Reigns B1G Rankings - Block 5
Article By: Reign’s B1G Rankings
10 weeks in the book’s here in the B1G and we’re heading down the home stretch to bowl season and the battle for the championship! A lot has changed since the last full update and it seems like every single week a top tier team is getting knocked off by someone. No one is safe in the B1G! Here we go!
18.) WISCONSIN (87) (0-6)
Previous: 16
Coach: Wave 214 (15-39)
The Badgers are still searching for their first win in the NDL. Wisconsin has one of, if not the toughest schedule in the B1G this season. But unlike the honey badger, I’m pretty sure Bucky Badger cares, so if you’re on the slate for Wisconsin down the stretch, you better be ready!
17.) MINNESOTA (82) 1-8
Previous: 18
Coach: UncleLbo34
After just missing the win column vs. UCLA and Wake Forest, Coach UncleLbo got his time into the win column against Illinois, pulling of the upset of the upsetters in the B1G. The taste of victory has the Gophers looking for another bite as they have Rutgers, PSU and Wisconsin still on the menu.
16.) UCLA (82) (2-6)
Previous: 17
Coach: Ghost of Pauley Pavilion (61-150)
After tough losses to Oregon and Penn State, UCLA notched a 2nd B1G victory against Minnesota. But back-to-back losses against Rutgers and Cal leave a lot of unanswered questions. Ethan Garbers doesn’t seem to have the answer, so it’s up to HB TJ Harden to lead the way if the Bruins want to steal another W this season.
15.) WASHINGTON (82) (2-7)
Previous: 15
Coach: Doodee (157-75)
Washington has struggled mightily in close battles this season, but they may have found the answer to their woes against USC. After losing by 2 vs Michigan and by 3 at Iowa, the Huskies knocked off USC 42-36 in Wk.10. Will Rogers likely has a future as a used car salesman, because this guy is always selling! 32 picks on the year isn’t going to get it done. The Huskies success happens when Jonah Coleman and Daniyel Ngata are finding the holes. Washington looks to keep the momentum going as they have Peen State and UCLA up next!
14.) MICHIGAN STATE (80) (2-7)
Previous: 12
Coach: Korben_Dallas7
This is a season of learning for Michigan State. A late start taking over and losses to OSU by 3, at Iowa by 7, at Michigan by 3 and vs Indiana by 7, leave the impression that they are a team on the brink. Aiden Chiles is clearly a step ahead of the QBs that are lower in the rankings. Coach Korben has been leaning on him more down the stretch and while the Ws aren’t rolling in yet, there’s a lot of positives in what is going on in East Lansing. Chiles is the current leader in yards passing for the B1G and TE J. Velling is a weapon and Chiles knows that he’s someone who he can lean on in crunch time. MSU has had a tough schedule and could be poised for a breakthrough down the stretch against Illinois, Purdue and Rutgers.
13.) MARYLAND (80) (4-4)
Previous: 13
Coach: Drewwbacca
Every block it seems like Coach Drew is in a cycle of win one, lose one. They just can’t seem to break it. QB Billy Edwards is right behind Chiles on the passing yards list, but the running game is no where to be found in Maryland. When it’s time for a shootout, the Terrapins are ready, but the lack of balance seems to lure them into bad situations. With every remaining opponent ranked ahead of them, Coach Drew would be fortunate to finish 2-2 in the final 4 games and back into a low level bowl.
12.) ILLINOIS (80) (4-5)
Previous: 10
Coach: uf83198 (47-27)
The running game is silent like the S in Illinois. QB Luke Altmyer seems to be exercising safe social distancing from his running backs this season. The good news for the Illini is that Altmyer is right on the heels of Chiles and Edwards for passing yards in the B1G and Illinois has pulled off some stunning victories. The downside is that Illinois just took a home loss to Minnesota that might have doomed their bowl chances. Coach UF has battles against Michigan St, Rutgers and Northwestern to close the season and he’s looking for 2 wins out of 3 to try to get eligible.
11.) INDIANA (82) (5-4)
Previous: 9
Coach: TattooBoyP (63-79)
The Hoosiers have been steady and consistent most of the season. What you see is what you get from Coach TattooBoy. There’s a solid balance on offense, some efficient ball movement and the Hoosiers move the chains. It’s not flashy, but it works. Indiana has been winning most of the games that they should. With 5 wins booked, Coach TattooBoy is going to be bowl hunting to close the year. It’s going to take a step above expectations to knock off Michigan or Ohio State. If he can’t find a W there, then it’s going to come down to the Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket in Wk.14, as the Hoosiers host Purdue!
10.) RUTGERS (82) (4-3)
Previous: 14
Coach: geauxcapper
Rutgers is on the rise, up 4 spots from the last report. The rise is a much of a credit to recent wins against Wisconsin and UCLA as it is a reflection on seeing how good the teams are that narrowly knocked off the Knights in Wk.1 (Oregon St. by 3) and Wk.2 (Baylor by 6). As the bigger picture becomes clear, Rutgers has likely been underrated most of the season and this is a bit of a correction to that. With just 1 B1G loss, the Knights are still in play for the B1G title game! Could it be a miracle run? Coach Geauxcapper needs to geaux and prove me right, by closing out this season in a bowl bid and doing the B1G proud!
