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Sport
Phil Harrison

Big Ten football power rankings after Week 12: Ohio State or Michigan? The stage is set.

It was yet another interesting week of Big Ten football.

Michigan and Ohio State continued to win but had to pull games out of the fire to do so. Penn State continued to impress in the East. We gained a little more clarity in the West with Purdue and Iowa winning to set up a weekend when the Hawkeyes control their own path to Indy.

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It all has us reassessing the pecking order in the Big Ten. It’s pretty easy to figure out what the top three teams are, but beyond that, good luck using your flow charts, darts and magic eight-balls to figure it all out.

We like a challenge, so we try to make sense of it all after each weekend, and here’s how we see the landscape of things in our Big Ten football power rankings after Week 12.

14
Northwestern Wildcats (1-10, 1-7)

Oct. 8, 2022; Evanston, Illinois; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Ryan Hilinski (3) against the Wisconsin Badgers at Ryan Field. Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Lost at Purdue, 17-9

Previous week Change
14 no change

Northwestern actually did something hard to do: maintain sole possession of last place in the Big Ten West division with yet another loss on American soil.

Next Up

vs. Illinois

 

13
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-7, 1-7)

Sept. 10, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano watches the action against the Wagner Seahawks during the second half at SHI Stadium. Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Lost vs. Penn State, 55-10

Previous week Change
12 -1

It sure looked like a promising season at the beginning, but Greg Schiano and gang ran out of wood to chop once the Big Ten season started and are swinging at air toward the finish line.

Next Up

at Maryland

12
Indiana Hoosiers (4-7, 2-6)

Nov. 12, 2022; Columbus, Ohio; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Xavier Johnson (10) returns the kick as Indiana Hoosiers running back Charlie Spegal (28) and defensive back Devon Matthews (1) makes the tackle during the first quarter at Ohio Stadium. Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Won at Michigan State, 39-31

Previous week Change
13 +1

Just when you thought the entire state of Indiana had stopped caring about football, the Hoosiers go and win their first game since the temperatures were in the 80s in the Midwest. It’ll probably be that long again.

Next Up

at Ohio State

 

11
Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-8, 2-6)

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Lost vs. Wisconsin, 15-14

Previous week Change
11 no change

The ghost of Scott Frost past found its way into Memorial Stadium again with the ‘Huskers finding a way to bumble away another close contest, this time to Wisconsin. Now Nebraska has to pin its season on ruining Iowa’s shot at a trip to Indianapolis next week.

Next Up

at Iowa

10
Michigan State Spartans (5-6, 3-5)

Oct. 1, 2022; College Park, Maryland; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mel Tucker reacts during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Lost vs. Indiana, 39-31

Previous week Change
7 -3

After turning things around and looking like big muscles Sparty, Michigan State lost to lowly Indiana and will probably be home for the holidays — and not in a good way. Unless that is, you think the green and white can beat Penn State.

Next Up

at Penn State

9
Wisconsin Badgers (6-5, 4-4)

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Won at Nebraska, 15-14

Previous week Change
10 +1

It has been anything but a beauty pageant for Wisconsin this year, but coming back to beat Nebraska on the road is a very underrated win, and one that gets the Badgers bowl eligible. That’s something you can build more than a dam off of moving forward.

Next Up

vs. Minnesota

8
Maryland Terrapins (6-5, 3-5)

Nov. 19, 2022; College Park, Maryland; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Lathan Ransom (12) comes up short on the tackle of Maryland Terrapins running back Roman Hemby (24) in the second quarter of their Big Ten game at SECU Stadium. Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Lost vs. Ohio State, 43-30

Previous week Change
9 +1

Maryland was as healthy as it has been for weeks against Ohio State, and it showed. The Terps played with a lot of emotion and heart, but came up just short against the Buckeyes at home. There’s a bowl at the end of the rainbow in 2022, but this team has to find a way to win games late in the season and not lean on moral victories.

Next Up

vs. Rutgers

7
Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-4, 4-4)

Nov. 12, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck leads his team out onto the field before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Huntington Bank Stadium. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Lost vs. Iowa, 13-10

Previous week Change
4 -3

You might take issue with us dropping Minnesota so many spots after a close loss to Iowa, but we take offense to the Golden Gophers being one of the most schizophrenic teams in the Big Ten. P.J. Fleck can probably kiss any chance at the West division title goodbye after death blow type of loss.

Next Up

at Wisconsin

6
Illinois Fighting Illini (7-4, 4-4)

Oct. 29, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Tommy DeVito (3) looks to pass against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Lost at Michigan, 19-17

Previous week Change
5 -1

It’s tempting to keep the Illini higher in these rankings after the good showing at Michigan. The reality is Illinois has lost three games in a row, and you know by now we don’t give credit to teams for losses in this column. There should be a pretty good bowl game out of the deal in a good season to build on for Bret Bielema and company. Also, in all sincerity and honesty, we want to take this moment to send our sincere condolences to Bret Bielema for the passing of his mother this past week.

Next Up

at Northwestern

5
Purdue Boilermakers (7-4, 5-3)

Purdue Boilermakers tight ends Paul Piferi (89) and Payne Durham (87) celebrate Piferi’s touchdown on the Indiana State Sycamores defensive line on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Won vs. Illinois, 31-24

Previous week Change
8 +3

After tripping over itself three weeks ago, Purdue has found its footing again and is sitting right there ready to head to Indianapolis if Iowa stumbles next week. You know Purdue would love to have back a couple of those games it was more charitable than Mother Theresa when it comes to giving the football away this season.

Next Up

at Indiana

4
Iowa Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3)

Oct. 22, 2022; Columbus, Ohio; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz coaches during the second quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Won at Purdue, 24-3

Previous week Change
6 +2

I think it’s time to realize Iowa has gotten better ever since the Ohio State game. The offense is not moving backward at least, and the defense continues to dazzle. A win next week and the Hawkeyes are in Indy amazingly enough.

Next Up

vs. Nebraska

3
Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2, 6-2)

Nov. 12, 2022; University Park; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland, 30-0. Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Won vs. Rutgers, 55-10

Previous week Change
3 no change

Penn State had a loaded front end of the Big Ten schedule and has made a lot of hay on a back end that doesn’t include Ohio State and Michigan. It sure looks like the Nittany Lions have gotten a lot better and you wonder what would happen if they played the Buckeyes and Wolverines again.

Next Up

vs. Michigan State

2
Michigan Wolverines (11-0, 8-0)

Ronnie Bell #8 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a first-half touchdown while playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 12, 2022, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Last Week

Won vs. Illinois, 19-17

Previous week Change
2 no change

We’ve gone back and forth between Ohio State and Michigan all year with the No. 1 and No. 2 spot and this could probably really be 1A. However, the Wolverines just aren’t as explosive on offense and you have to wonder if Michigan can hold up against an elite offense. The good news is we’re about to find out.

Next Up

at Ohio State

1
Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0)

Nov. 19, 2022; College Park, Maryland; Ohio State Buckeyes takes the field before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week

Won vs. Indiana, 56-14

Previous week Change
1 no change

Ohio State struggled on offense in the first half again, especially on the ground, but the second half was a different story. The defense did enough to help out and now all eyes are set on the massive showdown with Michigan on Saturday.

Next Up

vs. Michigan

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.

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