits.
4. Wisconsin - Rutgers is a quality win, maybe?
5. Maryland - Finally played a team with a pulse, hung with them for awhile before running out of steam in the 4th Q. The turning point? OSU had 2nd and 33 and converted, then had 1st and 25 2 plays later and converted that as well. I'm thinking OSU may be a better team when they are forced to use their wide receivers...
6. Iowa - A really good punter.
7. Rutgers - I kinda felt like Rutgers missed some opportunities against Wisconsin, I don't see how I can drop them any lower...
8. Indiana - ??? 2 losses to undefeated teams (Louisville and OSU), and 1 loss to MD. Played OSU and Louisville close. It doesn't get easier for them, as they have Michigan this week.
9. Purdue (I have no idea what I'm doing from here on down)
10. Northwestern - Looks like crap, but beat Minnesota
11. Minnesota - Looks like crap but beat Nebraska
12. Nebraska - Looks like crap but beat Illinois
13. Illinois - Looks like crap
14. Michigan State - Looks like crap
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5. Maryland - Finally played a team with a pulse, hung with them for awhile before running out of steam in the 4th Q. The turning point? OSU had 2nd and 33 and converted, then had 1st and 25 2 plays later and converted that as well. I'm thinking OSU may be a better team when they are forced to use their wide receivers...
They are, and it is asinine that they have to be forced to do it.
I think Michigan is the best team in the league, but:
- Would Michigan convert a 2nd and 33?
- Would Michigan convert at 1st and 25?
In both cases, probably not.
Ohio State's rushing offense is pathetic. Their passing offense can be phenomenal, when they use it.
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@SuperMario (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1596) 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.
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- Michigan - Looking like the team to beat so far, but have yet to play a team with a pulse.
- Penn State - Showing some growing pains.
- Ohio State - I think I could put a couple of HS teams O-lines up as good a this O-Line. If they cannot get that fixed, they will not beat PSU or ttun.
- Maryland - Played a good game against tOSU. Curious if they are that good or tOSU is simply slumping.
- Wisconsin - Did what they had to do.
- Rutgers - Played the Badgers tough.
- Iowa - Iowa being Iowa.
- Purdue - Will they play Spoilermakers at home this year? We'll find out Sat.
- Nebraska - Beat Ill. No great feat for anyone else, but with this team, they'll take it.
- Minnesota - Who knows.
- Michigan State - Who knows.
- Indiana - Who knows.
- Northwestern - Better than Ill.
- Illinois - Sucks to be them.
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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
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I would extend that to 7
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I would extend that to 7
think you're probably right....seems like the B1G is god awful this year.
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I'd make it 9
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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
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agreed
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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.
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Massey composite rankings - 87 rankings (last week in parenthesis)
- MICHIGAN (3)
- OHIO STATE (4)
- Oklahoma (6)
- PENN STATE (2)
- Texas (1)
- Georgia (9)
- Washington (5)
- Oregon (7)
- Alabama (8)
- Florida State (10)
- North Carolina (17)
- Ole Miss (15)
- Louisville (25)
- USC (12)
- Notre Dame (11)
- Oregon State (16)
- WISCONSIN (24)
- UCLA (-)
- Utah (20)
- Duke (22)
- Washington State (14)
- LSU (-)
- Texas A&M (18)
- Tennessee (-)
- IOWA (-)
- 27. Maryland (23)
- 43. Rutgers (38)
- 56. Minnesota (52)
- 65. Nebraska (80)
- 74. Purdue (58)
- 77. Michigan State (74)
- 80. Northwestern (78)
- 86. Illinois (77)
- 89. Indiana (91)
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@SuperMario (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1596) 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 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1547) 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.
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I'd make it 9
yup