Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 13: Michigan State reigns supreme

Nov 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) and Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Matt Macksood (86) celebrate after defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Michigan State won the game 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Big Ten football had some interesting week 13 matchups that shook up this week’s power rankings.

Week 13 was an interesting one for the Big Ten football conference as there were a few matchups between teams in the top half of our power rankings from the last edition. Like they have all season, the power rankings this week saw some shakeups at the top as well as the bottom.

As the season progressed, it seemed more and more likely that a Big Ten team would make the College Football Playoff for the second straight year, especially with an 11-0 Iowa Hawkeyes team taking the nation by storm.

Ohio State went into week 12 with an unbeaten record and came out with a blemish — the Buckeyes’ first loss in 23 games and the first Big Ten regular season loss under Urban Meyer. The Michigan State Spartans finally took down Goliath and the rest of the conference, and nation, was likely thankful.

Let’s take a look at this week’s Big Ten football power rankings and see how far the Buckeyes fell.

Let’s face it, the Maryland Terrapins can’t buy a win at this point. Even after a hot start, jumping out to a 21-10 lead after the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers, the Terrapins folded like they have been doing all season long.

It’s pretty clear that this team has been looking toward next year for quite some time and a season without Caleb Rowe or Perry Hills starting at quarterback has to be refreshing to think about. Tough second season in the Big Ten for the Terrapins who will likely go winless in conference play.

Rutgers got a nice break from facing conference opponents — the Scarlet Knights desperately needed it. Facing off against Army on the road, Rutgers was out-gained in total yardage, but it ultimately didn’t matter as it beat the Black Knights, 31-21.

Another team having a rough second season in the Big Ten, Rutgers will be looking to just improve ever so slightly from this point on.

Next: No. 12 Purdue - No. 10 Indiana