Ranking Best Big Ten Football Matchups of Week 7
Ohio State's showdown with Wisconsin isn't just the Big Ten game of the week—it's one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2016 season to date.
The No. 2 Buckeyes will travel to Madison, Wisconsin, to face off against the No. 8 Badgers in prime time. ESPN's College GameDay will be in town to take in the sights and sounds as the upper echelon of the Big Ten continues to take shape.
But outside of Madison, it should be a relatively quiet week for the conference.
Big Ten East Division heavyweights Michigan and Penn State are on bye weeks, and with that, the league slate is lacking in high-end, nationally appealing matchups.
No. 5: Illinois vs. Rutgers
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Both Illinois and Rutgers hit the reset button during the offseason and brought in new coaches, both of whom were lauded when initially announced.
The Illini brought in Lovie Smith, the former NFL head coach who led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl appearance in 2006. It's been a tough start for Smith in Champaign, however, as Illinois has stumbled to a 1-4 start and is coming off a stunning 34-31 overtime loss to Big Ten bottom-dweller Purdue.
As bad as things are for Illinois, it's worse for Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights hired former Ohio State defensive coordinator Chris Ash to replace Kyle Flood. He was brought in to compete with Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State in a loaded Big Ten East Division, but the Buckeyes and Wolverines showed just how much separation exists between their programs as they outscored Rutgers 136-0 over the last two weeks.
On Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, New Jersey, one of these programs and head coaches is going to get a much-needed shot in the arm with a victory.
No. 4: Minnesota vs. Maryland
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While Illinois and Rutgers struggle through the transition with their new head coaches, Maryland has surged in head coach D.J. Durkin's first year.
The Terrapins have kept the explosiveness on offense that they were aiming for under former head coach Randy Edsall, but Durkin has installed a new intensity defensively. Through the first four games of the season, Maryland surrendered an average of just 14.5 points per game, which triggered a 4-0 start.
But things fell apart on the road last week against a surging Penn State squad. The Terrapins gave up an incredible 372 rushing yards in a 38-14 loss to the Nittany Lions.
Durkin's squad will look to rebound against a Minnesota team that's limping into Week 7. The Gophers started the season with a perfect nonconference slate, but they narrowly dropped their first two league games to Penn State and Iowa.
No. 3: Northwestern vs. Michigan State
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How far the Spartans have fallen.
Michigan State came into the season ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll, aiming at another Big Ten title and playoff run, but after starting the season 2-0—including what looked like a marquee 36-28 win over Notre Dame—the Spartans completely fell apart in losses to Wisconsin, Indiana and BYU.
Now at 2-3 on the season, and licking their wounds after a bruising 31-14 loss at the hands of the Cougars, Michigan State needs to bounce back quickly not only to salvage its season, but to fight for bowl eligibility.
The Spartans still have games against Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, all of which will be very difficult to win if they continue their subpar play. If they lose those three games, they'll have to go unbeaten in their other four games just to make it to .500 and a bowl.
That starts this weekend when the Spartans host a Northwestern team that had similarly high expectations but also fell way short of them once the season kicked off. The Wildcats are 2-3, just like Michigan State, and both teams need a win on Saturday to get their seasons back on track.
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No. 2: Nebraska vs. Indiana
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Nebraska is coming off a bye week after a closer-than-expected 31-16 win over Illinois, but that didn't stop it from making a big move in the latest AP Poll.
With Houston and Miami falling, the 5-0 Cornhuskers ascended to the No. 10 ranking despite boasting just one victory against a team with a winning record (Wyoming, 4-2).
Have the Cornhuskers risen to the No. 10 spot by default, or are they that good?
We'll get an answer to that question on Saturday when they travel to Bloomington, Indiana, for a 3:30 p.m. ET showdown with the Hoosiers.
In a typical year, Indiana wouldn't be much of a test for a Top 10 team, but it has proven feisty and more than capable in 2016. After downing Michigan State in overtime two weeks ago, the Hoosiers hit the road and gave No. 2 Ohio State its toughest fight this season, which is impressive considering the Buckeyes' Week 3 trip to Oklahoma.
Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong will have to be at his best against an Indiana defense that is much improved.
No. 1: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
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Trips to Wisconsin rarely go well for Ohio State when it's contending for a national championship.
Back in 2003, the undefeated No. 3 Buckeyes traveled to Madison for a prime-time matchup. The Badgers stifled Craig Krenzel and the Ohio State offense, snapping a 19-game win streak and spoiling the Buckeyes' chances of winning another BCS national championship.
Seven years later in 2010, the unbeaten No. 1 Buckeyes again invaded Madison, but their title hopes were dashed by defensive end J.J. Watt, running back John Clay and a motivated Badgers team that sprung a 31-18 upset.
This year's Buckeyes are trying to avoid a similar fate, but they'll have to get much more from their passing attack to get the win. Last week against the Hoosiers, J.T. Barrett threw for just 93 yards in an ugly win.
The Badgers will bring a much stronger defense against the Buckeyes, and they'll be well rested as they're coming off a bye week. If Wisconsin wins, its playoff hopes will get a much-needed boost, while Ohio State's postseason aspirations would take a big hit.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
