Rutgers-centric Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 11, 2019
By Ed Stein
Empire Writes Back continues our Big Ten Football Power Rankings (with a Rutgers twist). There is a shakeup this week after some upsets on Saturday.
Welcome to the next edition of our Big Ten Power Rankings. Now through the end of November, we will do this on a weekly basis. The conference finished Week 11 of the 2019 season with seven Top 25 teams, which includes the number two team in the country. As of now, the Big Ten will have something to say about who gets into the College Football Playoff in January.
10 of 14 conference teams were in action last week and there were some surprises. There is a big shakeup among the pack of teams trying to chase down Ohio State. One team’s drop is another team’s gain. As of now, eight teams have qualified for bowl games, and three more need a pair of victories to claim a spot.
14. Northwestern Wildcats (1-8 overall, 0-7 Big Ten)
Last Week: After taking a 14-0 first quarter lead as well as recording a second quarter sack, the Wildcats let it all slip away. They lost at home to Purdue 24-22.
This Week vs UMass: Northwestern comes into this contest as a 39-point favorite over the 1-9 Massachusetts Minutemen. If by chance the Wildcats lose this game, there will be firings at the end of the season (if not sooner).
13 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last Week: Bye
This Week vs No. 1 Ohio State: Arguably the best team in America visits Rutgers. Welcome to the biggest Massacre in New Jersey since the British 3rd Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons attacked the Continental Army at River Vale on September 2, 1778. It will get ugly, early.
This is going to be a big game for Scarlet Knights interim head coach Nunzio Campanile. So far he has not been interviewed for the opportunity to remove “interim” from his title. If he can find a way to keep the game close (They don’t have to win), Campanile’s college coaching future will look much brighter, even if it isn’t at Rutgers.
For the players, this one is about respect. They’ve been dismantled week-after-week by Big Ten opponents for years. The team needs to show everyone that they can stand up and fight. It’s also a good showcase for some of them to make a big impact on post-season conference accolades.