The Big Ten has been much-maligned in recent years. But there’s a case to be made that it’s the top conference in college football this season, and having five teams ranked USA Today coaches poll for Week 9 helps with that.
College Football Rankings: Big Ten Places Five Teams In USA Today Poll
Michigan State is the only undefeated team left for the conference, but the Spartans move up to fifth, putting them well within range of a BCS National Championship Game appearance should the teams ahead of them slip. Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Iowa make up a strong middle class for the conference, and Michigan keeps sneaking into the back end of polls because of a potent Denard Robinson-led offense.
It’s probably a hard sell to slot the Big Ten ahead of either the SEC or Pac-10, especially when Michigan State would be a heavy underdog to Oregon or Auburn, but the Big Ten seems to be up in a down year for other traditionally stacked conferences. Maybe much-maligned is just another way of saying underrated.
And hey, next year, Nebraska joins the party.
Full Big Ten rankings are as follows:
- No. 5 Michigan State
- No. 9 Wisconsin
- No. 10 Ohio State
- No. 19 Iowa
- No. 25 Michigan
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