BIG TEN POWER RANKINGS
Marcus Fuller's rankings, with five teams to watch:
1. Michigan State (27-3, 15-2)
2. Ohio State (23-7, 14-3)
3. Purdue (24-5, 13-3): A three-game slide finally ended last weekend, but the Boilermakers are vulnerable with star Vincent Edwards out with an ankle injury.
4. Nebraska (21-9, 12-5): No team has better bench celebration routines than the Cornhuskers, who make highlights cheering on highlights.
5. Michigan (23-7, 12-5): The Wolverines have a four-game win streak and look the part of a sleeper to win the conference tourney, especially after recently upsetting Ohio State.
6. Penn State (19-11, 9-8)
7. Indiana (16-13, 9-8)
8. Maryland (19-11, 8-9)
9. Northwestern (15-14, 6-10): Disappointing season, yes. But the Wildcats are still dangerous. They had a 27-point lead on Michigan State without injured leader Bryant McIntosh (shoulder).
10. Wisconsin (13-16, 6-10)
11. Minnesota (15-15, 4-13): The Gophers' nine-game losing streak is over after Nate Mason's 33-point effort Wednesday against Iowa. Can you name a better Senior Day performance?
12. Illinois (13-16, 3-13)
13. Rutgers (13-17, 3-14)
14. Iowa (12-18, 3-14)
Disastrous special teams play buries Wild against Blues
Davis scores 26 as No. 9 Houston beats Tulane 85-50

StarTribune.com welcomes and encourages readers to comment and engage in substantive, mutually respectful exchanges over news topics. Commenters must follow our Terms of Use.
Comments will be reviewed before being published.