It’s safe to say Wisconsin football has hit rock bottom in the 2023 season. After a 24-10 loss to Northwestern at home last week, the Badgers sit at 5-5 and are fighting for their bowl eligibility lives. It’s been largely an inexcusable first year for head coach Luke Fickell. Up next is the home finale against 5-5 Nebraska.
There’s only two weeks left in the regular season in the Big Ten before the conference championship game. Where do I rank the rest of the Big Ten teams this week?
Week 12 Big Ten Power Rankings
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Penn State
- Iowa
- Rutgers
- Nebraska
- Northwestern’
- Maryland
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Purdue
- Indiana
- Michigan State
Why Wisconsin Football at 9?
I think I’m being generous putting Wisconsin football at nine this week. Over the last two weeks, they have looked like one of the worst teams in the Big Ten. I have no idea why this team and this coaching staff has regressed so much in a short amount of time. After the Rutgers win, it looked obvious the West was going to come down to Iowa and the Badgers.
On the other hand, Wisconsin’s opponent this week, Nebraska, has looked better and has improved over the course of the year. Wisconsin football can’t say the same. I do believe Wisconsin is better than Rutgers, Nebraska, Northwestern, and Iowa. They just haven’t looked like it and they have not played up to their potential and the way they should be playing.
A loss to the Cornhuskers knocks Wisconsin out of bowl eligibility in my opinion. Right now, I give Wisconsin football little shot to go to Minneapolis next weekend to beat the Golden Gophers. That would put them at 5-7. 6-6 gets you into a bowl game.
Other Big Ten Takeaways
I’m comfortable putting Michigan back in the number one spot this week. I wanted to see how they would play in the road in their first challenge of the year. The Wolverines looked really good on defense and their offense showed their dominance in the second half.
Iowa has clearly separated themselves in the Big Ten West. A win this week would lock up the west division and a date with the winner of the Michigan/Ohio State game in Indianapolis in two weeks.
I think there is a mess of teams after Iowa. Rutgers to Minnesota can all be up for debate regarding order. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Maryland are trending down. On the other hand, Nebraska and Northwestern are trending up.
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