Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 11: Michigan State falls

Nov 7, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback C.J. Beathard (16) talks with his offensive line during the first half of the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Not many people predicted an upset like the one Nebraska handed to Michigan State in Memorial Stadium, but the Cornhuskers played well enough to win and it took a nice 12-point comeback for it to happen.

Michigan State is now going to have to pick up the pieces as a loss to a 3-6 team can be very humbling and it might just be what the Spartans needed. Just sneaking by mediocre teams all year long has been an issue and this Michigan State team will need to rebound and win out in order to make it to the conference title game.

Iowa is one of those teams that caught the nation by storm and might just tip-toe its way into the College Football Playoff conversation. With a 9-0 record and a couple teams ahead of them losing this week, it’s possible that Iowa could be moving up a spot or two in the polls and sit about three spots out of a coveted playoff position.

The win over Indiana wasn’t pretty, but any road win in the Big Ten definitely looks good and none come easy — as Michigan State learned. Iowa will host Minnesota this week and look to improve to 10-0 as the perfect season for the Hawkeyes remains intact.

What if I told you that Mitch Leidner and Minnesota would out-gain Ohio State through the air on the road in week 10? You probably would have called me crazy. However, the Golden Gophers’ passing attack was needed more than Cardale Jones’ as he started in place of the suspended J.T. Barrett.

With Barrett coming back this week, it looks like the offense will receive a jolt. Ohio State really hasn’t been in danger of losing a game in over a month now, but the real tough part of the schedule looms with Michigan State and Michigan coming in the final weeks.