Ben Bolch’s Big Ten Power Rankings
Game of the week: No. 20 USC (7-2 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) at No. 4 Indiana (8-1, 5-1), 12:30 p.m. PST Saturday on CBS. This game could decide whether Trojans coach Lincoln Riley is on his way out or on the verge of becoming one of the biggest comeback stories in years. A victory puts USC in position to make the College Football Playoff if the Trojans can complete the regular season by beating Maryland and UCLA.
1. UCLA (9-0): Bruins can’t stop, won’t stop until someone else proves they’re better. (Last week: 1)
2. Indiana (8-1): Still gotta go with Curt Cignetti at home in a battle with Lincoln Road-Weary Riley. (3)
3. Iowa (7-2): Hawkeyes will be big USC fans this week while trying to sustain Big Ten title hopes. (4)
4. Wisconsin (6-3): Should dock points for beating Rutgers without logging a shutout. (5)
5. Oregon (6-3): Mystery surrounding this up-and-down team is up there with the meaning of life. (7)
6. USC (7-2): Can Trojans keep hurdling teams like Mark Bowman as part of a CFP push? (8)
7. Minnesota (5-4): Rowed the boat over a waterfall while giving up back-to-back 75-yard TDs. (6)
8. Ohio State (6-3): Buckeyes show up in the dictionary next to the definition of “surrender.” (2)
9. Illinois (6-3): Illini will need to show plenty of Fighting to beat UCLA in Friday night showdown. (10)
10. Northwestern (6-3): This is a bad time to revert to Mildcats form of yore. (9)
11. Penn State (5-4): Sorry, but beating fading Washington doesn’t mean you’ve turned a corner. (14)
12. Washington (5-4): Comeback means Huskies haven’t given up … but they’re still not good. (11)
13. Nebraska (5-4): Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen is out and Matt Rhule might be next. (13)
14. Michigan State (3-6): Pat Fitzgerald gets his first signature win with the Spartans. (16)
15. Michigan (5-4): Might Kyle Whittingham be one and undone in Ann Arbor? (11)
16. Maryland (3-6): No, Aazaar Abdul-Rahim isn’t an option to become the next head coach. (18)
17. Purdue (3-6): All of the goodwill from earlier in the season is now lost with Maryland setback. (15)
18. Rutgers (2-7): Playing out the string has never had such a depressing feel. (17)