9.) PURDUE (82) (4-4)
Previous: 11
Coach: dub6582
A tough call to put a 4 loss team ahead of a 3 loss team (Rutgers), but Coach Dub seems to have the Boilermakers steamrolling opponents lately. QB Hudson Card has been efficient, completing 74% of his passes, while HB Devin Mockobee is rolling along as over 6ypc. Purdue has pulled off back-to-back big wins against Oregon and Northwestern. Technically Purdue is still in the mix for the championship game, but step #1 is finding 2 wins between Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State, otherwise we could be looking at the Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket being super high stakes with a bowl birth on the line for each team!
8.) PENN STATE (88) (4-3)
Previous: 3
Coach: footballkelly31 (67-129)
What started as 4-0 team that looked to be on cruise control has smashed into the guardrail with a 3 game losing streak and now they are teetering on the brink of bowl eligibility and the coach being fired. Coach Kelly is through the roughest part of the schedule, with 5 winnable games remaining, but it might take near perfection to keep his butt off of the hot seat! I fully expect HBs N. Singleton and K. Allen to improve on their 6ypc average in their remaining games, but will it be enough to fend off all of the hungry B1G teams that are bowl hunting?
7.) USC (87) (5-3)
Previous: 7
Coach: The_5thLineMason
Just as the Trojans seemed to be marching in the right direction, they stepped into some doodie (or Doodee) against Washington. While QB Miller Moss leads the B1G in passing touchdowns (mostly to speedster Zachariah Branch), Moss is also prone to throwing into coverage and that led to the downfall of the Trojans in Wk.10. USC should find themselves bowl eligible, but it won’t be an easy path, with remaining games against Rutgers, Nebraska, rival UCLA and a season finale vs Notre Dame.
6.) OREGON (93) (6-3)
Previous: 2
Coach: mtwasik (195-188)
After a 5-0 start, the Ducks are flailing at 1-3 in their last 4. A last minute loss to Ohio State was followed by a big 7-31 loss at Purdue, then the Ducks we plucked again in Ann Arbor, likely eliminating them from a shot at the B1G championship game. Oregon has 3 winnable games left against Maryland, Wisconsin and Washington, but QB Dillon Gabrial needs to lock in and stop turning the ball over in big moments. Coach Wasik’s seat is on fire, so he needs to close out strong.
5.) IOWA (87) (6-2)
Previous: 4
Coach: Wildes1 (38-33)
While 2 lower teams are still in play for the B1G championship game, this is where the proven teams come into play. Iowa has handled their business for most of the season, riding the back of the B1G rushing leader, Leshon Williams. As long as the Hawkeyes are churning yards on the ground, things seem to go smoothly. When QB Cade McNamara has to take the lead, things start to get a little sketchy. Iowa has played by far the softest schedule in the B1G and should be favored in 3 of their final 4 games. If they take care of business against rival Wisconsin, UCLA and Maryland, then the showdown for the Heroes Trophy against Nebraska could also be for a spot in the B1G championship!
4.) MICHIGAN (88) (6-2)
Previous: 4
Coach: phreakk (50-43)
Coach Phreakk certainly has a lot of practice in close battles! 6 of their 8 games have been decided by 10pts or less, including the last 4 by 1 score. Unfortunately for Michigan, their 1 loss was their first in the conference and it was unexpected vs B1G spoiler, Illinois. HB Donovan Edwards has been steady for the Wolverines, but at some point, QB Alex Orji needs to come up big. Michigan can’t get caught looking ahead to the big game with OSU, because Indiana, Liberty and Northwestern are all teams capable of playing well above their talent level.
3.) NEBRASKA (84) (6-1)
Previous: 8
Coach: Spyder_XT (0-0)
The Huskers have been on a roll since their upset loss to Illinois. Now sitting with 1 loss, they get an opportunity to prove that they belong with the big boys at the top of the standings. While the record is strong at 6-1, they are still lacking a signature victory. A victory at Ohio State in Wk.9 would solidify their claim as B1G elite. Will the B1G’s #2 leading rusher, Rahmir Johnson be able to carry the load against the stingy Buckeyes defense or will the super-efficient prodigy, QB Dylan Raiola make OSU regret letting him slip away? Could a win here set us up for a rematch in the B1G championship? Stay tuned!
2.) NORTHWESTERN (80) (6-1)
Previous: 5
Coach: matt90210 (161-157)
Coach Hollywood’s dream of a miracle season was shattered in West Lafayette in Wk.10, as Purdue pulled off the stunner. Now the Wildcats must recover, because the road ahead is paved with danger. A trip to Kyle Field followed by back-to-back with OSU and Michigan, with a Wk.12 dessert for upset-minded Illini. There’s trouble around every corner, will the Wildcats be the predators or the prey?
1.) OHIO STATE (93) (7-0)
Previous: 1
Coach: seeitsaveit13 (225-136)
The Buckeyes continue to weather the onslaught of foes, deflecting shot after shot. While many of the wins aren’t spectacular, Coach Seeit has his team doing what’s necessary to keep the undefeated season alive and march on to the B1G championship. If the Buckeyes can brave the trail, they’ll have proven to be battle tested. An open game against the Huskers, then the Boilermaker train comes to town, followed by Northwester, Indiana and the season finale in the Shoe vs Michigan. Even with 1 loss, the Buckeyes will get a shot at redemption in the B1G championship.
Hope you all enjoyed the rankings this week! I’m looking forward to the action to close the season. There are some monster games in here! Good luck all!
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