STATE of the B1G CONFERENCE

                       As we head into the homestretch of the regular season, we are reminded that November separates the pretenders from the contenders.  Here, we take a look at a snapshot of where the conference teams are at the beginning of November.

Please note: the rankings (1-14) reflect where the teams sit as of now and not necessarily where they will finish.

1 OHIO STATE (8-0)(4-0): A no-brainer.  Ohio State still has more talent and better coaching than anyone else.  Without turnovers, there’s no way anyone else in the conference will beat them.

Likely Finish: (12-0)(8-0).  B1G Championship game winner.  Playoff berth.

2 MICHIGAN STATE (8-0)(4-0): Coach Mark Dantonio’s Spartans have been hit-and-miss as of late, letting Indiana hang around until the fourth quarter and nearly blowing  a game against 2-6 Purdue.  But, they still feature a very good QB in Connor Cook and a good WR corps led by Aaron Burbridge, and rank fourth in the nation with a plus-10 turnover margin. 

Likely Finish: (11-1)(7-1): definitely Rose Bowl or other big non-playoff bowl.

3 IOWA (8-0)(4-0): The plucky Hawkeyes have shown they, and Coach Kirk Ferentz can never be underestimated and the Iowa defense is allowing a league-best 51 points in their four conference wins.  This weekend vs Indiana and Thanksgiving weekend at Nebraska are Iowa’s biggest tests.  Win those, and it will be Hawkeyes verses Buckeyes in Indianapolis for the B1G title.

Likely Finish: (10-2)(6-2): B1G Championship game participant.  New Years Day bowl.

4 MICHIGAN (6-2)(3-1): Michigan has stayed in the thick of things with a rock-solid defense, which may have saved their season with a last-ditch goal line stand at Minnesota.  But Jake Rudock needs to heal up for the stretch run.

Likely Finish: (8-4)(5-3): New Years Day Bowl.

5 PENN STATE (7-2)(4-1): As shaky as Penn State’s offensive line and QB Christian Hackenberg has looked at times, the Lions defense has been among the best in the conference and are trending up, thanks to a 39-0 blanking of Illinois.  A win over Michigan, very likely since they play in Happy Valley, gets them into a New Years’ Day bowl game

Likely Finish: (9-3)(6-2): New Years Day Bowl.

6 WISCONSIN (7-2)(4-1): Don’t look now, but the Badgers have quietly improved since getting embarrassed against Alabama and getting their run game stuffed by Iowa in a 10-6 loss.  Wisconsin should easily make a New Years’ Bowl.

Likely Finish: (9-3)(6-2): New Year’s Day Bowl.

7 NORTHWESTERN (6-2)(2-2): Northwestern has fallen from the top five in the league with blowout losses to Michigan and Iowa, but Coach Pat Fitzgerald’s Wildcats managed to right the ship against a struggling Nebraska team.  However, tough games ahead against Penn State, on the road at Wisconsin, and the annual rivalry with Illinois, will severely test the mettle of this team.

Likely Finish: (8-4)(4-4): Bowl game.

8 MINNESOTA (4-4)(1-3): The Gophers move up a little despite their 1-3 league record due to the way they outplayed Michigan, a game Minnesota should’ve won.  However, the bottom will likely fall out against Ohio State, at Iowa and the season-ender against Wisconsin, so they more than likely will miss out on a bowl game.  But given the fight they put up against Michigan, the Gophers will be competitive in most of those games. 

Likely Finish: (5-7)(2-6)

9 INDIANA (4-4)(0-4): The Hoosiers have dropped all four of their conference games, but are quite a ways from the bottom given how they played Ohio State and Michigan State close.  Likely to be clearly outmatched in their next two games against Iowa and Michigan, Indiana should be able to get wins in their final two games at Maryland and Purdue, get six wins, and make a bowl game.  This would be quite an accomplishment for their program.

Likely Finish: (6-6)(2-6): Bowl game.

10 ILLINOIS (4-4)(1-3): Illinois was starting to trend up in the conference, but a bad shutout loss to Penn State puts them right back down.  The last four games look to be killers, with the Illini sure to be heavy underdogs against the likes of Ohio State, Minnesota, and Northwestern.

Likely Finish: (5-7)(2-6)

11 RUTGERS (3-5)(1-4): The Scarlet Knights have been beat up in consecutive weeks against conference heavies Ohio State and Wisconsin.  However, three of their last four look winnable.  After getting pummeled at Michigan this week, I can see the Knights bouncing back with wins against a struggling Nebraska, Army, and Maryland to get to the six wins needed for a bowl game.

Likely Finish: (6-6)(3-5): Bowl game.

12 MARYLAND (2-6)(0-4): A dark season, in which Coach Randy Edsall lost his job, can’t end soon enough for the Maryland faithful.  The back end of the schedule doesn’t offer any solace, with games against Wisconsin, at Michigan State, home against Indiana, and concluding at Rutgers.  The Terps will be hard-pressed to get a win in any of these games.

Likely Finish: (2-10)(0-8)

13 PURDUE (2-6)(1-3) The Boilermakers move up from the basement by virtue of their shootout win against Nebraska.  Other than that, Coach Darrell Hazel will be fortunate to hang on to his job at the conclusion of the season.

Likely Finish: (3-9)(2-6)

14 NEBRASKA (3-6)(1-4) How a once-mighty powerhouse has fallen!  From back-to-back national titles to the bottom of the B1G in 20 years.  Giving up 55 points and losing by double-digits to perennial bottom-feeder Purdue and this once proud program has hit rock-bottom.  They might be able to squeak out a win at Rutgers, but games against Michigan State and Iowa look to be back-breakers.

Likely Finish: (4-8)(2-6)