SB Nation’s Big Ten blog, Off Tackle Empire, examines the five conference teams ranked in this week’s USA Today Coaches Poll. Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan State are all ranked in the double digits, while newcomer Nebraska adds extra shine, sliding in at No. 11. Only Wisconsin at No. 10 is a higher-ranked division rival, and OTE thinks they should be higher still:
College Football Rankings 2011: Is The New-Look Big Ten Underrated?
This is one of the most balanced, physical teams in the country and they barely cracked the Top 10 for crying out loud. You'd be hard pressed to find a better stable of running backs anywhere, and the Badgers just landed a proven signal caller in Russell Wilson. Wisky gets its toughest opponent of the season (Nebraska) at home and the only other team that can really challenge them in the Leaders division is hurting [...] This team was one bad 2-point conversion call away from winning the 2010 Rose Bowl, and landing in the preseason Top 5 where they belong. I'd take them over Florida State, Stanford, Boise State, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M right now.
Read on for assessments of the Buckeyes, Nittany Lions, Huskers, and Spartans.
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