Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 14: Michigan State, Iowa are kings

Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Saeed Blacknall (13) attempts to make a fingertip catch against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana began the Big Ten season 0-6 after starting the regular season 4-0 and nearly beating Ohio State at home in week five, but two straight wins to end the year have secured a bowl bid. Postseason play was looking unlikely just two weeks ago, but a win in week 12 and another in week 13 have Kevin Wilson’s team looking like a dangerous offensive squad that no one wants to face in late-December.

Nate Sudfeld had a fantastic game against Purdue to finish the year, passing for 350 yards and four scores, while the Hoosiers are hoping Jordan Howard can get healthy.

College football has a shortage of bowl eligible teams this year and the Nebraska Cornhuskers have gotten lucky enough to receive an invite to participate in a bowl because they were one of the few who performed well enough to be a 5-7 eligible team.

Mike Riley didn’t have the ideal first year at Nebraska as his Cornhuskers lost five games by a combined 13 points. A win over Michigan State at home a few weeks ago was the highlight, but losing to rival Iowa to close out the year was a tough pill to swallow. If Tommy Armstrong Jr. didn’t make so many awful throwing decisions, Nebraska might be 9-3.

Coming in at No. 7 this week is a Penn State team which lost in blowout fashion to Michigan State on the road to close the year. If Penn State had lived up to expectations, we might have been talking about a 10-win season or possibly even an East division title. Christian Hackenberg might not be one of the top quarterbacks in the conference anymore, but his offensive line didn’t do him any favors as he was sacked far too much.

Next: No. 6 Wisconsin - No. 4 Northwestern