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Big Ten Power Rankings: Who will win the West?

By Alec Whitaker

Nov 12, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) celebrates with offensive linesman Juice Scruggs (70) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) celebrates with offensive linesman Juice Scruggs (70) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 12, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Kobe King (41) tackles Maryland Terrapins running back Colby McDonald (23) during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Kobe King (41) tackles Maryland Terrapins running back Colby McDonald (23) during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Maryland 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

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4. Minnesota (7-3, 4-3) Last week: 5

Minnesota got a big win over Northwestern on Saturday, winning 31-3. Once again, this game was all about running back Mohamed Ibrahim, who ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns. With no passing game to assist him, it truly is impressive what Ibrahim does every week. Altogether, the Gophers ran for 302 yards and four touchdowns. With Illinois losing, Minnesota is still alive in the Big Ten West. The Gophers need to beat Iowa this upcoming week and hope for some help if they want to go to the Big Ten Championship. This is a good team with some unfortunate losses. They need a Purdue loss, plus the Gophers winning out, to make it to Indy.

3. Penn State (8-2, 5-2) Last week: 3

Penn State crushed Maryland 30-0 on Saturday. The Nittany Lions were dominant of defense, allowing zero points, 134 yards of offense and forcing seven sacks. On offense, freshman running back Nick Singleton was the star again, rushing the ball 11 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Penn State ran for 249 yards as a team, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. This game went a lot better for the Nittany Lions than the last time they played in the rain. The offense only turned the ball over once, and it was in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided. Penn State looks primed to finish 10-2 this season.

2. Michigan (10-0, 7-0) Last week: 2

Michigan made easy work of Nebraska, winning 34-3. The defense smothered a bad offensive Nebraska team, while running back Blake Corum was money again. Corum rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries in the win. The Wolverines played about as clean of a game as possible. They only had one penalty, did not turn the ball over and controlled the ball for over 35 minutes. This is exactly what you expect a playoff caliber team to do against a struggling team like Nebraska. Illinois will give Michigan a bit of a test this week, but all eyes are going to that matchup with Ohio State in two weeks.

1. Ohio State (10-0, 7-0) Last week: 1

Much like Michigan, Ohio State took care of an inferior team, running over Indiana 56-14. C.J. Stroud bounced back from his tough game last week to go 17-28 for 297 yards and five touchdowns. Miyan Williams added 147 yards and a touchdown on the ground while Marvin Harrison Jr. caught seven passes for 135 yards a touchdown. The Buckeyes are impossible to stop when the offense clicks like this. Ohio State will face Maryland this week before the big showdown with Michigan. Both teams need to make sure they don’t look too far ahead.

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