Week 10 has wrapped in the B1G. Ohio State went to Happy Valley, pulled up their big boy britches, and came away with a victory won in the trenches. The final few minutes were a thing of beauty, and why Ohio State is once again the favorites to win the national championship. After stopping Penn State on four plays from inside the two-yard line, the Bucks took control at the one, with 5:13 remaining. 11 rushes, 58 yards, and Penn State never saw the ball again. 4 yards, 9 yards, 6 yards, 15 yards, 6 yards, 2 yards, 3 yards, 7 yards, 0 yards, 7 yards, kneel. 58 yards, 4 first downs, game over.
It actually reminded me of the 2007 Ohio State - Illinois game. Trailing 28-21, Todd Boeckman threw an interception with 8:09 remaining. Ok, get a stop and try again. Illinois held the ball for the final 8:09, 16 plays, 5 first downs, and the Bucks never got another chance. The Juice Williams game.
A check-in on bowl eligibility is below. Iowa and Minnesota won to get to six wins. Nebraska lost their third in a row and may be stuck on five wins. In 2023 they were 5-3 and never got that sixth win. This year they were 5-1. With USC, Wisconsin, and Iowa remaining, this years slide may be even worse.
Going Bowling: Oregon, Indiana, Penn State, Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota
5 wins: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan, Washington
4 wins: Michigan State, Maryland, USC, Rutgers, Northwestern
3 wins: UCLA
No Bowling: Purdue
The week 11 slate features only six conference matchups. Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, USC, and Wisconsin are all off this week. Iowa plays at UCLA on Friday night, leaving only five games on Saturday. The big game of the week is in Bloomington as the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers host defending national champion* Michigan. The Hoosiers look to win 10 games for the first time in program history!
The week 10 B1G Power Rankings are below. These are based strictly on on-field performance relative to the competition and is not a projection of things to come.
1. Oregon (9-0) - The Ducks handled a bad Michigan team in Ann Arbor. They host Maryland this week, looking to improve to 10-0.
2. Indiana (9-0) - The Hoosiers trailed 10-0 to Michigan State, their first deficit of the season. They scored 47 unanswered to win going away. Kurtis Rourke was back and looked good. They host Michigan this week, looking to get to 10 wins for the first time in program history.
3. Ohio State (7-1) - The Bucks went to Happy Valley and came away with a 20-13 win. They trailed 10-0 out of the gate after a Will Howard pick six. He's good for a mess up or two every game. They scored on their next two drives and didn't look back, winning their eighth in a row over Penn State. They Bucks host Purdue this week in a Big Noon banger.
4. Penn State (7-1) - The Lions fell to Ohio State for the eighth straight season. Good news is that after their lose their 9th in a row next season, the Bucks are off the schedule in 2026 and 2027.
5. Iowa (6-3) - The Hawkeyes hosted Wisconsin and scored 40 points for the fourth time this season. The quarterback switch to Brendon Sullivan has been dividends thus far. They travel to UCLA on Friday night.
6. Minnesota (6-3) - The Gophers are still a wagon, after being Illinois and getting to six wins. They overcame a 4th quarter deficit, winning their fourth game in a row. They travel to Rutgers this week.
7. Illinois (6-3) - The Illini fell to an upstart Minnesota team. They are off this week, before finishing with Michigan State, Rutgers, and Northwestern.
8. Wisconsin (5-4) - The Badgers were clobbered by Iowa to drop their second game in a row. There has been signs of improvement in Luke Fickell's second year, but the results aren't that reflective. They are off this week before traveling to Oregon.
9. Washington (5-4) - The Huskies beat USC in Seattle to get their fifth win. They scored an early 4th quarter touchdown and held on for the victory. The season has been a success thus far under first year coach Jedd Fisch. They travel to Penn State in the Whiteout game this week.
10. Michigan (5-4) - The Wolverines were once again horrible, this time losing at home to Oregon. Things got away from them in the 2nd quarter and Oregon just sat on the ball in the 2nd half. They travel to Indiana this weekend, looking to upset the undefeated Hoosiers.
11. Nebraska (5-4) - The Huskers are down bad, losing at home to a bad UCLA team. Matt Rhule isn't making the expected strides in his second season. They trailed by 20 in the 3rd quarter. That is unacceptable at home. They are off this week and will look to regroup for the final stretch, looking for that elusive sixth win.
12. Michigan State (4-5) - The Spartans were up 10-0 early to Indiana, before falling 47-10 to the undefeated Hoosiers. Aiden Chiles threw another two picks and the Spartans rushed for -36 yards. That's not going to cut it. They are off this week and travel to Illinois next week.
13. Maryland (4-4) - The Terrapins were off and travel to Oregon this week.
14. USC (4-5) - The Trojans lost to Washington. A once promising season has turned in to a disaster for Lincoln Riley. They are winless on the road in the B1G. They are off this week and host Nebraska next week.
15. Rutgers (4-4) - They were off and host Minnesota this week.
16. Northwestern (4-5) - The Wildcats beat Purdue in an overtime thriller. They are off this week and host Ohio State at Wrigley Field next week.
17. UCLA (3-5) - The Bruins went to Lincoln and beat a skidding Nebraska team. It was their second win in a row following a five game losing streak. They look to make it three in a row against Iowa on Friday night.
18. Purdue (1-7) - The Boilermakers lost to Northwestern in overtime at home, in probably their only chance for a B1G win. They travel to Columbus this weekend.
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