We will never forget that one time Hunter Simmons led the Wisconsin Badgers into the end zone amid the pouring rain in Eugene, Oregon. Not only did the Badgers cover the massive point spread, but they scored a point, seven of them in fact! While it remains to be seen if Luke Fickell is going to keep his job for yet another undeserved week, another notable Power Four job has opened up over at LSU.
That will surely complicate things for Wisconsin as they come to a tough decision for them, but an easy one for everyone else, regarding Fickell's status leading the team. Thankfully, Wisconsin fans will get some sort of reprieve thanks to their second bye of the season. For all intents and purposes, Fickell should already be out of his job, but against all odds, he did not embarrass himself vs. Oregon.
So let's not beat around the bush and power rank the entire Big Ten for the first week of November.
18. Wisconsin Badgers: 2-6 (0-5)
Just because Wisconsin can find the end zone once amid Liquid Sunshine does not mean this is anything close to a competent football team. Wisconsin is 2-6 on the year, 0-5 in Big Ten play, and has not beaten a Power Four team in well over a year now. The university administration might be willing to ride it out for the rest of the year, and then some, but this is the worst team in the league.
17. Purdue Boilermakers: 2-6 (0-5)
The Purdue Boilermakers may have an identical record as Wisconsin, but at least the vibes are not completely hopeless in West Lafayette. Purdue has already doubled its win total from a season ago. As long as Purdue fans continue to have trust and faith in Barry Odom, the Boilermakers will one day crawl themselves out of the bottomless abyss Ryan Walters created. But in the meantime, they stink!
16. Michigan State Spartans: 3-5 (0-5)
Not much better than either Purdue or Wisconsin, the Michigan State Spartans are starting take a turn for the worse like rotting milk in your refrigerator. Outside of beating Boston College, what has this year's team of note done? The Spartans had a shot vs. arch rival Michigan, but came up empty-handed. This is not a bowl team. Frankly, Jonathan Smith may not be long for East Lansing anymore.
15. UCLA Bruins: 3-5 (3-2)
Momentum is a real thing, until you run into the inevitable buzzsaw that is the Indiana Hoosiers... UCLA is still a pesky team left on four other Big Ten teams' schedule, but going 0-3 in the non-conference will be what costs this team a chance at bowl eligibility. The Bruins are proof that coaching matters, especially when it comes to having the right man sitting in the big chair for a team.
14. Penn State Nittany Lions: 3-4 (0-4)
Penn State being on a bye has done relative wonders for this putrid Big Ten team. They are still 3-4 on the season and 0-4 in Big Ten play. However, they are creeping one week closer to finding out who will replace James Franklin. The smart money will be on one of their own in former Nittany Lions reserve linebacker and Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule. Be careful what you wish for here, Nittany Lion fans.
13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 4-4 (1-4)
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are not a good football team, but somebody has to crawl their way to 6-6 out of the horrendous bottom of the Big Ten. They got their first league win by the skin of their teeth at Purdue. While a road date at Ohio State looms large, their three other opponents are gettable in at Illinois, home vs. Maryland and home vs. Penn State to end the season. Could they win two of those?
12. Maryland Terrapins: 4-3 (1-3)
After a 4-0 start, including an impressive road win at Wisconsin, the Maryland Terrapins are in the midst of a three-game slide in league play. While they are not beating Indiana at home on Saturday, they need to win two of their final four games to achieve bowl eligibility to save Mike Locksley's job. At Rutgers and at Illinois, as well as home vs. Michigan and Michigan State are doable. Six wins or bust!
11. Illinois Fighting Illini: 5-3 (2-3)
The Illinois Fighting Illini have been a disappointment. Not to the same degree as the South Carolina Gamecocks over in the SEC, but in a similar vein of so-called College Football Playoff contenders who were actually pretenders. A third league loss at Washington indicates that Illinois is only middle tier in the Big Ten. They have four winnable games left to be played, but this team is so fraudulent...
