With probably only four games left to play in this disastrous season for the lowly Wisconsin Badgers, we have to wonder if any other team in the Big Ten plans to scrape the bottom of the bag quite like they do on a regular basis. From an unbiased standpoint, this is not a year to beat one's chest over how strong the Big Ten is. There are two great teams, a few other good ones, and that is about it here.
This is because there are a slew of teams holding up the rear. Heading into the second week of November, there are four teams in the Big Ten who have yet to win a conference game. The Badgers are certainly among them. Although there are 10 teams who have achieved bowl eligibility up to this point, it is looking like there might only be one or two more teams who could get that crucial sixth win.
So let's take a look at the Big Ten from bottom to top and see who all is in Wisconsin's neighborhood.
18. Wisconsin Badgers: 2-6 (0-6)
At this stage of the season, Wisconsin's slim bowl game aspirations are hanging on by a thread, if you even wanted to call it that... They will be facing four teams who have already achieved bowl eligibility, as well as arguably the best team in the conference. With Washington, at Indiana, home vs. Illinois, and at Minnesota, Badgers fans will be lucky to see this team even win one game the rest of the year.
17. Purdue Boilermakers: 2-7 (0-6)
Admittedly, the Purdue Boilermakers may end up being the Big Ten's least formidable challenger when it comes to the race to the bottom of the conference with Wisconsin. Barry Odom's team became the first Big Ten squad to be eliminated from bowl eligibility. With Ohio State, Washington and arch rival Indiana remaining, it would take a miracle for this team to not end up finishing at 2-10.
16. Michigan State Spartans: 3-6 (0-6)
Although all three of Michigan State's remaining games of the winnable variety, do you honestly think Jonathan Smith's team is going to win out by beating Penn State at home, Iowa on the road, and then Maryland at home? Again, those are all winnable games, but Big Ten play has been a nightmare for the Spartans. They have had a few let slip through their fingers, including Saturday's loss to Minnesota.
15. Penn State Nittany Lions: 3-5 (0-5)
Will Penn State lose out? That is a great question. While their final three games of the season at Michigan State, home vs. Nebraska and at Rutgers to finish the campaign are all winnable, their next home game on Saturday vs. Indiana feels like a guaranteed sixth loss in a row for the Nittany Lions. Making a bowl game is not out of the realm of possibility, but this team has been stuck in quit mode.
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 4-5 (1-5)
Right now, Rutgers seems to occupy the same territory as the rival Maryland Terrapins. They will win all of their non-conference games, but it will be a perpetual struggle to win three or four in league play. The Scarlet Knights have two winnable games left, both at home vs. Maryland and Penn State. The problem is that they have a certain drubbing at the hands of Ohio State in Columbus in between.
13. UCLA Bruins: 3-5 (3-2)
It was fun while it lasted, but it is only a matter of time before the UCLA Bruins hibernate for the winter. After winning three games in a row in conference play after an 0-4 start, its bludgeoning at the hands of Indiana should lead us to believe UCLA is not going bowling now... They have four more opportunities to get three more wins, but Nebraska, Ohio State, Washington and USC are all solid.
12. Maryland Terrapins: 4-4 (1-4)
Hash tag turtle up! This is what the Maryland Terrapins do under head coach Mike Locksley. They are the offensive version of defensive-minded Rutgers in that they win all of their non-conference games, but struggle when it really counts, and when the weather starts to change... Can the Terrapins split the difference down the stretch at Rutgers, vs. Illinois, vs. Michigan and at Michigan State? They can...
11. Northwestern Wildcats: 5-3 (3-2)
If there is any team to root for to achieve bowl eligibility the rest of the way in the Big Ten, it would have to be the Northwestern Wildcats. This is a team many pundits believed would win around three games. Instead, they are 5-3 with a decent 3-2 mark in the Big Ten. It would be a shame if they lost out to USC on the road, home vs. Michigan and Minnesota, and at Illinois. It may cost David Braun his job...
