Week 14 Big Ten Power Rankings

BleedGopher

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Hawkeyes Wire first out of the gate:

9. Minnesota

Last Week’s Ranking: 9

Week 13 Result: Wisconsin 28, Minnesota 14

Record: 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten)

Originally, I had Minnesota near the bottom of the rankings, BUT SOMEHOW THEY’RE GOING BOWLING. Yes, at 5-7, they are going bowling. They are only eligible because of their work in the classroom… sure. Truthfully, they don’t deserve to be in a bowl game.


Go Gophers!!
 

Hoosiers Now chimes in:

12. Minnesota Golden Gophers​

  • Records: 5-7 overall, 3-6 Big Ten
  • Last week: Lost to Wisconsin 28-14 in Minneapolis, Minn.
  • The skinny: Add Minnesota to the list of teams that ended the season with a four-game losing streak. The Gophers looked abysmal in their final three games, dropping contests to Purdue, Ohio State and Wisconsin by multiple scores. The good news? APR helped Minnesota land a spot in the postseason at 5-7, as not enough teams reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

Go Gophers!!
 

Saturday Tradition chimes in:

11. Minnesota (5-7)​

Last week: vs. Wisconsin, L 28-14

Where does this season rank for PJ Fleck’s tenure at Minnesota? The Golden Gophers had not gone 5-7 since his first season with the program in 2017, and Minnesota went winless in November. Two of those losses came to Illinois and Purdue, teams that combined to go 9-15 overall this season.


Go Gophers!!
 

Wolverines Wire chimes in:

11. Minnesota

Minnesota moved up despite losing to rival Wisconsin, less because of what the Gophers did and more because of the teams below them.

It’s been a disappointing season compared to preseason expectations, and a lot of that has to do with the lack of obvious runners and Athan Kaliakmanis as the first-year starter at quarterback. Next year could be a rebound year, and PJ Fleck has shown he knows how to get it done, but this year will be one to forget.


Go Gophers!!
 

Nittany Lions Wire chimes in:

11. Minnesota

Last game: Won vs. Minnesota, 28-14

Previous ranking: 6

The bar was set higher for Wisconsin in 2023 in the first year under Luke Fickell, but injuries got in the way all season long. The Badgers are still going to a bowl game and will hope to be a bit more healthy and consistent in 2024 in the new-look Big Ten. Ending the year chopping down a goal post with Paul Bunyan’s Axe and keeping Minnesota home for the bowl season is a nice way to end an up-and-down year.


Go Gophers!!
 


Buckeyes Wire chimes in:

10. Minnesota

Why the Ranking​

P.J. Fleck and Minnesota lost their oars at midway through the season and couldn’t row their way to the shores of bowl-eligibility, losing the last four games of the season when all the Gophers needed was one more win to not have to stay home for the holidays. Better luck next year for a young team that should be better next season.

Last Week’s Power Ranking: 10 (⇔ no change)
Last Result: Lost vs. Wisconsin, 28-14

Next Up … End of Season​



Go Gophers!!
 




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