Buckeye - Bulldog rematch coming up?

A lot has happened since the Buckeyes won in Ann Arbor.

The Indiana Hoosiers won the B1G for the first time since 1967 and are facing off against Alabama in Pasadena.

It was a crazy night in Indianapolis, as the very pro-Indiana crowd fueled the Hoosiers to victory over Ohio State for the first time since 1988.  

Sure I was furious at Ryan Day's late game decision making, not having a kicker, and the offensive line playing their worst game of the season, but I walked out of the building feeling more happy for the Indiana program than upset about the Buckeyes losing.  Maybe it's because the Buckeyes finally beat Michigan the week before or the fact that the game doesn't have any bearing on the national title chances.

I have not experienced fans that happy since maybe the Ohio State - Alabama Sugar Bowl.  We're so spoiled as Buckeye fans that it takes program-altering games to experience that much joy.  I saw many grown men sobbing and lots of close embraces.  Until this recent two year peak, Indiana was the losingest team in college football history. 

Michigan has fired a coach, the coach has been arrested, and they hired a 66-year old who had been at Utah for 30 years!  Making fun of Sherrone Moore ended up getting a little sad after a couple days, as he was stalking a former lover and threatening to kill himself with a butter knife.  After a laughable coaching search, they ended up hiring Utah legend Kyle Whittingham.  Unfortunately, he's not a "Michigan Man" and is exactly what they need to clean up the mess up north.  

Though, he did lie in his opening presser when he said that he remembered watchin the OSU-Michigan game when he was seven.  This issue there is that he was born November 21st, 1959 and in 1966 the game was on November 19th, so he was only six, and the 1967 game was on November 25th, so he was eight, thus there was never and OSU-Michigan game when he was seven.

We're on to the playoff quarterfinals.  Ohio State faces Miami in the Cotton Bowl.  Arlington is becoming a second home for the Buckeyes as it's their third Cotton Bowl in a row.  The Hurricanes struggled against Texas A&M, winning 10-3 in a clunker of a game.  Both teams moved the ball, but faltered near the endzones, with multiple missed kicks and turnovers.  

Oregon and Texas Tech square off in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.  This game is truly a toss up as two good defenses will battle it out.

Indiana can continue their magical season by beating Alabama in the Rose Bowl.  The weather forecast doesn't look great, as rain is expected much of the day.  Will is still be the "best day ever"?

Georgia faces off against a Lane Kiffin-less Ole Miss team in the Sugar Bowl.  Look for the Bulldogs to roll on to Arizona.

Go Bucks and Happy New Year from the DFW!

 

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 14

The Buckeyes finally got it done in Ann Arbor as they overcame a shaky start to smother Michigan.  The game was sealed on the 11:56 drive that started in the 3rd quarter and didn't end until 8 minutes left in the 4th.  The 20 play drive cemented a dominant win for the Buckeyes as they ran the ball 16 times, leading to the game sealing field goal.  

Now all eyes turn to Indianapolis as the #1 Buckeyes face #2 Indiana.  This will be the first time in the 15 years of the B1G championship that two undefeated teams will square off.  Some will say it doesn't matter, and in a national championship perspective it probably doesn't, but it's going to be an awesome matchup of the top two teams in the country.  The winner will be the clear #1 and head to Pasadena.  The loser should drop no further than #3 and may even stay at #2, setting up a possible rematch for the national title in Miami.  

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (12-0) -  The Bucks vanquished the enemy to finish the season 12-0 with Indiana on deck this weekend.

2. Indiana (12-0) - The Hoosiers had no trouble with Purdue and are excited to make their first trip to the B1G title game.

3. Oregon (11-1) - The Ducks beat Washington to finish the season with the lone loss to Indiana.  They get the weekend off to rest up for the playoff.  Their assured of a home game against an overmatched auto qualifier at worst and may even end up with a bye.  

4. USC (9-3) - The Trojans beat UCLA to end the season.  They had respectable losses to Notre Dame and Oregon, but an early season loss at Illinois cost them a potential playoff spot.

5. Michigan (9-3) - The Wolverines were brought back to reality after a Buckeye thumping.  The record probably ends up looking better than they were.  The quarterback was inconsistent all season and downright horrible in The Game.  They're young and should be better in 2026.

6. Iowa (8-4) - The Hawkeyes had no issues with a beat up Nebraska team as they finished the season strong.  They lost to the four best teams they played in Iowa State, Indiana, Oregon, and USC.  They'll get a chance to square off with an SEC in a Florida Bowl.

7. Washington (8-4) - The Huskies fell to Oregon.  They lost to the three best teams they played and an embarrassing loss to Wisconsin.  It was an improvement on 2024, but still disappointing in that they weren't really competitive in their three big losses.  They'll look to improve in 2026.  

8. Illinois (8-4) - It was a disappointing season for Illinois as they were beaten handily in their four losses, including a late season loss to Wisconsin.  

9. Minnesota (7-5) - The Gophers beat Wisconsin to end the season on a high note.  

10. Nebraska (7-5) - The depleted Huskers lost to Iowa to end another season with a whimper.  After starting the season 5-1, they lost 5 of 7.  Will Dylan Raiola be back in 2026?  

11. Northwestern (6-6) - The Wildcats fell to Illinois in the final game.  They certainly overachieved as six wins is great as they open new Ryan Field next season.

12. Penn State (6-6) - The Lions beat Rutgers to become bowl eligible.  It was a disappointing season on all accounts as they lost six in a row in the middle of the season, which included firing James Franklin after their third loss.  At this point in December they are still with out a coach and signed two recruits on NSD.  They seem destined for the bottom of the league for years to come.

13. Rutgers (5-7) - The Scarlet Knights fell to Penn State and miss out on a bowl game.  They started the season 3-0, before only winning two conference games, over hapless Purdue and Maryland.  Look for more of the same in 2026.

14. Wisconsin (4-8) - Things were looking pretty bleak for the Badgers until late season wins over Washington and Illinois.  They are bringing back Luke Fickell in 2026 and things maybe look a little better as the schedule isn't as brutal.

15. UCLA (3-9) - The Bruins went on a mid season surge, winning three in a row, before losing their last five games.  They are set to hire JMU coach Bob Chesney as they look forward to 2026.

16. Michigan State (4-8) -  The Spartans beat Maryland in the final week for their first conference win, but still fired head coach Jonathan Smith.  They made the hire of the cycle as former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is coming to East Lansing.

17. Maryland (4-8) -  The Terrapins started 4-0, only to lose their last eight games.  It was a brutal season and head coach Mike Locksley is expected to return in 2026.

18. Purdue (2-10) - The Boilermakers were blasted by Indiana and finished with their second straight 0-9 B1G season, managing one more non-conference win this year.  Barry Odom 

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 13

It's The Game week.  The Buckeyes have to win.  The playoffs don't matter.  The only thing that matters is winning in Ann Arbor.  Not much else to say.

Locks for playoffs and Indy could be fun: Ohio State, Indiana

Should be good but maybe a loss and they're out: Oregon

Beat them four in a row, why not a 5th? Michigan

Three playoff spots are still looking good for the B1G.  Can Oregon survive a loss to Washington this week?  I don't think so.

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (11-0) -  The Bucks tried as little as you possibly can in a 42-9 win.  Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate were still out, Julian Sayin completed three passes to WR's, and the defense was dominant.  It all comes down to Saturday as they look for their first win against TTUN since 2019!

