Things could not have gotten any worse for the Big Ten. The conference’s teams were projected to barely break .500 with a 7-6 record on Saturday. Instead, the conference erupted with one upset after another to shoot out to a 9-0 start Saturday with a +146 margin of victory.

Iowa and Maryland came up with big upsets of ACC teams (Pitt and Syracuse), and Rutgers and Purdue beat unknown but very good teams in Navy and Southern Illinois (average margin of victory 30 points prior to today’s loss). But the big one was Indiana going into Missouri to shock the defending SEC East champ.

The conference already exceeded their expectations with four games left to play, firmly putting themselves back among the other Power 4. The full conference ratings will be compiled after all games are complete, but the Big Ten is already assured of improving on last week’s low point.

 

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Rnk Team Proj Actual %W Win Opponent
87 Illinois 13   79%   Texas St
67 Indiana -25 4 8% 1 Missouri
76 Iowa -21 4 8% 1 Pittsburgh
63 Maryland -12 14 18% 1 Syracuse
71 Michigan -6   36%   Utah
16 Michigan St 25 25 100% 1 E Michigan
75 Minnesota 4   60%   San Jose St
36 Nebraska 2   53%   Miami FL
100 Northwestern 11 17 84% 1 W Illinois
28 Ohio St 0   0%    
58 Penn St 25 25 97% 1 Massachusetts
118 Purdue -11 25 20% 1 S Illinois
81 Rutgers -16 7 17% 1 Navy
25 Wisconsin 21 25 98% 1 Bowling Green
  Big Ten Margin, Wins 10 146 6.8 9