Final Big Ten football power rankings
- Michigan State vs. Iowa, 8 p.m. Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, Fox
- Indiana will play in a bowl game to be determined
EAST
1. Michigan State (11-1, 7-1)
Recruiting and player development a strength of Mark Dantonio’s program, one reason why the Spartans are in the Big Ten title game.
2. Ohio State (11-1, 7-1)
Need a lot of breaks to climb into the College Football Playoff. Rose Bowl is a nice consolation prize.
3. Michigan (9-3, 6-2)
Solid first season by Jim Harbaugh, but the Wolverines need more to challenge the Buckeyes.
4. Penn State (7-5, 4-4)
First change was firing the offensive coordinator. The Nittany Lions didn’t beat a Big Ten team with winning record in conference games
5. Indiana (6-6, 2-6)
6. Maryland (3-7, 1-7)
New coach on the way but all the turnovers were disturbing.
7. Rutgers (4-8, 1-7)
Black Sunday featured the school’s athletic director and the head coach getting fired.
WEST
1. Iowa (12-0, 8-0)
The Hawkeyes will need to win it all to earn any respect.
2. Northwestern (10-2, 6-2)
The Wildcats struggled at times on offense but lost only two games. Some serious coaching going on in Evanston.
3. Wisconsin (9-3, 6-2)
Two Big Ten losses by a combined 10 points defines the Badgers.
4. Nebraska (5-7, 3-5)
Does a bowl berth await despite a losing record?
5. Minnesota (5-7, 2-6)
Tracy Claeys already making changes to his staff.
6. Illinois (5-7, 2-6)
Bill Cubit looses the interim tag, but only receives a two-year contract.
7. Purdue (2-10, 1-7)
Both coordinators are out, but will it be enough to move this program forward in 2016?