2. Indiana (11-0) - The Hoosiers were off and travel to hapless Purdue on Friday night.  We're this close to a #1 vs #2 matchup in Indianapolis.

3. Oregon (10-1) - The Ducks controlled the game from the start against USC.  They're probably going to need a win at Washington this Saturday to lock up a playoff birth.

4. USC (8-3) - The Trojans fell at Oregon to end any playoff hopes. They host UCLA this week.

5. Michigan (9-2) - The Wolverines handled Maryland and host Ohio State this week.  A win and they should be in the playoff.  

6. Washington (8-3) - The Huskies had no issues with UCLA and look to play spoiler as they host Oregon this week.

7. Iowa (7-4) - The Hawkeyes needed a kick at the buzzer to beat Michigan State.  The travel to Nebraska this week with bowl pecking order on the line.

8. Illinois (7-4) - The Illini lost to a bad Wisconsin team and host Northwestern this week.

9. Nebraska (7-4) - The Huskers lost big at a resurgent Penn State.  Things have come off the rails a bit since losing Dylan Raiola for the season.  They host Iowa on Friday.

10. Northwestern (6-5) - The Wildcats beat Minnesota is a Wrigley Field shootout.  They travel to Illinois this week.

11. Minnesota (6-5) - The Gophers lost at Northwestern and host Wisconsin this week.

12. Rutgers (5-6) - The Scarlet Knights were outclassed at Ohio State.  They host Penn State this week in the Eligibowl as both teams come in at 5-6.  

13. Penn State (5-6) - The Lions had a nice win over Nebraska and look to get to 6-6 this week at Rutgers.  

14. Wisconsin (4-7) - The Badgers rushed the field after beating Illinois.  I guess you always need to find something to celebrate.

15. Maryland (4-7) - The Terps lost at Penn State for their 7th straight loss.  They head to Michigan State this week, looking to end the season on a positive note.  

16. UCLA (3-8) - The Bruins were dominated by Washington and travel cross town this week to battle USC.

17. Michigan State (3-8) - The Spartans almost got their first B1G win, but blew a fourth quarter lead against Iowa.  They host Maryland on Saturday night in Detroit. Things are going so well, that they're literally giving away tickets.  

18. Purdue (2-9) - The Boilermakers were off and host Indiana this week.  11-0 vs 2-9, it should be a banger.

This Is It. Nothing Else Matters.

42-27.

45-23.

30-24.

13-10.

Four in a row.

The Buckeyes haven't won in Ann Arbor since 2019, a 29 point beatdown in front of a lot of scarlet and gray.

Ohio State had not lost four in a row to Michigan since the early Cooper years.  They haven't lost five in a row since losing six in a row 98 years ago!  

The Buckeyes overcame the most humiliating loss in program history to win a National Championship in 2024.  After losing at home as 20+ point favorites, they went on to roll Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame en route to the title.  They've started this season 11-0 and come in to The Game on a 15 game winning streak, with only one being in the single digits.  Besides the two Texas wins, they really haven't been tested.  None of that matters.  The only thing that matters is Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor.

A National Championship in 2025 means absolutely nothing if they don't take care of business on Saturday.  Last year's title was great and all and a championship this year would cement Ohio State as the premier program in the country, but if it comes with another loss it would feel as hollow as ever. 

Apparently I'm in the minority on the "would you rather beat Michigan or win the national championship?"  I guess it's growing up in the 90's and having watch 2-10-1.  Jim Tressel turned the tide, leading a to a 17-2 run that almost made the last Saturday in November an automatic win.  Students today would rather win a title than beat Michigan, but then say that the Michigan game is all they think about.  Which is it?

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No facebook picture changes, no Calvin memes, no crossing out the "M", no calling them a cesspool.  Let's go win a game, then we can start all of that back up.

I'll be making the drive up north for my 23rd straight game.  Let's get things back to normal.  

Go Bucks! 

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 12

There wasn't really any upsets in week 12, but it wasn't without excitement.  Michigan overcame 5 turnovers and multiple missed field goals to beat Northwestern at the buzzer in Wrigley.  They keep alive playoff hopes.  Iowa jumped out early against USC, only to go scoreless in the 2nd half as the Trojans help them off to keep their playoff chances alive.

Locks for playoffs and Indy could be fun: Ohio State, Indiana

Should be good but last two games aren't easy: Oregon

Already lost twice and still plays Oregon this week: USC

Beat them four in a row, why not a 5th? Michigan

Three playoff spots are still looking good for the B1G.  Can USC beat Oregon this week?  Win and they should be in.  Can Oregon survive a loss?  That may be the bigger discussion as they won't really have any good wins.

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (10-0) -  The result of the game vs UCLA doesn't really matter.  The only thing that matters for the Buckeyes at this point is the injury report.  Carnell Tate was out again and Jeremiah Smith hobbled off the field in the 2nd quarter.  The health of the dynamic wide receiver duo is really the only thing that's important at this point.  They should both be able to sit this week as the Buckeyes host Rutgers.

2. Indiana (11-0) - The Hoosiers were in a fight at the half against Wisconsin before pulling away for a 24-point win.  The Hoosiers are off this week with a rivalry matchup against Purdue being the only thing between them and a B1G Championship birth in Indy.

3. Oregon (9-1) - The Ducks routed Minnesota to set-up a PAC matchup against USC this weekend.  College Gameday is coming to Eugene for the 2nd time this season.  A win and the Ducks pretty much clinch a playoff spot.  A loss and they'll need a win against Washington and maybe a little help.  

4. USC (8-2) - The Trojans came back to beat Iowa 26-21 and head to Eugene to battle Oregon this week.  They should be inside the playoff with a win.  

5. Michigan (8-2) - The Wolverines overcame a horrible game to beat Northwestern at Wrigley Field.  They had two interceptions, three fumbles, two missed field goals, and were 0/1 on 4th down, but still were able to come away with a field goal at the buzzer to keep the playoff hopes alive.  They'll travel to Maryland this week.  

6. Iowa (6-4) - The Hawkeyes lost another close game as they jumped out to a 21-10 halftime lead before going scoreless in the 2nd half and falling to USC.  They host Michigan State this week.  

7. Illinois (7-3) - The Illini beat Maryland and travel to Wisconsin this week.

8. Nebraska (7-3) - The Huskers were off travel to Penn State this week.

9. Washington (7-3) - The Huskies throttled Purdue and travel to UCLA this week.  Is it a job interview for Jedd Fisch?  

10. Northwestern (5-5) - The Wildcats somehow lost to Michigan at Wrigley Field and host Minnesota this week at the friendly confines.

11. Minnesota (6-4) - The Gophers lost big at Oregon and travel to Chicago to face Northwestern this week.

12. Rutgers (5-5) - The Scarlet Knights were off and head to Columbus this weekend looking for bowl eligibility.  They'll likely still be looking next week against Penn State.

13. Penn State (4-6) - The Lions won a game to climb out of the cellar, as they beat B1G winless Michigan State.  They host Nebraska this week as favorites, as 6-6 is in reach.  

14. Maryland (4-6) - The Terps lost at Illinois and host Michigan this week.

15. UCLA (3-7) - The Bruins were dominated in Columbus and host Washington this week.

16. Wisconsin (3-7) - The Badgers kept it close for a while before being blown out in the 2nd half at Indiana.  They host Illinois this week.

17. Michigan State (3-7) - The Spartans are really bad and this may be it for Jonathan Smith in East Lansing as 0-9 in conference play is a real possibility.  They travel to Iowa this week.

