Big Ten West Power Ranking: Hawkeyes Prove A Lot in Win
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
A look at the Big Ten West after a couple of big games
Iowa football was part of a confusing middle of the pack Big Ten West. After the two dominating teams of the division, who each still rank in the top-10 of the AP Poll, Iowa and a couple of other teams hadn’t yet separated themselves from the group.
With every team at least at the halfway point of the year, there is a better grasp of where each team in the Big Ten West stack up with each other. As a whole, the division went 5-2 on the week and Purdue losing to Iowa was the only inter-division matchup.
With Ohio State and Michigan being ranked second and third in the newest AP Poll, there’s no doubt the Big Ten East has a slight edge over the West. That being said, Wisconsin stayed in the top-10 after suffering their second loss of the season, swapping spots with Nebraska who is now the eighth ranked team in the nation.
The division is still wide open with a handful of teams with one loss. However, Nebraska is the last remaining undefeated team in the division, both overall and in conference play. The Cornhuskers control their own destiny, although about half of the division still has a legitimate chance of making the Big ten Championship Game and possibly the Rose Bowl.
Here’s a look at who the best and worst team in the division is.
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
No. 7 – Purdue Boilermakers 3-3 (1-2)
Last Week: 6
Purdue is .500 through the first half of the season and technically on pace to reach a bowl game. Don’t be fooled by the record and the Boilermakers hanging 35 points on Iowa, though. The Boilermakers rank 69th in the nation in points per game and 111th in points allowed per game. Plus, they’ll be projected to lose their last six games and will likely finish the season 3-9.
It would still be a win improvement over a season ago, although that didn’t stop Purdue from firing head coach Darrell Hazell on Sunday. Hazell has been at Purdue since 2011 and compiled a brutal 9-33 record. There were rumors that he was on the hot seat, and it finally happened after a 49-35 loss.
Purdue is a mess and going in a new direction makes sense. That being said, it doesn’t seem like firing him halfway through the season does any good. Their leading receiver through five weeks, Domonique Young, is out for the season and the Boilermakers are coming off back-to-back 30 point performances, including five touchdown passes from David Blough against Iowa.
The Boilermakers will now try to battle injuries and find an identity with an interim coach the rest of the season. It’s still the team that has allowed 42 more points than points scored this season, though, and that won’t change halfway through the season.
No one is expecting instant change with Hazell gone, not even Purdue. Although, the Boilermakers could be even worse the rest of the way. They travel to Nebraska this week in a game where the Cornhuskers have a chance to rush for 400 yards and score 50-plus points. The sad thing is that wouldn’t even be the first time Purdue has allowed 400 rushing yards in a single game this season.
Maybe the college football Gods are looking down on them and sending Les Miles their way. Probably not, but the Boilermakers are at least going to be an easy win for six more teams in 2016.
Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
No. 6 – Illinois Fighting Illini 2-4 (1-2)
Last Week: 7
When you look at the Big Ten West standings, Illinois and the tenth ranked Wisconsin Badgers are tied in conference play at 1-2. Granted Wisconsin has played three straight top-10 teams and Illinois lost to Purdue at home, but it’s a little humorous, nonetheless.
Illinois has been one of the most inconsistent teams in the nation this season, but found their footing against Rutgers. Sure, Rutgers is the doormat of the Big Ten this season, but Illinois just needed anything to go their way. They earned their second win of the season after four consecutive losses, but that might be their last win in 2016.
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Quarterback Wes Lunt didn’t play against Rutgers and might not be able to suit up against Michigan. That leaves sophomore quarterback Chayce Crouch as the Illini’s starter, who would much rather run than pass. Crouch completed just 6-of-14 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown, as well as throwing an interception against Rutgers.
Although Illinois had 43 rushes on the afternoon, including 108 yards from Kendrick Foster and a 28-yard run from Crouch. Michigan is only giving up 2.9 yards per carry and held Rutgers to 34 rushing yards in their last game. If Crouch doesn’t become a more reliable passer, Illinois will be down early against Michigan and will have a hard time winning any of their final six games.
As underwhelming as Lunt has played for Illinois, they need his arm to have a chance in games. Their defense hasn’t been terrible this year, only giving up 26.2 points per game, but their defense won’t win them games, and relying on the run isn’t a safe bet against the better teams in the Big Ten.
Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
No. 5 – Minnesota Golden Gophers 4-2 (1-2)
Last Week: 5
Minnesota bounced back after losing to Iowa. They traveled to Maryland and took down the Terrapins 31-10. Maryland doesn’t seem as good as their 4-0 record suggested, but Minnesota still handily beat them and notched their first conference win of the season.
Quarterback Conor Rhoda made the first start of his career. Rhoda entered the game with only one career pass attempt. He didn’t look great, but he didn’t turn the ball over and managed the game enough to help Minnesota win.
The Gophers relied on their running back duo of Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks. A week after being shut down by Iowa, both topped 85 yards and combined to gain 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. The consistency that both running backs ran with all game helped relieve the pressure off of Rhoda during his first start.
That being said, Minnesota will want veteran quarterback Mitch Leidner back when they get into the heart of their schedule. Leidner, who is sidelined with a concussion, might have to sit out against Rutgers this week, as well. Although, with Rutgers, Illinois and Purdue being their next three games, there’s no doubt the Gophers will let Leidner rest if he needs to so he’s 100 percent when the Gophers take on Nebraska in November.
Minnesota is 1-2 in conference play but improving to 4-2 wouldn’t be a surprise. With Wisconsin and Nebraska still left on their schedule, they’re likely out of the division race, though. The Gophers aren’t great but they’re not as bad as some people think. If they win their bowl game, this could be a nine win team.
Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
No. 4 – Northwestern Wildcats 3-3 (2-1)
Last Week: 4
Northwestern might not shake the “inconsistent” or “bad team” tag that people handed them after losing to Illinois State. That’s fair, but it’s also not true.
Heading into their game against Michigan State, in which they won 54-40, people pegged it as the game between two struggling teams. Although, Northwestern hasn’t been struggling since week two, and it’s not a surprise that they took down the Spartans.
The Wildcats allowing 30-plus points in each of their past two games is uncharacteristic, but they won both. The same goes with allowing at least 24 points in each of their past four games, in which they went 3-1. The defense might be struggling but Northwestern is still finding ways to win.
A big reason is the quarterback play of Clayton Thorson. He isn’t a great quarterback but he’s a lot better than at the start of the year and continues to grow every week.
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Thorson completed 27-of-35 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns against Michigan State. It’s the third time in the past four games that he threw for at least 200 yards and/or threw three touchdowns. The potential that Northwestern has hoped to see over the past year-plus is finally showing.
Improved offensive line play has helped the passing game, and offense in general, but also outstanding play from wide receiver Austin Carr. The Wildcats’ leading receiver leads the Big Ten in receptions (43), receiving yards (595) and receiving touchdowns (8). Northwestern’s defense might be having some problems, but their offense is picking up the slack and playing out of their minds.
After losing to Illinois State there was a sense that Northwestern might be 0-6 at this point and win maybe two games in 2016. Instead, the Wildcats are 3-3, and it would be shocking if they make a bowl game.
They have a good Indiana team this week before Ohio State and Wisconsin in back-to-back weeks. Northwestern has already proven that they’re back to their 2015 ways, but a win over a surprising Indiana team would cement it.
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
No. 3 – Iowa Hawkeyes 5-2 (2-1)
Last Week: 3
The Iowa Hawkeyes continue to keep their Big Ten West dreams alive. No, allowing 35 points to Purdue isn’t ideal, however the Hawkeyes still rank 24th in the nation in points allowed per game and held the Boilermakers to seven points in the first half. Simply put, Purdue didn’t have the same dominating performance Northwestern’s offense had a couple of weeks ago against Iowa’s defense.
Akrum Wadley is averaging an insane 7.4 yards per carry to go along with LeShun Daniels Jr‘s 5.4 yards per rush. The ground game has been inconsistent but Iowa’s running back duo manages to make at least one big play every game to keep the Hawkeyes alive.
That being said, if Boone Myers or George Kittle have to miss time, Iowa could be in trouble. Myers is an important part to a struggling offensive line that can’t afford a major injury. At the same time, Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the Big Ten, as he’s a great blocker and receiver. Iowa needs both to have a shot against Wisconsin.
