CFB: Michigan's season is on the brink

1. Ohio State (4-0, 1-0, win over Miami (OH): Justin Fields continues to look like one of the best quarterbacks in the country and the weapons around him are so skilled at every position. KJ Hill makes everyone around him look slow, en route to 78 yards on two catches and a touchdown reception. Meanwhile, the defense is giving up less than 10 points per game. This is a complete team that can compete for a national title. Buckeyes go to Nebraska next weekend.

2. Wisconsin (3-0, 1-0, win over #11 Michigan): The Badgers made quick work of #11 Michigan at home, getting up 14-0 in the first quarter and leading 28-0 at halftime. Jonathan Taylor was dominant, running for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. But what makes this team even scarier is that they looked almost as good when Taylor went out with cramps. This team is legit. Northwestern comes to town next and the Badgers will add another win.

3. Iowa (3-0, 1-0, bye week): After a huge win over Iowa State on the road, Iowa had the week off and were able to sit back and watch Michigan get beatdown, moving them up a spot. The Big Ten West is starting to look a little better than we originally thought and the Hawkeyes will try to challenge Wisconsin in the division. Before then, though, Nate Stanley will get one more non-conference game against Middle Tennessee State to prepare for conference play.

4. Penn State (3-0, bye week): The same can be said for the Nittany Lions who had the week off after their victory over Pittsburgh. The same Pitt team who went onto beat #17 UCF this past week. Penn State heads to Maryland this Friday, Sept. 27 to take on the Terps and that could be a make-or-break game for both programs. Whoever comes out on top will have a chance at being the second best team in the Big Ten West. I think Maryland wins this game.

5. Minnesota (3-0, bye week): This is clearly the worst undefeated team in the conference but they are undefeated which is first and foremost. Although none of their three victories are extremely impressive, the Golden Gophers have a chance to build on their winning streak which dates back to 2018, as they face Purdue on the road this Saturday. Neither team is going to win the division but the winner of this game will likely make a bowl game.

6. Michigan State (3-1, 1-0, win over Northwestern): I'm moving the Spartans up two spots following their road win against Northwestern. I know the Wildcats aren't a very good team this season but Michigan State finished drives and that was their issue in the loss to Arizona State. The Spartans scored in each quarter this past weekend and only gave up three points in the first half. I think they should be able to handle Indiana to improve their record to 4-1.

7. Maryland (2-1, bye week): The Terps were ran into the ground against Temple two weeks ago so that bye week came at the perfect time. They got a chance to regroup and will have an extra week to prepare for their Big Ten opener versus #12 Penn State. According to ESPN FPI, Penn State has a 70.9% chance to win this game. I said it earlier, but I actually think Maryland is going to win this game. Josh Jackson has 724 yards, eight touchdowns, and two picks.

8. Michigan (2-1, 0-1, loss to #13 Wisconsin): I'm not sure if this is an under or overreaction. Michigan is just barely hanging onto a top-10 spot in the Big Ten when preseason they were projected to reach the Rose Bowl at the very least. Is Michigan's season over? No, not yet, but it's looking like a repeat of 2017. Michigan should beat Rutgers this week but games coming up against Penn State, Notre Dame, and Michigan State will keep Jim Harbaugh on the brink.

9. Nebraska (3-1, 1-0, win over Illinois): This is a game that Nebraska could have very well lost on the road but they held off Illinois, 42-38, to earn their first conference win of the year. Adrian Martinez and the offense are getting better and better, as he threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns in the win. The interior defense will have to improve if this team wants to win 8+ games, as they allowed 221 rushing yards. Nebraska gets #5 Ohio State at home.

10. Indiana (3-1, win over Connecticut): Not really sure what to make of this Indiana team because it seems like they're just going to win 5-7 games like they do every year. The win over Connecticut isn't very impressive but the defense allowing just three points is impressive, no matter the opponent. Peyton Ramsey bounced back in this one, throwing for 247 yards and three scores. The Hoosiers will probably lose to Michigan State coming up.

11. Illinois (2-2, 0-1, loss to Nebraska): After a 2-0 start for the Fighting Illini, they have lost two straight against Eastern Michigan and Nebraska by a combined seven points. The offense looked better against Nebraska as they scored in all four quarters, including 14 points in the first and third quarters. Unfortunately for Lovie Smith, the team can't seem to get multiple stops in a row. The team will get next week off to try and work on that.

12. Northwestern (1-2, 0-1, loss to Michigan State): I didn't think the Wildcats would be better this year but bringing in Hunter Johnson should have made them more competitive than they have been. They struggled to even move the sticks against Stanford and Michigan State, and they gave up 228 passing yards and 31 points to the Spartans. It's not looking good for Pat Fitzgerald's club who has to go up against #8 Wisconsin this Saturday.

13. Purdue (1-2, bye week): Purdue had the week off after getting beat down by TCU at home. With all of the injuries this team has gone through, it might not even reach a bowl game, but a win over Minnesota this weekend would go a long way in achieving that. According to ESPN FPI, the Golden Gophers have a 61.2% chance to win this game and send the Boilermakers to their third loss of the year. Rondale Moore comes into the game with 27 catches.

14. Rutgers (1-2, 0-1, loss to Boston College): Rutgers might not even win another game until they face Liberty on Oct. 26. Even with Michigan struggling as much as they are, it's a big ask for the Scarlet Knights to go on the road and win in Ann Arbor next weekend. Beyond that, they have games against Maryland, Indiana, and Minnesota who have a combined record of 8-2. It's looking like another lost season for Chris Ash's team.

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