18. Purdue (2-9) - The Boilermakers are really really bad as they were blown out at Washington.  They have the week off before hosting Indiana looking to play spoiler.  

2015 B1G Power Rankings - Week 11

Week 11 was awesome in the B1G.  Indiana rallied to win at Penn State with a last minute touchdown.  Oregon won on a walk-off field goal at Iowa.  Wisconsin got their first B1G win over Washington. 

With three weeks to go in the season it looks like the B1G could have 13 teams eligible.  There are ten teams at six wins, with another seven with six or less losses.  Northwestern and Rutgers are at five wins and just need one more.  UCLA, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State are 3-6.  Look for Penn State to finish with three wins (Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers).  

Locks for playoffs and Indy could be fun: Ohio State, Indiana

Should be good but last three games aren't easy: Oregon

Already lost twice and still plays Oregon: USC

Beat them four in a row, why not a 5th? Michigan

Three playoff spots are still looking good for the B1G.  Iowa lost a nailbiter against Oregon to be eliminated.  It pretty much comes down to two games Oregon/USC and OSU/Michigan.  If Oregon and Ohio State win then the B1G will be at three playoff teams.  If USC or Michigan can pull off an upset the B1G should get four teams in the playoff.

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (9-0) -  The Bucks had no issues with Purdue without Carnell Tate and a reconfigured offensive line.  Being healthy is the most important things for the Buckeyes at this point as they have UCLA and Rutgers before the Michigan game.

2. Indiana (10-0) - The Hoosiers had a comeback win over Penn State to stay undefeated.  A tight win over a 3-6 doesn't look great on paper, but it was a good road win over a team still fighting.  They host Wisconsin this week.

3. Oregon (8-1) - The Ducks left Kinnick with a walk-off win, which is all you can ask for.  They host Minnesota this week.

4. USC (7-2) - The Trojans beat Northwestern on Friday night.  They host Iowa this week with the playoffs still in sight.  

5. Michigan (7-2) - The Wolverines were off and travel to Wrigley Field this week for a Big Noon Kickoff.

6. Iowa (6-3) - The Hawkeyes scored with two minutes to take the lead against Oregon, but the defense allowed the Ducks to march down the field and kick a game winner as time expired, extinguishing their playoff hopes.  They travel to USC this week. 

7. Illinois (6-3) - The Illini were off and host Maryland this week.

8. Nebraska (7-3) - The Huskers beat UCLA in the Rose Bowl and are off this week.

9. Washington (6-3) - The Huskies lost at Wisconsin to squash any playoff hopes.  It was a horrible loss to a floundering team.  There's rumors that Jedd Fisch's wife is miserable in Seattle and he's looking for a new job, which probably means Demond Williams is heading with him.  They host Purdue this week.

10. Northwestern (5-4) - The Wildcats lost at USC and host Michigan at Wrigley Field this week.

11. Minnesota (6-3) - The Gophers were off and travel to Oregon this week.

12. Rutgers (5-5) - The Scarlet Knights beat Maryland and are one win away from a bowl game.  They're off this week before traveling to Columbus and hosting Penn State in what could be for bowl eligibility. 

13. UCLA (3-6) - The Bruins lost to Nebraska and travel to Ohio State this week.

14. Maryland (4-5) - The Terps lost at Rutgers and travel to Illinois this week.

15. Wisconsin (3-6) - The Badgers won their first B1G game of the season!  They won a 13-10 slugfest over Washington.  Reality is going to hit hard this week as they travel to Indiana.

16. Michigan State (3-6) - The Spartans were off and host Penn State this week.  The Land Grant trophy came will be extra special this season, as both teams come in to the game 0-6 in the B1G.  Woof.

17. Purdue (2-8) - The Boilermakers lost to Ohio State and travel to Washington this week.

136. Penn State (3-6) - The Lions almost won against #2 Indiana, losing in the last minute.  There's actually a good chance the Lions win their last three games.  Will they opt out of a bowl game at 6-6?

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 10

While there were no big upsets in week 10, the B1G was not without excitement.  Ohio State took care of business against Penn State, coming out strong in the third quarter to seal the game.  Indiana had another dominant victory over Maryland after a slow early start.  USC handed Nebraska their third loss and knocked Dylan Raiola out for the season in the process.  Michigan held off Purdue to set up an easy path to The Game.  Illinois had no issues with a bad Rutgers team.  Minnesota beat Michigan State with a game winning kick.  

Week 11 looks to offer a little more excitement as there's a big game in Kinnick Stadium with Oregon facing the Hawkeyes on Saturday night.  Iowa has looked great the past few weeks and look to keep their playoff hopes alive.  Penn State has certainly been disappointing this season, but can they muster up an upset victory as Indiana comes to State College?  

Locks for playoffs and Indy could be fun: Ohio State, Indiana

Should be good but last four games aren't easy: Oregon

Already lost twice and still play Oregon: Iowa, USC, Washington

Beat them four in a row, why not a 5th? Michigan

Three playoff spots are still looking good for the B1G.  If Iowa, USC, or Washington win out they'll be in the playoff.  Will Oregon at 10-2 still get in?  

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (8-0) -  The Bucks handled Penn State and head to Purdue this week, a place they've lost plenty of times in the past.  Not sure this Purdue team has it in them. 

2. Indiana (9-0) - The Hoosiers smoked Maryland this week for another blowout win.  They at Penn State this week in their last "maybe" test of the regular season.  

3. Oregon (7-1) - The Ducks were off and head to Iowa for a night game at Kinnick.  

4. USC (6-2) - The Trojans beat Nebraska and host Northwestern this week, looking to keep their playoff hopes alive.

5. Michigan (7-2) - The Wolverines struggled against a bad Purdue team.  They're off this week.

6. Washington (6-2) - The Huskies were off and travel to Wisconsin this week.

7. Iowa (6-2) - The Hawkeyes were off and host Oregon on Saturday night.  A win and the playoffs are very much in reach for Iowa.  

8. Illinois (6-3) - The Illini beat Rutgers and are off this week.

9. Nebraska (6-3) - The Huskers late season slide is in full swing as they lost to USC.  They're at UCLA this week.

10. Northwestern (5-3) - The Wildcats were off and travel to USC this week.

11. Minnesota (6-3) - The Gophers beat Michigan State on a kick at the buzzer.  They're off this week.

12. UCLA (3-5) - The Bruins were off and host Nebraska this week.

13. Maryland (4-4) - The Terps lost big to Indiana and travel to Rutgers this week.

14. Rutgers (4-5) - The Scarlet Knights lost to Illinois and host Maryland this week.

15. Michigan State (3-6) - The Spartans lost late to Minnesota are off this week.  

16. Purdue (2-7) - The Boilermakers hung close at Michigan before falling.  They host Ohio State this week looking for a big upset. 

17. Wisconsin (2-6) - The Badgers were off and host Washington this week, still in search of their first B1G win.

136. Penn State (3-5) - The Lions lost big in Columbus and get to host #2 Indiana this week, still in search of their first league win.  

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 9

There were a lot of big games in week 8, with Iowa, Washington, and Nebraska winning two loss battles to keep playoff hopes alive.  

Week 9 features a top five battle between Ohio State and Penn State.  Oh, that was preseason.  The Nittany Lions have lost four in a row, fired James Franklin, and lost Drew Allar for the season.  They go in to Columbus as 20+ point underdogs, looking to pull off a huge upset.  The game is so big that Ohio State is having a "BLACK OUT" for a noon game and the team isn't even wearing black jerseys.  The last time the Bucks had a blackout against Penn State, JT Barrett led a fourth quarter comeback to win 39-38.

