The Big ten was noticeably top-heavy in the Top 25 AP Poll this week. Out of four ranked teams, three of the Big Ten programs are still undefeated entering the final week of October.
The No.1 Ohio State Buckeyes have been the No.1 team all season. Currently, the Buckeyes are on a 21 game winning streak, and they had their best performance since the season opener vs Virginia Tech.
After going with Cardale Jones as the starting quarterback in the first seven games of the season, head coach Urban Meyer decided to make a change to J.T. Barrett on Saturday. After another sluggish start, the Buckeyes’ offense exploded midway through the second quarter. By the end, the Buckeyes were holding a 49-7 victory, and they seemed to be back to their dominant ways.
The No.6 Michigan State Spartans didn’t have a letdown after their improbable victory over Michigan last week. The Spartans turned a a two point game into a 52-26 win over Indiana in a matter of minutes. The Spartans have a bye on Halloween. Their next game is at Nebraska in November. They face the Buckeyes in the middle of November for a huge contest.
The third and final conference team ranked in the Top 10 hails from the Big Ten West. The No.10 Iowa Hawkeyes keep climbing the charts with a (7-0) record. If they finish out the season undefeated, they’ll likely face an unblemished team from the Big Ten East. However, as the season goes on, the ability to remain undefeated will get tougher. The Hawkeyes also face Nebraska in the season finale.
The No.15 Michigan Wolverines had a week to collect their emotions from a loss to the Spartans. Despite their two losses this season, the Wolverines can still win the Big Ten East. However, they’ll have to win the rest of their games. The Wolverines have three road games left, and face the Buckeyes at home. The season finale will have large implications on the College Football Playoff projections.
With the Huskers sitting at (3-5), they are nowhere near the Top 25 AP Poll, but they will have an impact on the season. As stated earlier, the Huskers have a chance to face a pair of undefeated teams in the Top 10 in November. One or more upsets could change the balance of power this season.
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Here’s the Breakdown of the Top 25 AP Poll. You can also see the Top 25 Coaches Poll.
1. Ohio State (39)
2. Baylor (7)
3. Clemson (6)
4. LSU (5)
5. TCU (4)
6. Michigan State
7. Alabama (1)
8. Stanford
9. Notre Dame
10. Iowa
11. Florida
12. Oklahoma State
13. Utah
14. Oklahoma
15. Michigan
16. Memphis
17. Florida State
18. Houston
19. Ole Miss
20. Toledo
21. Temple
22. Duke
23. Pitt
24. UCLA
25. Mississippi State