10. Northwestern Wildcats: 5-3 (3-2)
Northwestern may have dropped a tough one at Nebraska, but the Wildcats are only losing to teams of relative quality this year: At Tulane, home vs. Oregon, at Nebraska, and that is it. At 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play, the Wildcats need to focus and find one more win to be had on their increasingly tough slate. At USC, home vs. Michigan, home vs. Minnesota and at Illinois will not be easy for them...
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers: 6-2 (3-2)
For the first time in quite a while, the Nebraska Cornhuskers achieved bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons. Give Matt Rhule some credit for doing something Scott Frost had no earthly idea about how to accomplish. The Huskers are not a playoff-caliber team, but will continue to hover around the AP Top 25 for the duration. However, we have to wonder if Rhule will be packing up his backs here soon...
8. Minnesota Golden Gophers: 5-3 (3-2)
There is no way around it. Minnesota's loss to Iowa for the Floyd of Rosedale was eye-opening. This is a team that should have played with a big more pride in its major trophy game. Instead, Minneosta is saddled at 5-3 on the year and still has not punched its ticket to a bowl game. The Golden Gophers surely will, but once again, we have seen the limitations of this program. P.J. Fleck may need to leave...
7. Washington Huskies: 6-2 (3-2)
The Washington Huskies are a well-coached team under Jedd Fisch, but we have to wonder how much longer he will stay in Seattle. His alma mater of Florida opened up last weekend. While the Gators may want Lane Kiffin more than anything in the world, he will have options. Fisch could stick at U-Dub for the foreseeable future, but it is so hard to look so cool in your visor when you get rained on.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes: 6-2 (4-1)
The Iowa Hawkeyes give off similar vibes to that of the Louisville Cardinals in the ACC and the Houston Cougars in the Big 12. Are they playoff teams? No, but will they play a part in who gets to go their out of their respective leagues? Yes! Iowa only has two losses on the season by a combined five points to rival Iowa State and Indiana. If this team wins out, maybe it is the fourth Big Ten in this year?
5. USC Trojans: 5-2 (3-1)
USC is still somewhat in the mix to make the College Football Playoff. The Trojans are going to need to win out, and get some help to get in. The Illinois loss is looking worse by the week. While having the Michigan win is clutch, falling to Notre Dame may end up being too much to overcome. USC is probably an eight-or-nine win team. If they get to 10, then we may have a real discussion on our hand.
4. Michigan Wolverines: 6-2 (4-1)
There is a chance that the Michigan Wolverines have the ability to throw a wrench in everything and totally screw up the College Football Playoff? At 6-2 on the year with quality road losses at Oklahoma and USC, as well as strong conference wins over Nebraska and Washington, what it this team runs the gauntlet? If they go 10-2 and beat Ohio State again, that may get a fourth Big Ten into the playoff.
3. Oregon Ducks: 7-1 (4-1)
The Oregon Ducks are the most frustrating, empty-calorie nonsense good football team in the country. Yes, they beat Wisconsin, but everyone beats Wisconsin. However, their best win on the campaign is over a Northwestern team that will finish with five, six or seven wins. The Indiana loss gives the Ducks a flimsy playoff resume. It must earn its keep to ensure itself of a playoff bid here.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes: 8-0 (4-0)
Ohio State may be the No. 1 team in the country, but this has preseason bias baked all into it. The win over Texas is still being counted as a great win for some reason. The Buckeyes should cake walk to 11-0 before taking on arch rival Michigan. Even with a loss to the Wolverines, this team seems destined to make it to Indianapolis. This team can repeat as national champions, but has to prove it.
1. Indiana Hoosiers: 8-0 (5-0)
Right now, there may not be a better team in the country than Indiana. This team clobbers the opposition. It embarrassed Illinois and owned Oregon. The Hoosiers are on a fast track to Indianapolis, ahead of what could be the best season in IU football history. This team may not have the necessary depth to win the College Football Playoff, but this is a far better team that last year's.
Indiana thriving right now is proof of what having the right head coach can do for a Big Ten program.