Big Ten Power Ranking: Nebraska, Penn State to battle for No. 2 spot

The Big Ten races are beginning to crystallize and there are only a few games that could alter the current standings, one of which is on Saturday between Wisconsin and Indiana.

By Mike Singer

Nov 5, 2012 at 10:45 am ET • 4 min read

Penn State QB Matt McGloin will lead the Nittany Lions into Lincoln next week. (US Presswire)

Here's CBSSports.com'a Rapid Reports Big Ten Power ranking:

1. Ohio State (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten): The Buckeyes played like the best team in the conference while Illinois showed why it’s the worst. Ohio State’s two-headed rushing attack of Carlos Hyde and Braxton Miller combined for 210 yards and four touchdowns against the Illini as Hyde seized the Big Ten lead with 14 scores on the season. The Buckeyes head into a bye week with just two games standing in the way of a perfect, albeit unsatisfying season given that there will be no postseason. Last week’s ranking: 1. Next up: Idle.

2. Nebraska (7-2, 4-1): The Huskers asserted their claim as the top team in the Legends Division with their 28-24 victory over Michigan State in East Lansing. Nebraska benefitted from a few questionable calls, but the win marks its last difficult road test and makes the Huskers' path to the Big Ten championship game significantly easier. Last week’s ranking: 2. Next up: vs. Penn State, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC).

3. Penn State (6-3, 4-1): It seems like every week a new Penn State player steps up and outperforms his expectations. This past weekend at Purdue, sophomore RB Zach Zwinak rushed for a career-high 134 yards while FB Michael Zordich, predominantly a blocking back, had two rushing scores. At best, Zwinak was third on the Penn State depth chart heading into the season. No one’s been more surprising than QB Matt McGloin, who leads the Big Ten in passing yards (2,436) and is tied for the most touchdowns (18) in the conference. Last week’s ranking: 4. Next up: at No. 18 Nebraska, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC).

4. Michigan (6-3, 4-1): The Wolverines proved they were more than just Denard Robinson, contrary to many pundits who had classified Michigan as one-dimensional. Converted wideout Devin Gardner turned in an unbelievable performance in his starting debut against Minnesota, tossing two touchdowns and throwing for 234 yards on just 12 completions. Gardner’s performance came against the seventh-best pass defense in the country, no less. The loss to Nebraska two weeks ago will still haunt the Wolverines, though. Last week’s ranking: 5. Next up: vs. Northwestern, Saturday, noon ET, (ESPN).

5. Northwestern (7-2, 3-2): The Wildcats were idle this past weekend but have a chance for a marquee victory next weekend in Ann Arbor. A loss would put a significant damper on Northwestern’s already dimming chances at a Big Ten championship game appearance. Last week’s ranking: 3. Next up: at Michigan, Saturday, noon ET, (ESPN).

6. Wisconsin (6-3, 3-2): The Badgers were idle last weekend but still control their own destiny. A win on Saturday over Indiana locks up a second-straight appearance in the Big Ten title game since the Badgers would have a two-game lead and the tiebreaker over the Hoosiers with just two games to play. Last week’s ranking: 7. Next up: at Indiana, noon ET, (ESPN2).

7. Indiana (4-5, 2-3): It’s a victory in and of itself that the Hoosiers are still playing meaningful games in November but a victory this week over Wisconsin could signal a special season in Bloomington. Cameron Coffman and WR Cody Latimer connected three times for touchdowns and Latimer hauled in seven catches for 113 yards in the 24-21 win over Iowa. Last week’s ranking: 9. Next up: vs. Wisconsin, 12 noon ET (ESPN2).

8. Michigan State (5-5, 2-4): Regardless of the Huskers’ relatively controversial victory in East Lansing last Saturday, that doesn't change the fact that the Spartans have lost four games at home this year after not losing there once in the past two seasons. Andrew Maxwell completed just 33 percent of his passes for a season-low 123 yards in the 28-24 loss to Nebraska. Last week’s ranking: 6. Next up: Idle.

9. Minnesota (5-4, 1-4): Even though the Gophers’ defense was exposed against Michigan, Minnesota still has reason for optimism. Philip Nelson, the freshman quarterback who took over for the injured MarQueis Gray three games ago, looks like a viable dual-threat option. The rest of the season should be used to develop Nelson, who has thrown six touchdowns to just two interceptions and rushed for 141 yards in three games. Last week’s ranking: 8. Next up: at Illinois, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network).

10. Iowa (4-5, 2-3): The Hawkeyes have lost three in a row and host Purdue, which is reeling itself, this weekend. Sophomore wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley has come on lately, hauling in 14 catches in his past two games for 177 yards. Last week’s ranking: 10. Next up: vs. Purdue, Saturday, noon ET (Big Ten Network).

11. Purdue (3-6, 0-5): Five straight losses have coach Danny Hope’s job in serious jeopardy. It’s never a good thing when your athletic director feels compelled to release a statement regarding the state of the program. Last week’s ranking: 11. Next up: at Iowa, Saturday, noon ET (Big Ten network).

12. Illinois (2-7, 0-5): Only Illinois, which has lost six games in a row, can top Purdue’s inferiority. For what it’s worth, the Fighting Illini were beating Ohio State 3-0 for the first 10 minutes of Saturday’s game, but the Buckeyes scored 38 of the next 41 points. Illinois was just 2 of 14 on third-down conversions and averaged 2.8 yards per pass. Last week’s ranking: 12. Next up: vs. Minnesota, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network).

For more Big Ten coverage, follow Mike Singer and Dave Carey @CBSSportsBigTen.