We have reached the final rankings of the 2017 regular season. Yay? Week 13 brought a slight moving of teams, but for the most part the teams on the top were almost certain to stay near the top and the teams at the bottom were almost certain to stay at the bottom.
We will have one last post-bowl game rankings, but expect the bottom of the rankings to remain the same...I’m almost certain.
As a reminder I rank the teams both 1-7 in their respective divisions, and then 1-14 overall in the Big Ten.
Here are my Week 12 Big Ten Football Power Rankings:
Big Ten East:
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes took care of Michigan and will move on to the Big Ten Championship game. They are the only thing standing between Wisconsin and the College Football Playoff. Lets hope Paul Christ doesn’t hire any cameramen to head to Indy...
2. Michigan State Spartans
Sparty cruised to an easy win over Rutgers and now awaits a probably trip to a Florida New Years Day Bowl. Whee!
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State took out any aggression they may have had from the season on Maryland 66-3. The Nittany Lions will get a NY6 bowl over the Spartans, but Michigan Sate still ranks higher here.
4. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan couldn’t pull the upset over the Buckeyes cameraman and all. I’m almost certain Harbaugh didn’t hire him. Sounds like Michigan is headed to the Outback Bowl in Orlando for the rematch against South Carolina. Guessing Jadeveon Clowney won’t kill anyone this time.
5. Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana just couldn’t squeak past Purdue to win the Old Oaken Bucket and make a bowl game. At least you have basketball Hoosier fans. Oh...oh really? Oof...
6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Enjoy the Winter. Wait...that’s not quite right...
7. Maryland Terrapins
I can’t believe we lost to this team...
Big Ten West
1. Wisconsin Badgers
Well...here we are. Yuck.
2. Northwestern Wildcats
A decent season for the Wildcats. And they probably get stuck playing in a bowl in a baseball stadium game in a cold weather location again. I’m almost certain. Crappy.
3. Purdue Boilermakers
Jeff Brohm has the Boilers back in a bowl game. Going to be really funny when Purdue is playing Stanford in Santa Clara with an interim coach though. I’m almost certain that will happen.
4. Iowa Hawkeyes
Nice win—but we all know doing that against Nebraska doesn’t count. Enjoy Nashville.
5. Minnesota Golden Gophers
At least we still have basketball. Wait....yeah...we really do!!!
6. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Bye Bye Mike. It was fun while it lasted. Now if somehow you can screw up the hiring of Scott Frost somehow....it would be really great.
7. Illinois Fighting Illini
See you next fall Lovie!
Big Ten Teams Ranked 1-14
- Wisconsin Badgers/Ohio State Buckeyes ( #1/#2) Depending on B1G Champ Game
- Ohio State Buckeyes/Wisconsin Badgers(#2)
- Michigan State Spartans (#3)
- Penn State Nittany Lions (#4)
- Northwestern Wildcats (#5)
- Michigan Wolverines (#6)
- Purdue Boilermakers (#7)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (#8)
- Indiana Hoosiers (#9)
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights (#10)
- Minnesota Gophers (#11)
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (#13)
- Maryland Terrapins (#12)
- Illinois Fighting Illini (#14)
As always, if you disagree, let me know in the comments.