10. Nebraska Cornhuskers: 6-3 (3-3)
Nebraska is what it is at this point, which is a very middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team. Although the Cornhuskers have achieved bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons for the first time in a decade, next year might actually be the Matt Rhule "pop" year. Losing to USC at home effectively knocks the Cornhuskers out of the College Football Playoff mix. This was never a playoff team, but a decent one.
9. Minnesota Golden Gophers: 6-3 (4-2)
Week after week, the Minnesota Golden Gophers remain the hardest team to get a grip on in the Big Ten. They can hang with anyone not named Iowa, but they can also lose to just about anyone. It feels like a team that is being buoyed by the head-coaching excellence of P.J. Fleck, but one that does not have enough talent to really cut through in the massive middle of the Big Ten. It is a resources thing...
8. Illinois Fighting Illini: 6-3 (3-3)
We certainly overvalued what the Illinois Fighting Illini could be this year. Maybe not to the degree of the South Carolina Gamecocks, but this is not a playoff team, and that became very obvious from the jump. Illinois could still win nine games, and probably will. However, every time the Illini have had to play someone of better caliber, they lose. They will still likely finish the year ranked with a 9-3 record.
7. Washington Huskies: 6-2 (3-2)
Keep your eyes on the Washington Huskies... They are 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play. Their two losses are to Ohio State and Michigan, both of whom are in the playoff mix. Although Washington has less than a 10-percent chance of making it in, the Huskies could win out with Big Ten victories over Wisconsin, Purdue, UCLA and ... Oregon. Yes, the Ducks have a Washington problem they must solve.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes: 6-2 (4-1)
Could Iowa make the playoff? Potentially. They have about a six-percent chance to get in. While they have only lost their two games by a combined five points, the Iowa State defeat is looking worse by the week, but the Hawkeyes did give Indiana its biggest scare so far this season. Assuming they beat Michigan State and Nebraska to finish the year, maybe they can stun either Oregon or USC, or both?
5. Michigan Wolverines: 7-2 (5-1)
Once again, Michigan has the ability to turn the College Football Playoff field upside down and spin it on its head. At 7-2 on the season, Michigan's only losses are to Oklahoma and USC, both of whom are in the playoff mix. Should the Wolverines win their next two games over Northwestern and Maryland, maybe they can punch their ticket into the College Football Playoff with a home win over Ohio State?
4. USC Trojans: 6-2 (4-1)
At this juncture, if the Big Ten is going to get four teams into the College Football Playoff, USC would have to be on the shortlist to get that fourth bid. The Trojans are 6-2 on the year and 4-1 in Big Ten play. Their only losses are to Illinois in league play and to rival Notre Dame in the non-conference. With a Michigan win, they own the tie-breaker. Can they win out with victories over Iowa and Oregon?
3. Oregon Ducks: 7-1 (4-1)
If the Oregon Ducks want to prove they belong among the college football elite, November is the month to make it happen. They might be 7-1 on the season, but they lost to the only team they have played who is worth a damn in Indiana. Oregon has to earn it down the stretch. None of their games will be easy at Iowa, home vs. Minnesota, home vs. USC and at Washington. This might be a 9-3 team.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes: 8-0 (5-0)
Ohio State may end up being the No. 1 team in the country until they lose for the first time. That Michigan game looms large in the back of everyone's mind. While the Buckeyes are as much of a College Football Playoff lock as Indiana has, the Hoosiers have bullied people all season long, whereas Ohio State often lets the game come to them before eventually beating the opposition.
1. Indiana Hoosiers: 9-0 (6-0)
Through the first 10 weeks of the college football season, Indiana has been the most impressive team. The Hoosiers just crush people under head coach Curt Cignetti. Fernando Mendoza should be the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy right now, but they have a few more games to play. With Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue left, Indiana will get to Indianapolis undefeated in line for the No. 1 seed.
When the Badgers take on the Hoosiers in Bloomington, we shall see the entire range of the Big Ten.