It was probably to be expected, but Penn State continues to be slumping in the Big Ten power rankings compiled and organized by Talking 10 this week. After losing two straight games in Big Ten play to Northwestern and Michigan, the Nittany Lions finished in sixth place in the Big Ten East in the most recent polling of Big Ten bloggers. Penn State finished with 19 points in this week’s voting, just six ahead of Indiana and nine behind Michigan. Of course, Penn State only finished five points behind on the scoreboard, if you’re into comparing numbers that have no right being compared.
Here is how the voters rank the Big Ten East.
1. Michigan State
2. Ohio State
3. (tie) Rutgers
3. (tie) Maryland
5. Michigan
6. PENN STATE
7. Indiana
The Spartans received all first-place votes among Big Ten East teams, which is to be expected, and Ohio State has a firm hold on second place. Personally, I have Michigan State still as the team to beat in the conference but Ohio State is quickly moving up in my mind.
In my most recently updated College Football Playoff projection this week, I still have Michigan State representing the Big Ten in the four-team field, but Ohio State is officially on my radar. Since the Virginia Tech loss at home, the Buckeyes have looked pretty darn good. Penn State has a week off to rest up after the Michigan loss and prepare for the Ohio State game next week, and they will need it. The Buckeyes are home against Rutgers this weekend, so Penn State fans will hope Rutgers can rough up the Buckeyes a little bit before next Saturday night. I don’t see that happening.
Nebraska was the top team in the Big Ten West this week, although I remain a little skeptical about the Cornhuskers as a clear-cut favorite in the division. I still want to say Wisconsin has enough to get the job done in the west, although they have been far from the team I expected to see this season. Minnesota is surging nicely too, but I suspect the Gophers are in for a rough second half of the season.
Go ahead and share with me your Big Ten power ranking, or at least for the Big Ten east. See the full power rankings via Talking 10.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