Locks for playoffs and Indy could be fun: Ohio State, Indiana

Should be good but last four games aren't easy: Oregon

Already lost twice and still play Oregon: Iowa, USC, Washington

It's the end of October, will lose at least three more games: Nebraska

Beat them four in a row, why not a 5th? Michigan

Three playoff spots are still looking good for the B1G.  If Iowa, USC, or Washington win out they'll be in the playoff.  Will Oregon at 10-2 still get in?  

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (7-0) -  The Bucks were off and host Penn State this week in what was once supposed to be a top 5 matchup.  

2. Indiana (8-0) - The Hoosiers smoked UCLA and travel to Maryland this week as the #2 team in the country.  

3. Oregon (7-1) - The Ducks coasted past Wisconsin in a monsoon.  They are off this week before a tough finishing stretch of teams still vying for the playoffs.  

4. USC (5-2) - The Trojans were off and travel to Nebraska this week in a playoff elimination game.

5. Michigan (6-2) - The Wolverines beat Michigan State and host Purdue this week.  They have a cupcake November and should go in to The Game at 9-2 with a playoff spot on the line.

6. Washington (6-2) - The Huskies beat Illinois in a playoff elimination game and are off this week.

7. Iowa (6-2) - The Hawkeyes dismantled Minnesota and appear to be the new B1G juggernaut.  They are off this week before hosting Oregon for a huge night game at Kinnick.  

8. Illinois (5-3) - The Illini lost at Washington to end any playoff hopes and host Rutgers this week.

9. Nebraska (6-2) - The Huskers held off Northwestern to keep their season alive.  They host USC this week with the season on the line.  

10. Northwestern (5-3) - The Wildcats lost at Nebraska and now the focus turns to the drive for six.  They're off this week.  

11. Minnesota (5-3) - The Gophers lost big to Iowa to dash any playoff hopes.  They host Michigan State this week.

12. UCLA (3-5) - The Bruins came back to earth after being blasted by Indiana.  They're off this week.

13. Maryland (4-3) - The Terps were off host Indiana this week, hoping to pull off the big upset. 

14. Rutgers (4-4) - The Scarlet Knights beat Purdue for their first B1G win.  They travel to Illinois this week.

15. Michigan State (3-5) - The Spartans lost to Michigan and travel to Minnesota this week, looking for their first B1G win.  

16. Purdue (2-6) - The Boilermakers lost to Rutgers and travel to Michigan this week.  Another winless B1G season seems inevitable as they end the season with Ohio State, Washington, and Indiana.  

17. Wisconsin (2-6) - The Badgers hung with Oregon for a little bit before ultimately losing in Eugene.  They are off this week before hosting Washington.   

136. Penn State (3-4) - The Lions were off and travel to Ohio State this week, still looking for their first B1G win.   

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 8

Week 7 was a good set up for week 8 in the B1G.  We have 6 vs 7, 8 vs 9, and 10 vs 11 this week.  All three games are playoff elimination games.  10-2 is going to be the threshold to make the playoff for B1G teams and their are 11 teams at 5-2 or better.  

Locks for playoffs and Indy could be fun: Ohio State, Indiana

Should be good but last four games aren't easy: Oregon

Lost to AP #1 and #2 and if win this week probably 10-2: Illinois

Already lost twice and still play Oregon: Iowa, Minnesota, USC, Washington

It's the end of October, will lose at least three more games: Nebraska

Beat them four in a row, why not a 5th? Michigan

LOL, just hope to somehow get to six wins: Northwestern

I'm thinking three for sure spots, maybe Illinois if things break right.  The 63-10 loss to Indiana doesn't look good.

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (7-0) - Ryan Day decided it was going to be Julian Sayin Day in Madison, as Sayin threw for 394 yards and four touchdowns as the Bucks shut out Wisconsin.  They are off this week.

2. Indiana (7-0) - The Hoosiers pulled away from Michigan State.  There was no letdown after the big Oregon win.  They host red hot UCLA this week.

3. Oregon (6-1) - The Ducks had no issues with Rutgers in a bounce back win.  They host Wisconsin this week.

4. USC (5-2) - The roles were reversed this week as Notre Dame bullied the Trojans in rainy South Bend.  The Trojans are off this week.

5. Michigan (5-2) - The Wolverines outlasted Washington, wearing down the Husky front and pulling away for a good home win.  They head to East Lansing to face Big Brother this week.

6. Illinois (5-2) - The Illini were off and travel to Washington this week.

7. Washington (5-2) - The Huskies lost at Michigan and host Illinois this week in what is essentially a playoff elimination game.

8. Iowa (5-2) - The Hawkeyes did Iowa things on Saturday night as they beat the reeling Nittany Lions.  It was a good win and set the Hawkeyes up for the back half of their schedule.  They host Minnesota this week for the Floyd of Rosedale.

9. Minnesota (5-2) - The Gophers had a nice Friday night win vs Nebraska.  They travel to Iowa this week in a "any hope of the playoff rests on this game" game.  

10. Nebraska (5-2) - Second half of the season Nebraska is here.  They are 3-10 in the second half of the season since Matt Rhule arrived in Lincoln.  They host Northwestern this week in a "At 10-2 this team would maybe be a playoff team, but probably isn't good enough to be one" game.

11. Northwestern (5-2) - The Wildcats somehow have five wins after shutting out Purdue.  They travel to Nebraska this week looking for bowl eligibility.    

12. UCLA (3-4) - The Bruins beat Maryland for their third straight win.  The playoffs are still alive if they finish 8-4.  A win at #2 Indiana this week would open some eyes!

13. Maryland (4-3) - The Terps lost at juggernaut UCLA and are off this week.

14. Rutgers (3-4) - The Scarlet Knights were stomped by Oregon and travel to fellow B1G winless Purdue this week.  Be sure to tune in at noon on BTN.

15. Michigan State (3-4) - The Spartans lost at Indiana and host Michigan this week.

16. Purdue (2-5) - The Boilermakers were shutout at Northwestern and host Rutgers this week.

17. Wisconsin (2-5) - The Badgers were shutout by Ohio State and Luke Fickell seemed to receive a vote of confidence from AD Chris Macintosh.  Maybe they'll both be gone soon.  They travel to Oregon this week as 34 point underdogs.  2-10 is almost a guarantee at this point.    

136. Penn State (3-4) - 0-9 B1G record is still in play after they Lions fell in Iowa City.  It was a result that would have surprised no one even if Penn State was 6-0 going in to the game.  They're off this week before back-to-back games with Ohio State and Indiana.  

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 7

 LOL Penn State.  Once a contender, once a pretender, now a bottom feeder and James Franklin is out.  It's been quite a fall for Franklin.  From #2 team to fired in 15 days.  Now he'll be at ESPN Gameday this week.  Will Penn State win a B1G game?

Indiana went to Eugene and dominated the Ducks.  Between the big win and the Franklin firing, Curt Cignetti has turned it in to $11.5M per year and a $95M buyout.  

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (6-0) - The Bucks controlled Illinois to improve to 6-0. They head to Madison this week, so send former Buckeye Luke Fickell off.  

2. Indiana (6-0) - The Hoosiers dominated Oregon.  This team is for real.

3. Oregon (5-1) - The Ducks didn't look great against Indiana, but the schedule is pretty good going forward and 11-1 is still very much on the table.  They travel across the country to Rutgers this week.