Iowa entered the season as the favorites to repeat as Big Ten West champions. They’re obviously not the favorites anymore, but they have a chance to seemingly end any hope of Wisconsin winning the division in 2016 with a win over the Badgers this week. It’s easier said than done, though. This is the toughest test for the Hawkeyes up to this point of the season.
Iowa has a chance to prove that they’re still one of the better teams in the Big Ten. They have to play their best game of the season and find ways to move the ball against the Badgers. Although, if they want to be considered one of the better teams in the Big Ten, again, then they have to win these types of games.
Iowa has found ways to win this season and will enter the game with confidence. But the nation will get a better grasp of how good Iowa is this season when they host Wisconsin.
Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
No. 2 – Nebraska Cornhuskers 6-0 (3-0)
Last Week: 2
Nebraska is the last undefeated team overall, and in conference play, in the Big Ten West. Everyone is waiting for the eighth ranked team in the nation to take on Wisconsin and Ohio State in a couple of weeks. Until then, there’s no reason to doubt how good Nebraska is.
They’ve continued to win handily and will likely do the same against Purdue this week. Plus, they’re coming off a tough win over Indiana, in which they didn’t have their starting running back Devine Ozigbo (only had one carry for two yards) and star wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp.
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Both should play against Purdue, although Nebraska might rather have them sit for an extra week and be ready to play against Wisconsin.
Either way, the Cornhuskers relied heavily on Tommy Armstrong Jr against a solid Indiana defense, and he did just enough to help Nebraska win. Armstrong doubled his interception total in 2016 by throwing two picks against Indiana. Also, he completed 10-of-26 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown, to go along with 36 yards on the ground.
With Westerkamp, Armstrong has played the best football of his collegiate career and has been good enough to make Nebraska a legitimate national title contender, even if it didn’t show it against Indiana.
That being said, running back Terrell Newby‘s 102 rushing yards and touchdown was the highlight of the night for Nebraska. The Cornhuskers strong running game didn’t lose a beat without Ozigbo, and that’s a good sign heading into the second half of the season.
Nebraska ranks in the top-35 in the nation in both points per game and points allowed per game. They also defeated their only ranked opponent on the year, granted Oregon has struggled and is 2-4. Still, the Cornhuskers are for real, and they’ll give Wisconsin a great game in a couple of weeks. The Cornhuskers control their own destiny, and it’s hard to see them losing more than twice in the regular season.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
No. 1 – Wisconsin Badgers 4-2 (1-2)
Last Week: 1
Wisconsin has lost two straight games, but both came by seven points to the now second and third ranked teams in the nation. Plus, Wisconsin’s defense held Michigan to 14 points and held a halftime lead over Ohio State, 16-6. Sure, they allowed 24 points to the Buckeyes in the second half and overtime, but the Badgers shut down J.T. Barrett for a half and found life on offense.
It’s the last thing Iowa wanted to see from Wisconsin. The Badgers have struggled on offense all year, which resulted in a low-scoring loss to Michigan. Despite only scoring seven points in the second half, Wisconsin averaged 5.1 yards per carry, which included Corey Clement finally getting on track with 6.6 yards per carry.
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Plus, freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook had arguably the best game of his young career. He did throw an interception, but he also completed 16-of-28 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. Wisconsin has a real chance of winning out and winning the Big Ten Championship game if their offense can complement their defense.
The Badgers will head to Iowa City this week to avenge their loss from a year ago.
It might be weird that Wisconsin is still number one, however is losing by seven to Michigan and Ohio State in back-to-back games that bad? Also factoring in two wins over top-10 teams, four of their first six games have come against top-10 teams, and they still have one left on their schedule.
They’ll fall with a loss to Iowa or Nebraska, but Wisconsin is the best team in the division, even if they don’t win it. A two-loss team still has a chance to represent the Big Ten West in the Big Ten Championship Game, but the Badgers can’t have any more mishaps.
Simply put, the Badgers still rank ninth in the nation in points allowed per game (15.2), despite playing four top-10 teams up to this point. The offense is the key to them running the table the rest of the way. But they’re surviving the toughest schedule in the nation, and it’s only been half the season.