College Football Rankings: Big Ten Power Rankings Heading into Week 12

How do the Big Ten teams rank out?  Power rankings for the Big Ten heading into Week 12 are more difficult in 2011 than, perhaps, any season in recent memory.

The Big Ten, though, has been exciting to watch so far.  It's exciting to think that on any given Saturday, any Big Ten team can beat another.  There doesn't seem to be one dominant team.

And that's good football.

Ohio State and Penn State, perennial powerhouses in the Big Ten, have been struck by scandal in 2011.  Who would have ever thought at this time last season that Jim Tressel and Joe Paterno would no longer be coaching their respective programs?  

These circumstances have created a power void in the Big Ten.  Michigan State, Wisconsin and Nebraska are taking every advantage of their opportunity to shine.

12. Indiana Hoosiers (0-6, 1-9)

Key Big Ten win: N/A

Up next: Michigan State Spartans on November 19

The Indiana Hoosiers have continued to struggle greatly in 2011, not just in the Big Ten but in non-conference play as well.

Struggling might be putting it mildly.

The Hoosiers only close contest in the Big Ten was a disappointing loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions, 16-10, back in Week 5.  Since then, they have lost every game by multiple touchdowns.

11. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-8, 1-5)

Key Big Ten win: Iowa Hawkeyes (22-21, October 29)

Up next: Northwestern Wildcats on November 19

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have gone through a roller-coaster type season in 2011.  While their record does not indicate it, they have been competitive in most of their conference and non-conference games. 

Back in Week 1, the Gophers took the USC Trojans to the wire in a 19-17 loss.  They also had the lead heading into the 4th quarter against the BCS contending Michigan State Spartans.

Inconsistency and defensive lapses have crushed the Golden Golphers' dreams in 2011.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini (6-4, 2-4)

Key Big Ten win: Northwestern Wildcats (38-35, October 1)

Up next: Wisconsin Badgers on November 19

The Illinois Fighting Illini have under-performed since the start of Big Ten conference play.  At best, that is an understatement.

After padding their stats against teams such as Arkansas State and South Dakota State, Ron Zook and the Fighting Illini stumbled when confronted with Big Ten competition.

They have not, to this point, beaten a Big Ten team who has a winning record.

9. Purdue Boilermakers (5-5, 3-3)

Key Big Ten win: Ohio State Buckeyes (26-23 OT, November 12)

Up next: Iowa Hawkeyes on November 19

The 2011 Purdue Boilermakers have been hit or miss.  That is of course, unless they are playing at home where they are an impressive 5-1.

A huge upset over the struggling Ohio State Buckeyes in overtime of Week 11 has propelled Purdue into bowl contention discussions.

If they can win out, including a tough matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes in Week 12, a bowl game very well may be in their immediate future.

8. Northwestern Wildcats (5-5, 2-4)

Key Big Ten win: Nebraska Cornhuskers (28-25, November 5)

Up next: Minnesota Golden Gophers on November 19

Northwestern Wildcats' Offensive Coordinator Mike McCall has invigorated the Wildcats with his spread-style offense.

Northwestern has struggled with inconsistency and defense but they have electrified the division with their spread offense and "never quit" mentality.

Defense has been of little concern though, as the Wildcats offense has been unstoppable at times.

7. Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4, 3-3)

Key Big Ten win: Michigan Wolverines (24-16, November 5)

Up next: Purdue Boilermakers on November 19

The Iowa Hawkeyes did not have heavy expectations heading into the 2011 season.  However, they have performed satisfactorily and are currently bowl eligible for the 2011 bowl season.

A big victory over the Michigan Wolverins in Week 9 is the lone high point for the Hawkeyes.  Against other—winning—Big Ten teams, they have floundered.

The final two weeks of the season are crucial for the Hawkeyes.  They travel to take on the tough Purdue Boilermakers on the road in Week 12 and then travel again to Lincoln to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the season finale.

A win in either of these two contests will improve their bowl game selection.  However, Iowa is win-less in Big Ten competition on the road in 2011.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-4, 3-3)

Key Big Ten win: Wisconsin Badgers (33-29, October 29)

Up next: Penn State Nittany Lions on November 19

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Big Ten Championship have been synonymous over the past decade.  The fallout dust just started to settle in Columbus from the offseason scandal that resulted in the resignation of head coach Jim Tressel.

The Buckeyes were surprisingly winning and in position to gain a berth to the new Big Ten Title Game.

However, a tough defeat in overtime last week against the Purdue Boilermakers has hampered the Buckeye faithful's hopes of winning the first-ever Big Ten Title Game.