4. USC (5-1) - The Trojans put on their big boy pants and dominated Michigan.  They travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame on Saturday night.  Win and the playoffs are in sight.   

5. Washington (5-1) - The Huskies beat Rutgers and travel to Michigan for a noon matchup.  They are #28 in the polls, but should be top #15.  Maybe with a win the voters will notice they're 6-1 with a loss to #1.  

6. Michigan (4-2) - The Wolverines were manhandled by USC and host Washington this week.  Blue collar Sherrone Moore's seat is getting a little warm.  

7. Nebraska (5-1) - The Huskers beat Maryland and travel to Minnesota on Friday night.  They've lost five in a row to the Gophers.  It should change this week.

8. Illinois (5-2) - The Illini lost to Ohio State and are off this week.

9. Iowa (4-2) - The Hawkeyes shutout Wisconsin 37-0 and host the flailing Nittany Lions this week.

10. Maryland (4-2) - The Terps lost to Nebraska to keep up the October slide.  They travel to red hot UCLA this weekend.

11. Minnesota (4-2) - The Gophers came back to beat Purdue.  They host Nebraska on Friday night.

12. Northwestern (4-2) - The Wildcats upset Penn State and fired James Franklin.  They host Purdue this week as favorites.  Are six wins in reach?  

13. UCLA (3-4) - The Bruins are red hot after dominating Michigan State on the road.  They host Maryland this week.  If the Bruins can win out, they'll be head to Indy with a playoff spot on the line.  

14. Rutgers (3-3) - The Scarlet Knights lost to Washington and host Oregon this week.  Upset in Piscataway?  Doubtful.

15. Michigan State (3-3) - The Spartans were humiliated by UCLA and travel to Indiana this week.

16. Purdue (2-4) - The Boilermakers blew a lead against Minnesota and travel to Northwestern this week.

17. Wisconsin (2-4) - The Badgers were shutout by Iowa and host Ohio State this week.  Will Fickell make it through the weekend?  They travel to Oregon next week before a bye.  Maybe Fickell will make it till then?

136. Penn State (3-3) - What else is there to say?  0-9 B1G record is definitely in play.  

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 6

LOL Penn State.  Once a contender, now a pretender.

This week features some great matchups as #1 Ohio State travels to #4 Illinios, #3 Indiana travels to #2 Oregon, and #7 Michigan heads to #5 USC.  There will be some clarity in the conference and playoff race after this week.

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (5-0) - The Bucks manhandled Minnesota and travel to Champaign this weekend for BNK.  Things can get interesting at Illinois.  The Bucks won in OT en route to a title in 2002 and have had other close battles since.  Never forget Illinois 06, picture from 2008 as I couldn't find any from 2006.  

2. Oregon (5-0) - The Ducks was off and host Indiana this week.

3. Indiana (5-0) - The Hoosiers were off and head to Oregon this week.

4. Illinois (5-1) - The Illini beat Purdue and host Ohio State this week.

5. USC (4-1) - The Trojans were off and host Michigan.  

6. Washington (4-1) - The Huskies beat Maryland and host Rutgers on Friday night.  

7. Michigan (4-1) - The Wolverines had no issues with Wisconsin and travel to USC this week.

8. Nebraska (4-1) - The Huskers beat Michigan State and travel to Maryland this week.

9. Iowa (3-2) - The Hawkeyes were off and travel to Wisconsin this week.

10. Michigan State (3-2) - The Spartans lost at Nebraska and host UCLA this week.

11. Maryland (4-1) - The Terps fell to Washington and host Nebraska this week.

12. Minnesota (3-2) - The Gophers lost big to Ohio State and host Purdue this week.

13. Rutgers (3-2) - The Scarlet Knights were off and travel to Washington this Friday.

14. Purdue (2-3) - The Boilermakers lost to Illinois and travel to Minnesota this week.

15. Northwestern (3-2) - The Wildcats beat Louisiana Monroe to get to three wins!  They travel to Penn State this week to face the reeling Lions.

16. Wisconsin (2-3) - The Badgers lost again to Michigan and host Iowa this week. 

17. UCLA (1-4) - The Bruins upset Penn State at the Rose Bowl, dominating the game from start to finish.  They travel to Michigan State this week.

18. Penn State (3-2) - After a close loss to Oregon, the Nittany Lions flew across the country, only to be humiliated by UCLA in the Rose Bowl.  It was an inexcusable loss and the leash has gotten very short for James Franklin.  Four losses is on the table for a team that came in to the season with National Championship aspirations.  Can they beat Northwestern in State College this week?

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 5

 It was a great week in the B1G with Oregon outlasting Penn State in Happy Valley.  Illinois and USC had a great battle in Champaign, and the #1 Buckeyes went to Seattle and manhandled Washington.

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (4-0) - The Bucks won at Washington for their second ever win in the Pacific Northwest.  The first win was in 2007 when the Buckeyes won at Washington.  We went out for that one and took in some sailgating!  The defense was dominant yet again and the offense overcame a slow start to pull away from the Huskies.  They host Minnesota this week.  

2. Oregon (5-0) - The Ducks survived a Penn State comeback to win in two overtimes.  They were up 17-3 in the 4th quarter, before letting Penn State back in it.  Any win at a whiteout is a good win.  They are off this week, with Indiana coming to town next week. 

3. Indiana (5-0) - The Hoosiers went to Iowa City and won, which is impressive for anyone.  They are off this week with a big test at Oregon coming up next week.

4. Penn State (3-1) - James Franklin loses a big game yet again.  Surprise surprise.  They made it a game after coming back from 14 down to take the game to a 2nd overtime.  Similar to the national semifinal last season, Drew Allar throw a game sealing interception.  10-2 gets the Lions to the playoff, but with games at Ohio State and vs Indiana remaining, that's no guarantee.  The travel to the Rose Bowl this week to face winless UCLA.  Hopefully they enjoy their time there, as they won't be heading back in January.  

5. Illinois (4-1) - The Illini rebounded from the big loss at Indiana to beat USC and stay in B1G contention.  They are at Purdue this week.

6. USC (4-1) - The Trojans lost a back and forth game at Illinois for their first loss of the season.  They are off this week before hosting Michigan.  

7. Washington (3-1) - The Huskies vaunted offense was held to six points at home against Ohio State, twice being stuffed in the red zone.  They travel to undefeated Maryland this week in a contender v pretender game.  

8. Michigan (3-1) - The Wolverines were off and host Wisconsin for Big Noon Kickoff this week.  They'll move to 4-1, with a big game at USC looming.  

9. Iowa (3-2) - The Hawkeyes fell to Indiana at home.  They forced Indiana to play Iowa football and kept things interesting.  They are off this week. 

10. Michigan State (3-1) - The Spartans were off and travel to Nebraska this week.

11. Nebraska (3-1) - The Huskers were off this week and host Michigan State this week.

12. Maryland (4-0) - The Terps were off and host Washington this week, looking for their first big win the of the season.  Is this another 4-0 to 6-6 Maryland team?  We'll have a good idea after this week.

13. Minnesota (3-1) - The Gophers were beat Rutgers and travel to Columbus to face the #1 Buckeyes this week.  

14. Rutgers (3-2) - The Scarlet Knights lost a back and forth game at Minnesota and are of this week.  

15. Purdue (2-2) - The Boilermakers were off and host Illinois this week.

16. Wisconsin (2-2) - The Badgers were off and travel to Michigan for Big Noon Kickoff this week.  

17. Northwestern (2-2) - The Wildcats beat UCLA to get their first B1G win.  They host ULM this week, looking for their third win.  

