Big Ten Football: Mid-season grades for every team – Ohio State at the head of the class

Big Ten West

Wisconsin (4-1): B+

The Badgers have the second-best scoring defense in the Big Ten and have the top offense in the division, but I can’t give them an A because of their lone loss to BYU. One of the biggest upsets of the year is the Cougars taking out Wisconsin which put a serious dent in their College Football Playoff hopes. Running back Jonathan Taylor has been as good as advertised but outside BYU, this team has yet to be really tested. That’ll change this weekend in Michigan.

Northwestern (2-3): C

Northwestern snapped a three-game losing streak with a much-needed win against Michigan State in Week 6. This was their first win since the opener against Purdue. Outside of those games, Pat Fitzgerald’s team has lost to Duke, Akron and by three to Michigan. The Akron loss is really maddening for this team that should be beyond losing to inferior opponents like this. The win over the Spartans bumps them up to a C, but as we’ve seen Michigan State struggle, that may not be as big of a win as it traditionally would be.

Iowa (4-1): B

The Hawkeyes have one of the better defenses in the Big Ten and a truly underrated unit across the nation. Iowa ranks second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing only 16.6 points per game that has more than made up for the lack of offensive punch. The lone blemish so far is a 28-17 loss to Wisconsin, which probably has already ended their hopes of winning the West.

Illinois (3-2): C+

Wins over Kent State, Western Illinois and Rutgers aren’t exactly anything to write home about, but for a program starved for wins, Love Smith’s team has had an okay first half. Losses to USF and Penn State notwithstanding, maybe the talk about him being on the hot seat will chill for a minute. The defense needs to play a lot better, but the offense has held their own.

Purdue (2-3): C-

Things started terribly for Jeff Brohm’s Boilermakers with three straight losses to open the campaign. Beyond the 0-3 record, the losses were by a combined eight points, so they weren’t as bad as the record would indicate. Sure enough, Purdue rallied in recent weeks with a win over then-No. 23 Boston College and a win at Nebraska. The Boilers will need an upset or two the rest of the way to make it to a bowl game, however.

Minnesota (3-2): C

P.J. Fleck had the Gophers rowing the boat early in the year as Minnesota rattled off three straight wins to open the season. Recent weeks have seen them come down to earth with a 29-point loss at Maryland and a 17-point home loss vs. Iowa. The offense remains a work in progress, but the No. 3 total defense in the Big Ten should keep them in most games, with the exception being at Ohio State this weekend and at Wisconsin in the season finale.

Nebraska (0-5): F

Scott Frost is still looking for his win at his alma mater as Nebraska is off to the worst start in program history. Overall, Nebraska has lost nine straight and 11 of 12 with the lone win being a one-point victory over Purdue. Frost will win and win big in Lincoln, but it’s not going to be this year, and maybe not next year either. There’s a major rebuilding effort underway in addition to changing the culture and I am not giving up on Frost. The rest of the year will be rough though with an offense that can’t score and a defense that can’t stop anyone from scoring.