Rutgers-centric Big Ten Football Power Rankings Week 13, 2019
By Ed Stein
12. Maryland Terrapins (3-8, 1-7)
Last Week: The losing streak is at six games after a 54-7 loss to Nebraska
This Week at Michigan State: Last week Nebraska needed a win to keep their bowl hopes alive. MSU is in the same position this week and Maryland can’t stop them either.
11. Purdue Boilermakers (4-7, 3-5)
Last Week: Any hope of a Bowl game went out the window at Wisconsin. Purdue lost 45-24.
This Week vs Indiana: Boilermakers fans want this one, but Indiana has more at stake.
10. Michigan State Spartans (5-6, 3-5)
Last Week: The Spartans kept their slim bowl hopes alive with a 27-0 shutout at Rutgers. Cody White had 11 receptions, three of which included three for touchdowns and 136 yards.
This Week vs Maryland: Michigan State needs this one for a bowl and the Spartans won’t be derailed at home by Maryland.
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-6, 3-5)
Last Week: Nebraska needed to win on the road at Maryland to keep their postseason aspirations alive. They came through with a 54-7 demolition. Wide Receiver JD Spielman had seven catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
This Week vs No. 19 Iowa: One more win a Nebraska goes bowling. It will be an uphill climb against a stout defense.
8. Illinois Fighting Illini (6-5, 4-4)
Last Week: It had to end sometime. The Fighting Illini had their improbable four-game win streak snapped at Iowa 19-10.
This Week vs Northwestern: Anything short of a blowout win for Illinois will be a disappointment.
7. Indiana Hoosiers (7-4, 4-4)
Last Week: After winning four straight, the Hoosiers dropped their second in a row. Indiana was at the wrong end of a 39-14 score against resurgent Michigan.
This Week at Purdue: On November 2, Indiana clinched their first winning record since 2007. By beating Purdue this Saturday, the Hoosiers will have their first winning record in the Big Ten since 1993. A win here plus a bowl win likely puts them in the final Top 25, something that hasn’t happened to Indiana in 31 years.