5. Penn State Nittany Lions (8-2, 5-1)

Key Big Ten win: N/A

Up next: Ohio State Buckeyes on November 19

The Penn State Nittany Lions are reeling from a sexual abuse scandal that house rocked their entire university.  Joe Paterno, a fixture in Penn State, Big Ten and College Football lore was dismissed over allegations he did not properly report findings of misconduct by former staff member Jerry Sandusky.

The Nittany Lions look to put the distractions behind them following a tough loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Week 11.

However, heading into Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes is no easy task.  The Buckeyes—playing in the "Horseshoe"—are a formidable foe for even the most focused adversary.

To make matters worse for the Nittany Lions, they host the tough Wisconsin Badgers in the season finale the following week.

It may get very ugly, very soon in Happy Valley.

4. Michigan Wolverines (8-2, 4-2)

Key Big Ten win: N/A

Up next: Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 19

The Michigan Wolverines have finally seemed to have turned a corner in their football program.

After years of struggling and playing in the shadow of the Ohio State Buckeyes, head coach Brady Hoke has harnessed the raw ability of Denard Robinson and turned the Wolverines into an offensive juggernaut.

In Week 12, the Wolverines face a stiff challenge when they head to Lincoln to take on the imposing Nebraska Cornhuskers.  Can Michigan's defense rise to the challenge and hold the Huskers in check?  

Points may be at a premium as the Huskers' defense is certainly and upgrade over the teams they have been lighting up the scoreboard against.

In a 28-14 Week 7 loss to rival Michigan State, the Wolverines were only able to amass 250 yards of total offense against the Spartans' stout defense.

Their true test, though, still lies ahead in the season finale against their arch nemesis, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

A victory, on the road in the "Horseshoe" will be a true testament to just how far the Wolverines have come.

3. Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-2, 4-2)

Key Big Ten win: Michigan State (24-3, October 29)

Up next: Michigan Wolverines on November 19

The Nebraska Cornhuskers can still win the Big Ten Legends Division.  They must win their remaining games against the Michigan Wolverines and the Iowa Hawkeyes in order to have any hope of competing for the Big Ten Championship.

Michigan State, in all actuality, holds all the keys to the Cornhuskers future.  Even though the Huskers crushed the Spartans, 24-3, the Spartans have only lost one conference game.  Their final two games are against an awful Indiana Hoosier squad and then the high octane Northwestern Wildcats in the season finale.

It doesn't look good, at this point, for the Cornhuskers.

The upset loss on Nov. 5 to Northwestern looks like it will haunt the Huskers until next season.

On the bright side, Nebraska has integrated well into the Big Ten and has only added to the great competition in the conference.

2. Michigan State Spartans (8-2, 5-1)

Key Big Ten win: Wisconsin Badgers (37-31, October 22)

Up next: Indiana Hoosiers on November 19

The Michigan State Spartans have not played to their potential in every game in 2011.  A tough non-conference beating from the Notre Dame Irish and a drubbing from the Nebraska Cornhuskers have left many question marks in the air about the Spartan offense.

Specifically, quarterback Kirk Cousins.

However, their incredible upset over the Wisconsin Badgers showed their offense does have a pulse and can rise to the challenge on the big stage.  Victories over the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes showed their defense can dominate and carry the team when needed.

As it stands heading into Week 12, the Spartans control their own destiny in the race for the first ever Big Ten Title Game.  They play a lowly Indian Hoosier team in Week 12.

However, in Week 13, things may get interesting for the Legends Division leaders.  They storm into Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois to take on the unpredictable and highly explosive Northwestern Wildcats.

Can the Spartans contain the spread offense that gave Nebraska fits in Week 9?

Their season, Nebraska's season depend on their ability to do so or not.

1. Wisconsin Badgers (8-2, 4-2)

Key Big Ten win: Nebraska Cornhuskers (48-17, October 1)

Up next: Illinois Fighting Illini on November 19

The Wisconsin Badgers are a tricky team to try and understand.  At times, they are imposing and completely dominant in all facets of the game.

Their defense has been impenetrable all season with exception to the consecutive losses they suffered to the Michigan State Spartans and Ohio State Buckeyes in Weeks 7 and 8.  They are currently sixth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 15.8 points per game.

That is staggering for a college defense.

The Badger offense are no slouches either.  Their offense scores the fourth most points per game at 46.5 and their rushing attack is 10th in the nation with over 250 yards per game.

Wisconsin meets the Leaders Division leading Penn State Nittany Lions in the season finale in what will likely be the deciding game to determine who goes to the first ever Big Ten Title Game.