Big 10 Football Power Rankings: Week 9

1) Iowa (8-0, 4-0 Big 10): The no. 4 Hawkeyes squeaked out another close win on the road
Saturday evening, as they knocked off Michigan State in East Lansing. The Spartans held the lead until the very last play of the game with only two seconds left. Those two seconds we're just enough for Iowa to steal the victory however, as Hawkeyes Junior quarterback Ricky Stanzi hit Sophomore Wide Receiver Marvin McNutt in the end zone as time expired. The Hawkeyes have one more major roadblock when they head to the horseshoe to take on no. 17 Ohio State on the 17th of November. The Hawkeyes other remaining opponents Indiana, Northwestern, and Minnesota are all unranked.

2) Penn State (7-1, 3-1 Big 10): The no. 12 Nitany Lions quieted the Mighigan faithful at the big house Saturday by knocking off Michigan 35-10. The Lions only loss on the season to Iowa is starting to look more forgivable each week, as the Hawkeye's success continues. Every game which Iowa win's increases the chances that Penn State could make a run for the Roses. If Iowa can run the table, and Penn State can win out the Lions could find themselves in the "Grandaddy of em all" on New Years Day. The Lions main remaining test is at home on November 7th against no. 17 Ohio State in Happy Valley.

3) Ohio State (6-3, 4-1 Big 10): The no. 17 Ohio State Buckeyes knocked off the Minnesota Golden Gophers in convincing fashion Saturday 38-7. This was a much needed victory for Jim Tressel's squad coming off an upset loss to Purdue in West Lafayette. The Buckeyes can still work their way back into the BCS conversation with a win on November 7th over no. 12 Penn State in Happy Valley. This week the Buckeyes face New Mexico State (3-5, 1-3 WAC) of the Western Athletic Conference.

4) Wisconsin (5-2, 2-2 Big 10): The Badgers were the only Big Ten team with a bye this past weekend. A bye could not have come at a better time for Bret Bielema's Badgers who are coming off Back to Back losses against no. 17 Ohio State, and no. 4 Iowa. A player to watch this weekend is Junior Quarterback Scott Tolzien, who in his first five games under center threw nine touchdowns and just four interceptions. In the last two games however, he has thrown five interceptions and no touchdowns due to increased pressure. Tolzien will need to carve the Boilermakers defense on Saturday for the Badgers to come away with a victory on Halloween.

5) Michigan State (4-4, 3-2 Big 10): The Spartans lost a heart breaker on the very last play Saturday night to no. 4 Iowa in East Lansing. Despite a 1-3 start to the season the Spartans have battled back to a 4-4 record. With an opportunity this past weekend to earn a share of first place the Spartans crumbled under pressure in the waning moments against Iowa. The Spartans only quality win this year was against then no. 22 Michigan at home. In order for the Spartans to become bowl eligible they must win two of their last four games. The final game is a trip to no. 12 Penn State during the final weekend of Big Ten play.

6) Northwestern (5-3, 2-2 Big 10): The Wildcats capped off an extremely impressive comeback Saturday to knock off Indiana 29-28. Northwestern trailed in the first half 28-3, but surged back scoring twenty six unanswered points. The Wildcat's can become bowl eligible with one more victory which appears most likely to come on November 14th when the Wildcats head to Champaign Illinois to take on the Fighting Illini (1-6, 0-5 Big 10). Their other three remaining games are against no. 12 Penn State, at no. 4 Iowa, and at home against Wisconsin.

7) Michigan (5-3, 1-3 Big 10): The Wolverines lost a tough battle at home Saturday to no. 12 Penn State 35-10. Despite their 1-3 record in conference play the Wolverines have looked promising at times. Earlier this season Rich Rodriguez's boys knocked off then no. 18 Notre Dame 38-34 in week two. In conference play they lost a heart breaker 26-20 in Overtime at Michigan State, along with another tough loss 30-28 in Iowa City to no. 4 Iowa. The Wolverines need just one more victory to become bowl eligible.

8) Minnesota (4-4, 2-3 Big 10): The Gophers we're nearly shut out once again Saturday as they lost 38-7 at Ohio State. During the last two weeks at no. 12 Penn State, and at no. 17 Ohio State the Gophers have been outscored 58-7. In order to become bowl eligible the Tim Brewster's team must win two of their last four games. This should be a realistic feat with three straight home games against Michigan State (4-4, 3-2 Big 10), Illinois (1-6, 0-5 Big 10), and South Dakota State (6-1, 5-0 MVC) a Division 1-AA opponent.

9) Purdue (3-5, 2-2 Big 10): The Boilermakers have been extremely up and down this year. Earlier this year the Boilers lost to Northern Illinois at home 28-21. Last week however they knocked off no. 7 Ohio State 26-18. The inconsistency has shown throughout the season but despite starting 1-5 the Boilermakers have won two straight conference games. In order for the Boilers to go bowling they have to win three of their next four games. This may be a tough feat considering the schedule ahead. First the Boilers head to Madison this Saturday for a match up with the Badgers (5-2, 2-2 Big 10) on Halloween. Following the trip to Mad Town the Boilers head to the big house to take on Michigan (5-3, 1-3 Big 10). Purdue's final home game is against Michigan State (4-4, 3-2 Big 10) on the 14th of November, before finishing the regular season on the road at Indiana (4-4, 1-3 Big 10).

10) Indiana (4-4, 1-3 Big 10): The Hoosiers led Nortwestern 28-3 in the second quarter in Evanston Illinois Saturday. This was a lead that Indiana fan's saw dissipate throughout the course of the following thirty seven minutes. From this point on the offense did not score, and Northwestern rallied by scoring twenty six unanswered points. To date the only conference win for the Hoosiers came against Illinois who is 0-5 in Big Ten play. In order for the Hoosiers to make a bowl game they must win two of their final four games which will be a tough task. The remaining two home games are against Wisconsin (5-2, 2-2 Big 10), and Purdue (3-5, 2-2 Big 10) who is very hot as of late. On the road the games are even tougher for the Hoosiers as they head to Kinnick Stadium to take on no. 4 Iowa, and to Happy Valley to take on no. 12 Penn State.

11) Illinois (1-6, 0-5 Big 10): Just when you thought that things couldn't get much worse for the Fighting Illini they did. The Illini lost to Purdue (3-5, 2-2 Big 10) 24-14 Saturday in West Lafayette, Indiana. The remaining schedule does not get any easier for Illinois who are win less in conference play. The remaining opponents Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, no. 8 Cincinnati, and Fresno State are a combined 26-13 on the year. All five remaining opponents are already, or are fighting to become bowl eligible. The only good news in the Illinois program lately is that head coach Ron Zook will be returning in 2010. This was announced Saturday by athletic director Ron Guenther.