Week 11 Big Ten Power Rankings

After a couple of key matchups in week 11 of the college football season, the Big Ten rankings are looking a little more clear. For a look at last week’s rankings, read here. While the top two teams may still change, a couple of other positions have potentially solidified. Here is a look at the week 11 Big Ten Power Rankings.

Big Ten Power Rankings Week 11

1: Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0)

Next Opponent: Minnesota Golden Gophers

The top two teams that Ohio State has defeated this season are Notre Dame and Penn State. Now that Michigan has played Penn State, the difference between these two teams is a tad more clear. The Buckeyes also had a dominating offensive showing against Michigan State. Truthfully, the final week of the season is when the rankings will be finalized, but for now, the Buckeyes lead the Big Ten.

2: Michigan Wolverines (10-0)

Next Opponent: Maryland Terrapins

The Michigan Wolverines defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions and are still undefeated. The Wolverines have finally beat a real opponent, but they could not get the passing game going. Unless Michigan defeats Ohio State later in the season, it is looking like they are second in the Big Ten.

3: Penn State Nittany Lions (8-2)

Next Opponent: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Once again, the Penn State Nittany Lions lost a game against a top team. This offense has the players, but they looked completely lost out there. They have parted ways with their offensive coordinator, and they did defeat Iowa, who has a strong defense, but it is too late to be moved up. This loss solidifies them in third in the Big Ten.

4: Iowa Hawkeyes (8-2)

Next Opponent: Illinois Fighting Illini

It wasn’t pretty, but the Iowa Hawkeyes got another win this season and now sit at an 8-2 record. Their defense is strong, and their offense was able to get something going against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. This team is on pace to win the Big Ten West and has the potential to win out the rest of the season. To possibly end with just two losses is big for a team that has been hit with offensive injuries is what is keeping them a top-four team.

5: Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-4)

Next Opponent: Penn State Nittany Lions

The game against Iowa was not pretty for Rutgers. The Hawkeyes have a strong defense, but the Scarlet Knights offense should have been able to get something going. Putting up no points throughout the entire game is not good, pushing the Scarlet Knights down in the Big Ten power rankings.

6: Maryland Terrapins (6-4)

Next Opponent: Michigan Wolverines

The Maryland Terrapins finally broke their losing streak against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This was a must-win game, keeping them in sixth in this week’s Big Ten power rankings. There is no doubt that they would have fallen more if they lost. They have a tough opponent next week, but now have some momentum they can use.

7: Illinois Fighting Illini (5-5)

Next Opponent: Iowa Hawkeyes

Deciding the rankings for seventh and below is difficult because these teams can face each other, and all have a chance to win. For now, the Illinois Fighting Illini are in seventh. Even in their losses, Illinois put up fights in their games. Based on how they are able to stay competitive, as well as other teams losing key games, the Illini are up to seventh in the Big Ten.

8: Wisconsin Badgers (5-5)

Next Opponent: Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Wisconsin Badgers started their season with high hopes but have slowly fallen as the year progressed. After another loss of the season, the Badgers are now ranked eighth in the Big Ten. Their biggest win of the season so far was against Rutgers, and looking back, they almost fell apart in the second half. The Badgers need to find a way to get something going with two games left.

9: Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-5)

Next Opponent: Wisconsin Badgers

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are a solid middle team in the Big Ten. They started off slow but picked it up. The Cornhuskers cannot be trusted to win every game, but they have done much better as the season progressed. It will be interesting to see where they end up with just two more games left of the 2023 season.

10: Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-5)

Next Opponent: Ohio State Buckeyes

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have had some solid games, but after losing two weeks in a row, and about to face a really tough opponent, they sit at tenth in the Big Ten. Last weekend they should have defeated Purdue, but they gave up 49 points. This made them drop this week, and it is not looking like they are going to move back up in these rankings.

11: Indiana Hoosiers (3-7)

Next Opponent: Michigan State Spartans

Somewhere somehow, Indiana’s offense found a way to put up a fight. It is not enough for them to be ranked in the top ten, but in the past couple of weeks, they did figure some things out. They put up a fight to start the game against Rutgers, they really fought against Penn State, finally won against Wisconsin, and only lost by three points against Illinois. It is too late to be bowl-eligible with three wins, and two weeks left in the season, but the Indiana Hoosiers are trying to fight late in the season.

12: Northwestern Wildcats (5-5)

Next Opponent: Purdue Boilermakers

The Northwestern Wildcats got a huge win over the weekend against Wisconsin. No matter what the Wildcats record is, they have pulled off some big wins this season. They may be ranked 12th in the Big Ten rankings, but they can definitely get another win this year, giving them six this season. Evidently, losing their coach right before the season did not hurt them the way many expected it to.

13: Michigan State Spartans (3-7)

Next Opponent: Indiana Hoosiers

The Michigan State Spartans were completely blown out over the weekend. Granted, it was against Ohio State, but they are a bottom-two team in the Big Ten this season. The blowout does not push them to the 14th, but they are going to have a rough next two weeks to not fall to that spot.

14: Purdue Boilermakers (3-7)

Next Opponent: Northwestern Wildcats

Credit where credit is due, the Purdue Boilermakers had an impressive win in week 11. They defeated Minnesota with a final score of 49-30. This was a big win for them, but judging from the full season, they cannot be raised from 14th, at least not yet. They have to face two more Big Ten opponents before there is a debate that they can move up.