Let's Try Some B1G Power Rankings

[David Marsh]

I have avoided doing this until so late in the season because I just haven't felt like I have a grasp on the B1G as a conference. I'd be the first to admit that I'm just not a huge B1G fan but here we go. 

 

1. Oregon - seems simple and a good start. To be the best you have to beat the best and so far Oregon has done that. 

 

2. Ohio State - well they were the best until they lost to Oregon. So far so good. 

 

3. Indiana - whoa... Deviation from the norm here. Indiana has a strong offense and a pretty solid defense. I don't think they could win against No. 1 or 2 but I think they could beat No. 4 on this list because I think Curt Cignetti can out coach James Franklin. Roster wise on paper Penn State as the edge but I think Cignetti beats Franklin..

 

4. Penn State - undefeated and they've had some close contests but undefeated is hard to do and I don't see anyone beneath them being a better team. 

 

5. Illinois - a good team that slipped up once so far. They are built like a traditional B1G team (which is agrue the top 3 really aren't) in that they like the run the ball and play good defense in a low scoring, grind it out, style of play. Not exciting to watch but effective if done right. But I don't think they can beat anyone above them as they aren't built for a shootout after barely surviving one against Purdue. 

 

This next section is a mess... You really could argue for anyone being ahead of anyone else here and I'd probably agree with you. 

 

6. Michigan State - they boat raced Iowa, not that Iowa has any boats, and they deserve to be ahead of Iowa. It also looks like Jonathan Smith is starting to pull his team together. They had two back-to-back losses against Ohio State and Oregon which shouldn't be too much of a knock on them compared to everyone else. 

 

7. Iowa - good defense still, offense is better than last year but still not a complete team. But still not a team that anyone would want to face. 

 

8. Washington - our second former Pac-12 team comes in at least at the top half of the conference, and it's not an LA team. Washington can surprise people under Jedd Fisch. They beat Michigan with beating room and got blasted by Iowa. I expect them to be USC this next week. 

 

9. Nebraska - earlier in the year I thought Nebraska was scary. Turns out they aren't. And that brings us half way??? Ughh super conferences are too big. 

 

10. Michigan - still have yet to learn the forward pass this season. Their defense is good but not dominant. So stop the run and you'll probably beat them. 

 

11. Minnesota - built like Michigan but with some upside. They lost to Michigan so for now they're here but I wouldn't be surprised if they move ahead soon. 

 

12. Wisconsin - they lost to USC but they're playing better so I'll leave them here at the moment even though it feels a little high for them. 

 

Bottom group... Bit more clear than the middle but not by much. 

 

13. Maryland - not a good team but they they beat USC. 

 

14. Rutgers - they beat Washington but that was their high point. They just lost to UCLA at home which is embarrassing. 

 

15. USC - they beat LSU while UCLA lost to LSU. USC can't close out games so I'm putting them down here even though they have the talent to be higher but they have yet to show it. Could probably beat those below them though. 

 

16. Northwestern - probably couldn't beat USC. But they beat Maryland? Ughh no easy place to put them but when northwestern loses its often badly. 

 

17. UCLA - they finally won a conference game so that puts them above Purdue. 

 

18. Purdue - yet to win a conference game and got thumbed 35-0 by Oregon and their failure to put up any points as in part their own fault with penalties and a missed field goal. 

 

Here's my first shot at this... So if I got anything horribly wrong let me know. 

[30Duck]

Good to see this, David.  After the top 5 it is fairly interchangeable. The top to bottom of the Pac-12 was more competitive than the B1G.

Edited October 20 by 30Duck