Big Ten Power Rankings: Ohio State Is Back on Top

Ohio State may have claimed the top spot in this week's poll, but Penn State still controls their own Rose Bowl destiny.  Beat Michigan State and the Nittany Lions are going to Pasadena, and a win and a loss by Ohio State would earn the Lions an outright title. 

A loss would not only end any sliver of hope for the National Championship, but would eliminate them from the Big Ten Championship as well.  That would be devastating to the Penn State faithful, who believed this was the year their Lions would challenge for the crystal trophy.

For Ohio State, a fifth straight win over hated rival Michigan would earn them at least a share of their fourth straight Big Ten title.  A loss by Penn State would mean the Buckeyes would be headed to Pasadena.

Michigan State needs to beat Penn State and root for their most hated rival to beat the Buckeyes for a trip to Pasadena.  But if the Spartans beat the Lions, they would clinch a share of the Big Ten title in only Mark Dantonio's second season.

Two games will determine who wins the Big Ten title.  It will definitely be fun to watch.

The Big Ten Power Rankings are voted on by Big Ten Community members Bobby Cash, Joe Guarr, Adam Lindemar, Nino Colla, and Kristofer Green.

1.  Ohio State  (3)  53

Bobby:  This is the week you live for if you go to Ohio State.

Joe:  OSU will likely earn at least a share of the Big Ten title for the fourth straight season. Consistency, thy name is Tressel.

Adam:  Looking more and more like the true Buckeyes with each passing week. If they win out, it would solidify a BCS appearance.

Nino:  If they handle their business, a 10-2 season is not a bad one, especially one in which Pryor got all sorts of experience.

Kristofer:  The Buckeyes got their revenge in Champaign, and now their focus has turned to "that team up north."  Not since the days of Woody and Bo has a coach embraced the rivalry quite like Jim Tressel has.  The Buckeyes know anything can happen and will be ready for the Wolverines on Saturday.

2.  Penn State  (2)  52

Bobby:  Another sluggish start sets up a big game against Sparty for the Rose Bowl.

Joe:  Bounced back from a tough loss when they needed to. Their NC hopes are gone, but they still have a good chance at a conference title.

Adam:  More of a first place tie in the conference. Hard to say who is better, PSU or OSU.

Nino:  Put up or shut up for Penn State this week—nothing more than that.

Kristofer:  The Nittany Lions can clinch a Rose Bowl berth with a win over the Spartans on Saturday.  But the Spartans have something to play for as well.  The Battle for the Land Grant Trophy will be a tough, physical struggle.

3.  Michigan State  45

Bobby:  A win in Beaver stadium would preserve a share of the Big Ten Title.

Joe:  It's only year two of the Mark Dantonio era, and the Spartans could earn a surprise Rose Bowl berth.

Adam:  Sparty could get into a BCS bowl, but they'll need some help in the final weeks.

Nino:  What a job it would be for Mark Dantonio to get his team to a BCS Bowl. They proved they can go into Michigan and win.  Maybe this is a different program if they at least make it tough 'til the final whistle.

Kristofer:  The Spartans are playing for a shot at a share of the Big Ten title only two short seasons into the Mark Dantonio era.  Dantonio has changed the culture in East Lansing and in the process made Michigan State the most dangerous team in Michigan.

4.  Iowa  38

Bobby:  Shonn Greene is one of, if not the best, backs in the country right now.

Joe:  They've rebounded from a disappointing start to the season to earn a berth in a warm-weather bowl. Likely see either the Champs Sports Bowl or the Alamo Bowl.

Nino:  I have them ahead of Minnesota.  Let's go out and see them prove it.

Kristofer:  Iowa is playing with confidence and is riding their stud tailback all the way to a January bowl game.  In the preseason the talk about Iowa was their off-field transgressions.  Now, it's all about Gang Greene and the resurgent Hawkeyes' on-field successes.

5.  Northwestern  36

Bobby:  Nice win going on the road in bad weather—too bad it was against Michigan.

Joe:  Won a tough game on the road, in the snow against Michigan. Doesn't matter that Michigan is a probable nine-loss team, it was still big for the Wildcats.

