Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 9: Ohio State stays strong
Oct 24, 2015; Champaign, IL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Nick Thomas (45) scores a touchdown against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin beat Illinois 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois has been a difficult team to play this season, but the Badgers went into Champaign and left with an 11-point win. Wisconsin continues to look like one of two, or three, favorites to win the Big Ten West and challenge the stellar Big Ten East for the conference crown in December.
Joel Stave was knocked out of this one as junior quarterback Bart Houston entered the game, passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns and led Wisconsin to victory. Impressive performance in his first extended appearance of the year and it proves the Badgers can win no matter who’s at QB or in the backfield.
Just what Michigan needed, a week off to reflect, watch instant replays of the devastating loss to Michigan State and wallow in its sorrows heading into week nine. Obviously kidding as a bye could either be a really good thing for the Wolverines, or a terribly-timed off week.
Michigan is probably itching to get back on the field after a red-hot start to the season was put to a screeching halt when the Spartans came into Ann Arbor, played a full 60 minutes of football and left with a walk-off win. Michigan has the talent on defense to contend for a conference title — it’s the offense that needs work.
Watching the Iowa Hawkeyes grow before our very eyes this season has been incredible for us Big Ten football fans. This team was considered one that would finish somewhere around eighth or ninth place in the conference at the end of the year, but Kirk Ferentz is showing he still has some fight left in him.
The Hawkeyes are one of three undefeated Big Ten teams and they continue to rise in the polls. Although they are coming off a bye week, it will be hard to slow the momentum of this team down as it seems the Hawks just find a way to win despite all the injuries.
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