18. UCLA (0-4) - The Bruins nearly left Evanston with their first win, but fell 17-14 to Northwestern.  They host Penn State this week.  I'm not seeing a way that they leave this spot and 0-12 is very possible.  

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 4

We've made it to the fist big week of the B1G conference season.  The biggest matchup is UCLA traveling to Northwestern, kicking off at 3:30 EST on Big Ten Network.  That's a huge matchup for the conference flagship station.  I can't believe that NBC, CBS, and FOX all passed on this matchup.  The winner will have the inside track on not finishing 0-9 in the conference, looking at a strong 1-8 conference record.  

In other games, we have Penn State hosting Oregon in a whiteout.  Big Game James Franklin has yet another chance for a signature win.  We'll go with the coaches poll, which has Oregon at #5.  Franklin is 1-18 in games against top 5 opponents, 4-20 against top 10.  After playing three creampuffs, no one has any clue if Penn State is good or not.  Oregon, while not playing the toughest schedule, have at least played a B1G game as well as two OSU's.   

Now for the power rankings:

1. Ohio State (3-0) - The Bucks were off and travel to Washington this week.  They'll be looking to continue their dominant start defensively.  There were some redzone struggles in the Ohio game that will hopefully be rectified.  Husky Stadium is not an easy place to play, and with a good team the crowd is going to be bringing the passion.

2. Penn State (3-0) - The Lions were off and welcome Oregon to State College for the annual whiteout game.  Penn State is 13-8 all-time in Whiteout games, with six straight wins.  Thanks to the new TV contracts, the Whiteout game isn't always the biggest game on the schedule, with Ohio State not being featured since 2018.  The Bucks are 3-2 in official Whiteout games.  I was at the 2007 game and it sure seemed like a Whiteout though it's not listed.  As far as the game goes, Penn State hasn't played anyone, so who knows how good they are.  Thankfully for James Franklin, Oregon is ranked #6 and this won't count as another top 5 loss.  

3. Oregon (4-0) - The Ducks beat Oregon State in the Civil War to set up a top 10 matchup against Penn State.  College Gameday is leaving the SEC to head to Happy Valley.  The Ducks have been dominant in their first four games.  Quarterback Dante Moore has never experienced anything like he will this Saturday night.  I think the only way the Ducks lose is if Moore is too rattled and can't handle the Whiteout, ala Troy Smith 2005.  

4. Indiana (4-0) - The Hoosiers slaughtered Illinois 63-10 in a statement win for Curt Cignetti, their biggest win in his two seasons.  They travel to Iowa this weekend in a big road test.  

5. USC (4-0) - The Trojans beat Michigan State, scoring at will.  They travel to Illinois for Big Noon this week, squaring off against a defense that gave up 63 to Indiana.  Expect another big scoring week.   

6. Washington (3-0) - The Huskies had no trouble in the Apple Cup against Washington State.  They host Ohio State this week in Seattle, looking to extend their 22-game home winning streak.  The Huskies opened as 13.5-point underdogs, but the spread as moved in the Washington's way to only 7.5 points.  Quarterback Demond Williams has been great at quarterback and will have to have a big afternoon if they're able to upset the Buckeyes.  

7. Illinois (3-1) - The Illini severely disappointed as they were blown out 63-10 at Indiana.  An injured secondary opened the flood gates as the Hoosiers kept the pedal down all four quarters.  The Illini host USC in a Big Noon clash, with most of the secondary still out.  They may need to get into a shootout with the Trojans if they have a chance to win.  

8. Michigan (3-1) - The Wolverines held off Nebraska in the second half for a big road win in Lincoln.  Quarterback Bryce Underwood had another big game as he gets more comfortable in the offense.  Interim coach Biff Poggi finished 2-0 in the role for cheating Sherrone Moore as Moore turns for their game against Wisconsin in two weeks.  

9. Iowa (3-1) - The Hawkeyes scored on the opening kickoff and pulled away in the second half to beat Rutgers in a Friday night blackout.  They look to pull the upset as Indiana comes to Iowa City this week.  

10. Michigan State (3-1) - The Spartans fell to USC early Sunday morning and travel to Nebraska in two weeks.

11. Nebraska (3-1) - The Huskers lost another game to a ranked team, as Michigan left Lincoln with a win.  They tied the game at the end of the first half after bad Michigan clock management, then allowed Michigan to jump out to a quick ten point lead in the third quarter.  The defense allowed big touchdowns of 37, 54, and 75 yards, with Michigan only getting in to the redzone at the end of game for a game sealing field goal.  The Huskers are off this week, before hosting Michigan State.

12. Rutgers (3-1) - The Scarlet Knights lost to Iowa at home on Friday night and travel to Minnesota this week.

13. Maryland (4-0) - The Terps are 4-0 after beating a bad Wisconsin team.  They miss Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and USC on the schedule coming up.  Six wins seems like a sure thing, in season that many expected to up at 4-8 or worse.  True freshman Malik Washington has been good through four games.  They are off this week, before hosting Washington next week.

14. Minnesota (2-1) - The Gophers were off and host Rutgers this week.

15. Purdue (2-2) - The Boilermakers lost to Notre Dame, giving up 35 first half points before falling 56-30.  They are off this week and host Illinois next week.

16. Wisconsin (2-2) - The Badgers were embarrassed at home against Maryland, falling 27-10.  It's time for Luke Fickell to go.  He came in and tried to modernize Wisconsin football.  Unfortunately, you need a quarterback to do that.  Injuries at the position haven't helped, as transfer starters have gotten hurt each season.  I'm not sure where I see in a win on the schedule the next two months as their remaining schedule is Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Wasingtion, Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota.  They'll be underdogs in every game.  Does Fickell make it to see the inevitable 2-10?

17. Northwestern (1-2) - The Wildcats host UCLA this week in a battle to see who goes 1-8 in the B1G.  Turn in to BTN at 3:30 EST!

18. UCLA (0-3) - The Bruins travel to Northwestern this week in a battle to see who goes 1-8 in the B1G.  Turn in to BTN at 3:30 EST!

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 3

The Big Ten went 12-5 in week 3, with two conference losses.  Minnesota fell to Cal, UCLA was bludgeoned by New Mexico, and Wisconsin lost at Alabama.   

The big matchups this week feature Michigan at Nebraska and Illinois at Indiana, two games that will help determine the upper middle of the B1G.  

1. Ohio State (3-0) - The Bucks were good enough against Ohio and may have found a new RB1, with Bo Jackson going for 100+ again. They're off this week, before heading to Washington in week 5.  

2. Penn State (3-0) - The Lions beat another NOBODY and have their fourth straight bye this week.  Their season starts next week, as Oregon comes to town for a proper whiteout.  

3. Oregon (3-0) - The Ducks won the sleepy 11 am game in Evanston in front of a raucous Big Noon Kickoff crowd.  They host a really bad Oregon State team this week in the Civil War before the big whiteout ahead.

4. Illinois (3-0) - The Illini shutout Western Michigan and travel to Indiana on Saturday night as underdogs.  They've looked great through three games.  

5. USC (3-0) - The Trojans beat Purdue and host Michigan State on Saturday night.  The offense has been on fire through three games.  Are the Trojans back?  

6. Washington (2-0) - The Huskies were off  and travel to Pullman to face off against Washington State in the Apple Cup.  The Cougars are coming off a 49-point loss to North Texas after starting 2-0.  

