CFB: Fields is the clear favorite now
Power Rankings:
1. Ohio State (10-0, 7-0, +0)
2. Minnesota (9-1, 6-1, +1)
3. Penn State (9-1, 6-1, -1)
4. Wisconsin (8-2, 5-2, +0)
5. Michigan (8-2, 5-2, +0)
6. Iowa (7-3, 4-3, +0)
7. Indiana (7-3, 4-3, +0)
8. Illinois (6-4, 4-3, +0)
9. Purdue (4-6, 3-4, +2)
10. Nebraska (4-6, 2-5, +0)
11. Michigan State (4-6, 2-5, -2)
12. Maryland (3-7, 1-6, +0)
13. Northwestern (2-8, 0-7, +1)
14. Rutgers (2-8, 0-7, -1)
Breakdown: #1 Ohio State walked all over #14 Rutgers, 56-21, in a meeting of the best and the worst in the Big Ten. Justin Fields, who we'll talk more about later, had 305 yards and four touchdowns. #2 Minnesota lost their first game of the year versus #6 Iowa, 23-19, but because of their win over Penn State, we think they deserve to stay in the second spot. #3 Penn State got more of a fight than most expected from #7 Indiana, as they won 34-27, but the Nittany Lions have a chance to climb up our rankings next weekend against the Buckeyes. #4 Wisconsin easily moved past Nebraska on the road, 37-21, behind Adrian Martinez's 220 yards. #5 Michigan played one of their best games of the year as they destroyed #11 Michigan State, 44-10. Shea Patterson lit up the Spartans for 384 yards and four scores.
Player of the Year:
1. Justin Fields (Ohio State)
2. Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin)
3. Chase Young (Ohio State)
4. Sean Clifford (Penn State)
5. Rashod Bateman (Minnesota)
6. Shea Patterson (Michigan)
7. KJ Hamler (Penn State)
8. Nate Stanley (Iowa)
9. Jack Sanborn (Wisconsin)
10. Whop Philyor (Indiana)
11. Brandon Peters (Illinois)
12. Rodney Smith (Minnesota)
13. David Bell (Purdue)
14. Adrian Martinez (Nebraska)
Breakdown: Fields has to be considered the favorite for Big Ten Player of the Year now. It was Fields, Jonathan Taylor, and Chase Young rotating at the top spot for the majority of the season, but it should be Fields' to lose now. He had 305 yards, four touchdowns, and had a 78.9% completion rate. He's the best player in the conference and should find himself in New York for the Heisman announcement. Taylor could join him, though, especially after running for 204 yards and two touchdowns versus Nebraska. Young didn't play the last two games due to an NCAA suspension but he'll be back versus Penn State and Michigan. Sean Clifford didn't have his best game but did enough to stay at the fourth spot, throwing for 179 yards. Rashod Bateman totaled 98 receiving yards on six receptions.
Photo Credit: Waiting for next year.
