2024 B1G Power Rankings - Week 12

Week 12 has wrapped in the B1G.   Oregon barely survived in Madison and USC beat Nebraska in a matchup of once promising teams.  

A check-in on bowl eligibility is below.  Washington and Rutgers got their sixth win.  Michigan hosts Northwestern in this week, with a chance to get there.  Wisconsin and Nebraska square off, both at 5-5, so it's safe to say that one of them will get to six wins!  USC and UCLA square off in a big game for bowl eligibility.  Michigan State should get to five wins this week, as they host Purdue.  

Going Bowling: Oregon, Indiana, Penn State, Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, Rutgers

5 wins: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan, USC

4 wins: Michigan State, Maryland, Northwestern, UCLA

No Bowling: Purdue

The week 13 slate features eight conference matchups.  Oregon and Washington are off this week.  Michigan State hosts Purdue on Friday night.  

The week 12 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 (11-0) - The Ducks survived in Madison on Saturday night.  They trailed 13-6 going in to the 4th and rallied with a Jordan James touchdown run and a field goal with 2:36 remaining to escape victorious.  Great teams are challenged and come out ahead.  They get a week off before facing Washington in the season finale.  They've clinched a spot in Indy.  They are a strong number one in the country.  

2. Indiana (10-0) - The Hoosiers were off in preparation for a top five battle in Columbus.  Coach Cignetti signed an eight year extension to remain in Bloomington.  Hopefully it works out better than the last coach that committed to a big extension the week before coming to Columbus.  Mel Tucker was out at Michigan State less than two years later.  A good, competitive game and they can punch their ticket to the playoff, no matter what the SEC says.

3. Ohio State (9-1) - Wrigley was a great time.  Now undefeated Indiana comes to town.  The Bucks will be without starting center Seth McLaughlin, who is out for the season with a torn Achilles.  It's a blow to an already banged up offensive line.  The opposing defensive lines will only get better over the next six games.  

4. Penn State (9-1) - The Lions did what they should do against Purdue.  They have a tricky game at Minnesota this week.  Their may not be any margin for a loss.  

5. Illinois (7-3) - The Illini soundly beat Michigan State to continue and impressive season.  They're back in the rankings.  They travel to Rutgers this week in a game that have bowl game placement implications.

6. Iowa (6-4) - The Hawkeyes were off and travel to Maryland this week.

7. Minnesota (6-4) - The Gophers were off and host Penn State this week, looking for an upset.

8. Wisconsin (5-5) - The Badgers blew another Saturday night lead in Madison, this time to the #1 ranked Oregon Ducks.  They mustered only 226 yards of offense and the the Phil Longo experiment is over in for Luke Fickell.  The new look pass happy offense struggled in two seasons.  The Badgers battle Nebraska on Saturday, with both teams looking for that elusive sixth win. 

9. Washington (6-5) - The Huskies beat UCLA on Friday night, improving to 6-0 at home.  They are off this week before traveling to #1 Oregon.

10. Michigan (5-5) - The Wolverines were off and host Northwestern this week, looking for bowl eligibility.   

11. Rutgers (6-4) - They handled business at Maryland to become bowl eligible.  It's been a good recovery after losing four in a row.  They host Illinois this week

12. USC (5-5) - The Trojans were off and host Nebraska this week.  Quarterback Miller Moss has been benched, in favor of UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava.  It's a "spark off" in LA this weekend!

13. UCLA (4-6) - The Bruins three game losing streak came to end as they lost at Washington.  They host USC this week in the Crosstown Showdown rivalry.  They are looking to win in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2014.  

14. Nebraska (5-5) - They Huskers lost at USC.  The offense looked a little better, but that's now four losses in a row and bowl eligibility is up in the air.  They host Wisconsin this week.

15. Michigan State (4-6) - The Spartans were thumped at Illinois. A once promising season has ran in to some road blocks.  They host Purdue this week looking to get back in the win column. 

16. Maryland (4-6) - The Terps lost at home to Rutgers.  They host Iowa this weekend.

17. Northwestern (4-6) - The Wildcats were thumped at Wrigley.  They travel to Michigan this week with slim hopes of a bowl birth. 

18. Purdue (1-9) - The Boilermakers were pounded again for their 9th loss of the season.  They're a really bad football team, but to their credit, they have now lost to the #1, #2, #4, and #6 teams in the country, with #5 on deck in week 14.  Granted it was by a combined 195-17 combined score.