Gruen's Big Ten Glance: Conference Is Making Waves

By Seth Gruen--

(CBS) If you're a Big Ten fan, you can't help but feel a sense of, "I told you so." After a bowl season that shut up every pretentious SEC fan — one that included Ohio State winning the national championship — the Big Ten might very well deserve a medal (though maybe, a silver one) when this season ends.

This isn't to say that the conference is about to overtake the SEC as the capital of college football, but the Big Ten certainly is creeping closer to the sport's kingpin.

Consider that this week the Big Ten has five teams ranked in the Associated Press poll: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 6 Michigan State, No. 12 Michigan, No. 17 Iowa and No. 20 Northwestern. Yes, I know the SEC has four in the top 10, but at one point this year, the Buckeyes and Spartans were ranked first and second, respectively. And both those teams — despite the fact that they play one another — have a quality chance to make the College Football Playoff.

How many other conferences will get two?

This week, the Big Ten will join the SEC as the only league to feature two conference games between two ranked teams. Michigan State plays at Michigan. Iowa plays at Northwestern. ESPN's "College GameDay," will travel to Ann Arbor this Saturday, which means absolutely nothing when it comes to the skill of a team. It does, however, mean the country is watching.

And for what it's worth, the Big Ten boasts four teams that have top-10 recruiting classes in the class of 2016, according to Rivals.com. All are ahead of Alabama and Nick Saban. Yes, players flame out. Sure, they have to be developed, and there are coaches better at that than others.

But it's generally agreed upon, at present, which players every team wants to sign. It seems, at least this year, those player are choosing to play in the Big Ten.

We can look at stats, too.

This season, the Big Ten has became the conference to watch if you like defense. Michigan is allowing 6.3 points per game, leads the nation. Northwestern isn't far behind, allowing at eighth-best 12.2 points per game. Ohio State and Iowa also rank in the top 10 in the category.

Last of all, but probably most importantly, the Big Ten has coaching too. In Ohio State's Urban Meyer, Michigan State's Mark Dantonio and Michigan's Jim Harbaugh, the conference has three of the nation's 10 best coaches.

What does it all add up to? Has the tide turned (pun intended) for the Big Ten? Maybe not yet.

But it's clear the Big Ten has caught a wave of its own.

Big Ten power rankings

1. Ohio State (6-0, 2-0) -- Little left to say until the Buckeyes play Michigan State.

2. Michigan State (6-0, 2-0) -- The Spartans have looked shaky against the conference's worst, and there's aood test coming against the Wolverines.

3. Michigan (5-1, 2-0) -- The Wolverines were awfully impressive against Northwestern.

4. Iowa (6-0, 2-0) -- Is a renaissance happening in Iowa City?

5. Penn State (5-1, 2-0) -- The Nittany Lions have looked solid since losing a Temple team that has surprised the nation.

6. Northwestern (5-1, 1-1) -- After the Wildcats were drubbed 38-0 in Ann Arbor, we'll find out if they're contenders or pretenders this week against Iowa.

7. Illinois (4-2, 1-1) -- Might the Illini's next head coach be the current one? Bill Cubit's surpassing expectations.

8. Wisconsin (4-2, 1-1) -- The Badgers had a close call against a downtrodden Nebraska team.

9. Minnesota (4-2, 1-1) -- It's a must-win against Nebraska with three straight ranked opponents looming.

10. Indiana (4-2, 0-2) -- Eh, I'm starting to believe a little less.

11. Nebraska (2-4, 0-2) -- Bowl eligibility is in doubt.

12. Maryland (2-4, 0-2) -- With Rutgers looming, it's a pick 'em between the conference's newest additions.

13. Rutgers (2-3, 0-2) -- Ditto.

14. Purdue (1-5, 0-2) -- (Nothing to say.)

Seth Gruen is columnist for CBSChicago.com, focusing on college sports. You can follow him on Twitter @SethGruen.