Adam:  Still hard to believe that the Wildcats are actually in the top half of the conference.

Nino:  I have to give them some credit. The Michigan game was one that they typically lose, like the way they lost to Indiana. They turned that around, and Pat Fitzgerald has this team going in the right direction.

Kristofer:  The Wildcats rebounded nicely from their embarrassing loss to Ohio State and are still playing for a January Bowl.  Pat Fitzgerald has done a remarkable job in Evanston.

6.  Wisconsin  31

Bobby:  After a terrible start, this team has put a string of nice wins together.

Joe:  Big comeback win against Minnesota showed Wisconsin does have talent and defense. Unfortunately it's about two months too late.

Adam:  Realizing once again that if they run the football, and run it well, they can't be stopped. Have actually become bowl-eligible, and if the Badgers can beat Cal Poly next week, they'll be playing in one more game...in December. I still wonder how safe Bielema's job is though? Honestly, the team was better with him as D-coordinator.

Nino:  At least they are bowl eligible. Interesting that they wrap up with Cal Poly.

Kristofer:  Just a few weeks removed from being left for dead, the Badgers are bowl eligible and playing Badger football again.  Too bad their final game is against FCS Cal Poly.  It will hurt them come bowl selection time.

7.  Minnesota  25

Bobby:  After a nice start, this team has regressed in the last few weeks.

Joe:  The Gophers probably should have waited until the game was over to "Jump Around."

Adam:  They lost the axe, but at least they'll be "bowling" in December.

Nino:  It's gone from a great season to a so-so one. Eight wins will be impressive if they manage to beat Iowa.

Kristofer:  The Gophers put up a brave fight against the Badgers, but turnovers, which were once uncharacteristic for this team, have now become commonplace.  Tim Brewster has done a nice job in Minneapolis, though, and the Gophers are certainly on the rise.

8.  Illinois  20

Bobby:  Probably the biggest disappointment in the Big Ten this year.

Joe:  Are we witnessing the end of the Juice Williams era in Illinois?

Nino:  Does anyone else realize that this team is one loss away from going to Rose Bowl to No-Bowl?

Kristofer:  The Illini are not a bad team, but they make too many mistakes to overcome.  When they are on, they can play with any team in the conference.  But they have been more off than on this season and they may miss out on a bowl because of it.

9.  Purdue  13

Bobby:  Tiller's final week is upon us.

Joe:  Next season HAS to be better than this one.

Adam:  Not the laughingstock of the Big Ten anymore.

Nino:  Win the game, stay out of the basement—that is your reward for beating Indiana.

Kristofer:  The Boilermakers will be playing for more than bragging rights when they face rival Indiana on Saturday.  They are playing for pride.

10.  Michigan  12

Bobby:  Rich Rod is breaking a lot of streaks in Ann Arbor. Too bad they are not the streaks you want to be breaking: first bowl-less season in 33 years, and a loss to Ohio State means first time ever with nine losses.

Joe:  They still don't have a quarterback. At this point, it doesn't matter.

Adam:  Year one under Rich-Rod has been unsuccessful, but next year should be much better.

Nino:  They better be putting all their eggs in one basket at this point. They fought Northwestern hard, which at least gives them a little hope next week.

Kristofer:  The Wolverines would love nothing more than to play spoiler once again to the Buckeyes.  Rich Rodriguez may be new to the rivalry, but he knows how huge a win in Columbus would be for his team and the Michigan faithful.  They will be ready, but will it be enough?

11.  Indiana  5

Bobby:  How did they win one game in the Big Ten?

Joe:  They could be propping up the Big Ten table in both football and basketball this year. Not the year Hoosiers fans were hoping for after the success of last season.

Adam:  The good news for the Hoosiers...one game left in this dreadful season. However, it's against Purdue.

Nino:  They've got one shot to not end up as the Big Ten basement dweller.

Kristofer:  Bill Lynch couldn't make magic happen twice.  The Hoosiers played tough in Happy Valley last week for two quarters, but just don't have enough to hang with the big boys.