College football conference power rankings: Week 11

College Football Conference Power Rankings: Week 11

Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) is tackled by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (54) during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 10-0. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

5 of 5

Nov 5, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Michael Jordan (73) throws running back Curtis Samuel (4) into the air after his touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Big Ten

Four of the top five teams in the Big Ten picked up huge victories on Saturday to showcase the strength at the top of the conference. All four should be in the committee’s top ten on Tuesday, with no other conference likely to get more than two spots.

The week’s most impressive victory belonged to Ohio State, which could very well jump from sixth to fourth in the playoff rankings. While many felt Nebraska was a little overrated, beating a No. 10 team 62-3 at this point in the season is a major accomplishment nonetheless.

Penn State, which was surprisingly ranked eight spots ahead of its AP Poll position at No. 12, is quickly proving it belongs in the top ten. The Nittany Lions rolled Iowa 41-14, and should get to double-digit wins on the season with an incredibly easy schedule over the final three games.

While Michigan has not played a very tough schedule overall, Jim Harbaugh’s squad kept taking care of business with a 59-3 win over Maryland. The Wolverines will remain hot on Clemson’s heels for the second spot in the playoff rankings, and are giving themselves a chance to make the playoff even with a loss to Ohio State to close out the year.

Wisconsin will likely be ranked seventh by the committee after winning a 21-7 slugfest against a Northwestern team that has been playing pretty well lately. The Badgers are now in good shape to win the Big Ten West, and could really cause some chaos if they beat Michigan or Ohio State.

Next: Best college quarterback born in every state

The Big Ten’s top-tier has clearly separated itself from every other conference, but the gap to the SEC isn’t huge due to the weakness at the bottom. Michigan State’s nightmare continued with a loss to Illinois, as the Spartans are suffering the worst single-season drop-off in recent memory.

One underrated team to keep an eye on is Minnesota, which picked up its fourth straight win to quietly move to 7-2 on the season, with both losses coming by seven points or fewer. It’s a long shot, but the Golden Gophers have a chance to be tied for first place in the West when they visit arch-rival Wisconsin to close out the year.

Home/College Football