The first 12 weeks of the regular season are behind us and it’s now officially rivalry week. The Big Ten West Division’s representative in Indianapolis was decided last week, with the Iowa Hawkeyes cementing their division lead with their win over the Illinois Fighting Illini the previous weekend. The Big Ten’s most crucial game of the season is still upon us. The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 3 Michigan Wolverines will clash on Saturday, November 25.
Here are the Big Ten football power rankings entering Week 13.
Big Ten Football Power Rankings Entering Week 13
14. Indiana Hoosiers
Record: 3-8 (1-7 B1G)
Last Week: Michigan State 24-21
This Week: @ Purdue
The Indiana Hoosiers fell short against the Michigan State Spartans 24-21 last week. With only one game left against rival Purdue Boilermakers, it will close out another disappointing season under head coach Tom Allen. The Hoosiers get a chance to finish the season in the win column against a lowly Boilermakers team.
13. Purdue Boilermakers
Record: 3-8 (2-6 B1G)
Last Week: Northwestern 15-23
This Week: Indiana
Purdue has had a very disappointing first season under head coach Ryan Walters. The Boilermakers had a rough showing against the Northwestern Wildcats without senior quarterback Hudson Card. Luckily, Walters has a decent amount of talent for the coming seasons, so Purdue should improve.
12. Michigan State Spartans
Record: 4-7 (2-6 B1G)
Last Week: Indiana 24-21
This Week: Penn State (Ford Field)
The Spartans will most likely miss a bowl game to end the season, but they have done their best to get everything they could out of this season. With their win over Indiana last week, Michigan State will go on the road to Detroit, Michigan, at Ford Field to face the Penn State Nittany Lions.
11. Illinois Fighting Illini
Record: 5-6 (3-5 B1G)
Last Week: Iowa 13-15
This Week: Northwestern
The Illinois Fighting Illini struggled against the Hawkeyes, losing 15-13, letting Iowa clinch the Big Ten West. The Fighting Illini can get to bowl eligibility against the Wildcats, who have clinched bowl eligibility themselves. There is a theme within the entire college football landscape, with many teams needing a win to get to a bowl game, if you couldn’t tell.
10. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Record: 5-6 (3-5 B1G)
Last Week: Wisconsin 17-24 OT
This Week: Iowa (Fri)
The quest for bowl eligibility continues for the Nebraska Cornhuskers after entering November 5-3. After getting a quick 14-0 lead over the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, the Huskers only scored three points the rest of the way. However, they still can become bowl-eligible on Friday when the Hawkeyes are in town. It should be interesting, as you don’t see a 5-6 team being favored over a 9-2 team. Regardless, it has been an improvement under first-year head coach Matt Rhule and should be something to watch in the upcoming seasons.
9. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Record: 5-6 (3-5 B1G)
Last Week: Ohio State 3-37
This Week: Wisconsin
Look at that: another Big Ten West team looking to get their sixth win in the final week of the regular season. The Minnesota Golden Gophers were in the driver’s seat in the west after their win over Iowa on Oct. 21. They entered November with a 5-3 record, just like Nebraska. Now, they are on a three-game losing streak going into their matchup with the Badgers.
8. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Record: 6-5 (3-5 B1G)
Last Week: Penn State 6-27
This Week: Maryland
After starting 4-1, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights enter the final week of the regular season with only six wins. However, they are bowl-eligible. Despite that, they can finish with a winning record against the Maryland Terrapins. It could be their first winning record since 2014, when they finished with eight wins.
7. Maryland Terrapins
Record: 6-5 (3-5 B1G)
Last Week: Michigan 24-31
This Week: @ Rutgers
The Terrapins started the season 5-0 but have only won one game since the middle of October. Maryland kept it close against the Michigan Wolverines but fell short. Now, against the Scarlet Knights, the Terrapins can end the 2023 regular season with a winning season.
6. Wisconsin Badgers
Record: 6-5 (4-4 B1G)
Last Week: Nebraska 24-17 OT
This Week: @ Minnesota
Wisconsin ended their three-game losing streak with a win over the Huskers last week and became bowl-eligible on senior night. It’s been a disappointing first season under head coach Luke Fickell, but they continue to find a way to win games and it should be interesting to see where they are in the future. Now, they can finish with a winning season in their rivalry game against the Gophers.
5. Northwestern Wildcats
Record: 6-5 (4-4 B1G)
Last Week: Purdue 23-15
This Week: @ Illinois
Wow, talk about an impressive season for now full-time head coach David Braun now. Braun took over the Wildcats program in a monumental low and now are bowl-eligible after their win over the Boilermakers. They now get a chance to finish with a winning record against the Illini.
4. No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes
Record: 9-2 (6-2 B1G)
Last Week: Illinois 15-13
This Week: @ Nebraska
Iowa finally secured the Big Ten West last week with their win over Illinois 15-13. After relying on their great defense and special teams, the Hawkeyes will be on their way to Indianapolis, regardless of what happens against the Huskers on Black Friday.
3. No. 11 Penn State Nittany Lions
Record: 9-2 (6-2 B1G)
Last Week: Rutgers 27-6
This Week: Michigan State (Ford Field)
Once again, the Penn State Nittany Lions will fall short of the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. However, the 2023 season has been a success, as they can still finish with 11 wins, a win over the Spartans and a win in bowl season. It will allow for some momentum going into next season, with a decent amount of young players on the roster.
T1. No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
Record: 11-0 (8-0 B1G)
Last Week: Minnesota 37-3
This Week: @ Michigan
Well, who could have guessed it? The Big Ten East division is coming down to “The Game.” Ohio State and Michigan face off for the division crown and another win to add to their College Football Playoff resume. The question is, can head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes end their two-game losing streak to Wolverines?
T1. No. 3 Michigan Wolverines
Record: 11-0 (8-0 B1G)
Last Week: Maryland 31-24
This Week: Ohio State
Despite head coach Jim Harbaugh being suspended for the rest of the regular season, the Wolverines have won two crucial road games against the Nittany Lions and Maryland. With the entire country awaiting this game, Michigan has an opportunity to prove that it is the best team in the country. Ohio State and Michigan will face off at 11 a.m. CDT on FOX.
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