B1G Power Rankings: Harbaugh should've stuck with pink

Big Ten power rankings for people who have stopped believing in polls, be they college football or political.

1. Ohio State (6-1 Big Ten, 9-1 overall):

If the Buckeyes and Penn State win their final two games, Ohio State goes to the College Football Playoff, but won't play in the Big Ten title game. It's an electoral college thing.

2. Michigan (7-1, 9-1): Jim Harbaugh's equipment staff redecorated Kinnick Stadium's pink-painted visitors' locker room with maize-and-blue pictures and flags. Somewhere, Hayden Fry had a good laugh.

3. Wisconsin (5-2, 8-2):

Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton inadvertently kicked an Illinois pass high into the air as he was falling backward defending a receiver. The ball landed in teammate Leo Musso's arms. That only seems to happen to good teams.

4. Penn State (6-1, 8-2):

Michigan beat Penn State by 39 points. Penn State beat Iowa by 27. Yet, Michigan was not 66 points better than Iowa Saturday. Not even close, actually.

5. Nebraska (5-2, 8-2): The Huskers beat Minnesota despite a punt that went minus-2 yards. 'I don't think there's ever been a punt like that, like ever,' said the punter, freshman Caleb Lightbourn. 'So you kind of look at it and be like, 'Wow, that was horrible.' Personally, the outcome wasn't amazing for me, but as a team we got the win, so that's what's important.' Which is how a winner talks.

Nebraska punted for -2 yds... November 13, 2016

Nebraska punted for -2 yds... pic.twitter.com/JzHkD5ZcXP

— Vikings Blogger (@firstandskol)

6. Iowa (4-3, 6-4):

The Hawkeyes are 120th in the nation in total offense. That's one statistic. Here's another: They scored more points than Michigan Saturday.

7. Northwestern (4-3, 5-5): You can have all the decals and gestures you want. The college football salute to veterans that was the best Saturday was Northwestern players carrying teammate Tom Hruby off the field after the Wildcats' 45-17 win at Purdue. Hruby is a former Navy SEAL.

8. Minnesota (4-3, 7-3):

If the Gophers and Iowa win their final two games, there would almost surely be a four-way tie for the Big Ten West title. But since Minnesota plays at Wisconsin on Nov. 26, uh, no, not happening.

9. Indiana (3-4, 5-5):

The Hoosiers are at Michigan Saturday. They could just stay home and stick their hands in a hornets' nest and get the same result.

10. Michigan State (1-6, 3-7):

The Spartans ended a seven-game losing streak, their longest in 34 years, with a 49-0 win over Rutgers. Who said Rutgers wouldn't give anything to the Big Ten?

11. Purdue (1-6, 3-7):

The Boilermakers will play Ohio at home on a Friday night next season. That will actually drive up attendance at high school football games in northern Indiana that evening.

12. Illinois (2-5, 3-7):

After the Illini's 48-3 defeat at Wisconsin, Illinois Coach Lovie Smith said 'We didn't pay our best ball today. Today, we didn't get the job done.' That is why there are postgame interview sessions.

13. Maryland (2-5, 5-5):

After losing 59-3 to Michigan the week before, the Terrapins fell 62-3 against Ohio State. Which goes to show you cannot shut out Maryland.

14. Rutgers (0-7, 2-8):

This team has lost 58-0 to Ohio State, 78-0 to Michigan, and 49-0 to Michigan State. Which goes to show you can shut out the Scarlet Knights. It's all the rage, in fact.