7. Indiana (3-0) - The Hoosiers shut out Indiana State and host Illinois on Saturday night in a "which team is for real" game.  

8. Michigan State (3-0) - The Spartans beat Youngstown State and travel to USC this weekend for an 11 pm east coast start.  The big question is, when will Ohio State have the pleasure of playing an 11 pm game?  Sometime down the road against a bad UCLA team would be my guess.  All for the TV networks... 

9. Nebraska (3-0) - The Huskers beat FCS Houston Christian and host Michigan this week.  This game will go a long way in determining if "Nebraska is back".  

10. Rutgers (3-0) - The Scarlet Knights moved to 3-0 against Norfolk State and open B1G play next Friday against Iowa.  

11. Michigan (2-1) - The Wolverines won 63-3 against Central Michigan, with Biff Poggi at the helm.  They travel to Nebraska this week.

12. Wisconsin (2-1) - The Badgers lost soundly to Alabama.  They were unable to get anything going offensively and let Ty Simpson throw for 382 yards.  They host Maryland this week in B1G play.  It will be an important game to determine whether the Badgers get to six wins.  

13. Iowa (2-1) - The Hawkeyes had no issues with UMass and travel to Rutgers on Friday night.  

14. Minnesota (2-1) - The Gophers lost at Cal on Saturday night.  They struggled without star running back Darius Taylor, who they are hoping to have back as they travel to Rutgers after their off week.  

15. Maryland (3-0) - The Terps beat FCS Towson and travel Wisconsin this week to start B1G play.  

16. Purdue (2-1) - The Boilermakers lost to USC to open B1G play.  They travel to winless Notre Dame this Saturday in the Battle for the Shillelagh Trophy.  The Irish won big last year in West Lafayette.  

17. Northwestern (1-2) - The Wildcats hung with Oregon for a while, before falling 34-14 on Big Noon Kickoff.  They are off this week, before hosting UCLA in week 5. 

18. UCLA (0-3) - Things have gotten very bad in Westwood.  After losing to New Mexico by 25 on Friday night, the Bruins parted ways with DeShaun Foster after only 15 games.  He probably didn't a fair shot, but this season was a lost cause and UCLA decided to get a jump start on their next coaching search.  The Bruins are off this week, before traveling to Northwestern in week 5.  

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 2

The second week of college football has come and gone.  The Big Ten went 15-3 on the week, with Michigan and Iowa losing Power 4 games and UCLA falling to 0-2 against UNLV.  

There were five Power Four matchups as Oregon thumped Oklahoma State, Illinois handled Duke, and Michigan State held off Boston College as well as the Michigan loss to Oklahoma and Iowa loss to Iowa State.  

Week 2 was highlighted by an exciting finish in Ames as Iowa State hit a 54-yard field goal with under two minutes left.  The, supposed to be improved Iowa offense, struggled with only 213 yards of total offense, with only 83 of those coming through the air.  

In East Lansing, the Spartans beat Boston College in double overtime with a successful two-point conversion.  Aiden Chiles had four touchdowns for the Spartans as they look to return to relevance for the first time in years.  

In the last big game, Michigan traveled to Norman, where freshman QB Bryce Underwood was welcomed to college football.  After being described as "generational" and "transcendent", he looked more like Tate Forcier or Steven Threet.  The Wolverines look to improve without their coach the next two weeks, as he'll be serving a two game suspension as a result of several years of systemic cheating by the program.  Lesser infractions used to lead to bowl bans and coaches/players being suspended for significant time, welcome to 2025 College Football!

B1G play starts in week 3 with Oregon traveling to Northwestern and USC traveling to Purdue.  The only other Power 4 games are Wisconsin heading to Alabama and Minnesota at California.  

1. Ohio State (2-0) - The Bucks throttled an overmatched Grambling team.  They host Ohio this week.  The Bobcats hung with Rutgers week 1 and beat West Virginia in week 2.  Can they come in to Columbus and pull the upset?  

2. Penn State (2-0) - The Lions shut out FIU in week 2 and host FCS Villanova this week.  Eventually they'll play an actual football game and we may see if they're any good.  

3. Oregon (2-0) - The Ducks bludgeoned Oklahoma State 69-3.  Dante and Dakorien Moore both looked great.  They travel to Evanston for Big Noon and an early kick this week and then have the Civil War and a whiteout to Happy Valley on the horizon.  

4. Illinois (2-0) - The Illini pulled away in the 2nd half to win 45-19 at Duke.  Luke Altmyer carved up the Blue Devils and the defense shut down Duke in the 2nd half.  They host Western Michigan this week.

5. USC (2-0) - Jayden Maiava threw for 412 yards and 4 TD's on only 16 completions as the Trojans handled Georgia Southern.  They open B1G play this week in West Lafayette.  

6. Washington (2-0) - The Huskies beat UC Davis 70-10 and are off this week, with the Apple Cup on deck in week 4.

7. Indiana (2-0) - After a slow start in week 1, the Hoosiers dispatched Kennesaw State early 56-9.  They host FCS Indiana State on Friday night to wrap up a cupcake non conference schedule.  We'll find out in week 4 if they are the 2024 Hoosiers or the 1887-2023 Hoosiers, when they host Illinois in a Saturday night showcase.

8. Michigan State (2-0) - Sparty held off Boston College in a double overtime thriller.  Things get a bit easier this week as they host FCS Youngstown State.  

9. Minnesota (2-0) - The Gophers walloped Northwestern State 66-0 in a weather shortened game.  They travel to Berkeley to face a good Cal team on Saturday night.  

10. Nebraska (2-0) - The Huskers shut out Akron 68-0.  Let's discuss the Zips a little bit.  Led by former offensive whiz Joe Moorhead, the Zips are the only scoreless team in FBS.  They travel to UAB this week.  The Blazers have given up 80 points in two games.  Can Akron finally score?  Nebraska hosts FCS Houston Christian this week before starting B1G play in week 4.  

11. Wisconsin (2-0) - The Badgers had no issues with Middle Tennessee in week 2.  The schedule starts to get dicey this week as they travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama.  After falling in week 1, the Tide bounced back with a big win in week 2.  

12. Rutgers (2-0) - The Scarlet Knights started 2-0 with a win over Miami University.  They host FCS Norfolk State this week and open B1G play next Friday against Iowa.  

13. Michigan (1-1) - The Wolverines came back to Earth after being physically and mentally dominated by Oklahoma.  Bryce Underwood was atrocious in his second start.  Some are blaming it on the play calling and calling for Sherrone Moore to be canned.  Well, they get two weeks with out him starting with this week's banger against ally Central Michigan.  

14. Iowa (1-1) - Iowa did a lot of Iowa things in the Cy-Hawk game.  The offense was abysmal as they fell 16-13.  They host UMass this week.

15. Maryland (2-0) - The Terps held off a bad Northern Illinois team on Friday night.  They get another cream puff this week as they host FCS Towson.  B1G play starts next week as they travel to Wisconsin.  

16. Purdue (2-0) - The Boilermakers are 2-0 after beating Southern Illinois.  They host USC in their B1G opener this week.  Last year they finished 1-11, so they've already improved on 2024.  Can they get past two wins in 2025?  A week 8 clash against Northwestern could determine doesn't finish 0-9 in the B1G.  

17. Northwestern (1-1) - They beat Western Illinois.  Big Noon Kickoff is going to Evanston this week as they Wildcats host Oregon in an 11 am local start.  Can they catch the Ducks sleeping?  Doubtful.  

18. UCLA (0-2) - The Bruins are a pretty bad football team, falling to UNLV in week 2.  They host New Mexico this week before traveling to Northwestern next week.  Lose both of those and 0-12 is very possible.  

2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 1

The first full week of college football has come and gone.  The Big Ten went 16-2 on the week, with all 16 favorites and underdogs UCLA and Northwestern falling.  

There were only three Power Four matchups as Ohio State beat Texas, Nebraska held off Cincinnati and UCLA fell to Utah.  

The highlight of the weekend was in Columbus as 107,000+ sent off Lee Corso in style, as the legendary Gameday analyst put on the Brutus head in his final Gameday appearance.  It was a great moment leading in to a great defensive game that saw the Buckeyes defense make Arch Manning look like Cooper Manning.  

1. Michigan (1-0) - The Wolverines have beaten the defending champs four years in a row.  Freshman QB Bryce Underwood looked good in his first start.  The defense was a little shaky.  They head to Norman this weekend to face Oklahoma in their first test of the season.

2. Ohio State (1-0) - The defending champs beat "#1 Texas" in Columbus.  The defense stepped up to the occasion with multiple redzone stops and a crucial pick against Arch Manning.  The offense was frustrating at times, but the Texas defense was great.  The Bucks host Grambling this week and look to explode offensively.

3. Penn State (1-0) - The Lions throttled Nevada and host FIU in week 2.  It's a shame that James Franklin is a coward and doesn't play any good out of conference games.  Look for an Oregon whiteout upset in a few weeks.  

4. Oregon (1-0) - The Ducks dominated Montana State and host Oklahoma State in week 2.  Dante Moore looked good in his first start in Eugene.  

5. Illinois (1-0) - The Illini had no issues with Western Illinois and travel to Duke this week.

6. USC (1-0) - The Trojans welcomed Missouri State to FBS football by hanging 73 on them, behind a big game from Jayden Maiava.  They host Georgia Southern this week, before starting B1G play in week 2.  

7. Washington (1-0) - The Huskies beat Colorado State and host UC Davis in week 2.

8. Iowa (1-0) - After beating Albany in week 1, the Hawkeyes travel to Ames for Big Noon Kickoff.   

9. Michigan State (1-0) - Sparty held off Western Michigan in week 1 and host Boston College on Saturday night.  

10. Indiana (1-0) - Coming off the best season in school history, the Hoosiers looked very sluggish against Old Dominion, needing a special teams touchdown to pull away.  They host Kennesaw State in week 2.

11. Minnesota (1-0) - The Gophers handled Buffalo and host Northwestern State in week 2.

12. Nebraska (1-0) - The Huskers held off Cincinnati last Thursday.  They host a really bad Akron team, looking to improve to 2-0.  

13. Wisconsin (1-0) - The Badgers shutout Miami in week 1 and host Middle Tennessee this week before the schedule starts to get tough.

14. Rutgers (1-0) - The Scarlet Knights had a strong 2nd quarter and held off a 3rd quarter comeback by Ohio.  They host Miami (OH) this week.  

15. Maryland (1-0) - The Terps had an impressive week 1 win over FAU.  They host Northern Illinois this Friday.  

16. Purdue (1-0) - The Boilermakers started the season with a shutout win for the 2nd year in a row.  Last year after defeating Indiana State 49-0 and ended up finishing 1-11.  Can the Boilers start off 2-0 by beating Southern Illinois?  I sure hope so.  

17. UCLA (0-1) - The Bruins fell to Utah and travel to 2-0 UNLV this week.  

18. Northwestern (0-1) - It's going to a long season on the shores of Lake Michigan.  The Wildcats fell to Tulane 23-3.  They host Western Illinois this week with a chance to get, maybe, their only win this season.

2025 MLB Predictions Sure to be Wrong

The blog was been quiet for a bit, the Bucks won the 2024 National Championship.  A great run to title after a disappointing November.  We were lucky to follow the Bucks to Pasadena and Arlington.  The Jack Sawyer strip sack was something special to seal the Texas game.  The budget didn't make it to Atlanta, but it was a great victory for the Bucks.  Now it's on to 2025, as spring ball is under way and we're counting down the days till another chance at redemption on November, 29th.  

Enough football, the 2025 baseball season gets under way tomorrow (minus a couple Japan games last week).   2024 didn't go so well as I only picked three division winners and two teams playing in the LCS to go with zero individual winners. 

 I've again successfully managed to watch zero seconds of Spring Training.  I did get notifications daily that made it appear that Cleveland was losing every spring training game.  They finished at 13-18, so pretty much right.  Did Trevor Bauer sign anywhere this season?

AL East:
1. Baltimore Orioles (89-73)

2. New York Yankees (88-74)

3. Boston Red Sox (83-79)

4. Tampa Bay Rays (75-87)

5. Toronto Blue Jays (73-89)

Do you the O's still want to win?  They didn't do a whole lot to get better, but did anyone else in the division either?  The Yankees have lost a lot including ace Gerrit Cole.  

AL Central:
1. Cleveland Guardians (92-70)

2. Detroit Tigers (91-71)

3. Kansas City Royals (83-79)

4. Minnesota Twins (77-85)

5. Chicago White Sox (55-107)

Always pick them, usually fail.  Go Tribe!  The Tigers look to continue on last year's good finish and playoff run.  

AL West:
1. Seattle Mariners (87-75)

2. Houston Astros (85-77)

3. Texas Rangers (79-83)

4. Los Angeles Angels (74-88)

5. Oakland Athletics (62-100)

This is the year that the Mariners finally pull it together and get over the hump. 

NL East:
1. New York Mets (98-64)

2. Philadelphia Phillies (92-70)

3. Atlanta Braves (84-78)

4. Miami Marlins (77-85)

5. Washington Nationals (72-90)

The Mets made a run to the NLCS last season and added slugger Juan Soto.  

NL Central:
1. Cincinnati Reds (86-76)

2. Chicago Cubs (85-77)

3. Milwaukee Brewers (80-82)

4. Pittsburgh Pirates (76-86)

5. St Louis Cardinals (72-90)

The division is still a bunch of garbage.  The Reds will surprise everyone and hold off the Cubs for the division. Paul Skenes may be the best pitcher in baseball, but the Pirates are still a ways away from competing for a division title.    

NL West:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (101-61)

2. San Diego Padres (89-73)

3. San Francisco Giants (78-84)

4. Arizona Diamondbacks (71-91)

5. Colorado Rockies (66-96)

The Dodgers just keep re-loading.  After last season's dominate performance, there is no reason to believe that the Dodgers won't repeat this season.  

AL Wildcard:

Seattle Mariners 2 Houston Astros 1

Detroit Tigers 2 New York Yankees 0

AL Divisional Series:

Cleveland Guardians 3 Seattle Mariners 1

Detroit Tigers 3 Baltimore Orioles 2

AL Championship Series:
Cleveland Guardians 4 Detroit Tigers 2

NL Wildcard:
Chicago Cubs 2 Cincinnati Reds 1

Philadelphia Phillies 2 San Diego Padres 0

NL Divisional Series:
Los Angeles Dodgers 3 Philadelphia Phillies 2
New York Mets 3 Chicago Cubs 1

NL Championship Series:
Los Angeles Dodgers 4 New York Mets 2

World Series:
Los Angeles Dodgers 4 Cleveland Guardians 3

AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal
AL MVP: Jose Ramirez

NL Cy Young: Shota Imanaga
NL MVP: Juan Soto

Good luck and Go Guards!