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While the Ohio St. Buckeyes are still ineligible due to their recent NCAA violations, the Big Ten has placed two teams -- the No. 16 Nebraska Cornhuskers and the No. 21 Northwestern Wildcats -- in the USA Today Coaches' Poll this week.
Urban Meyer's squad has certainly proven itself to be the best team in the Big Ten this year as the conference's only unbeaten team and one of the few unbeaten teams left in the nation, but the Coaches Poll has a policy of not allowing votes for teams recently sanctioned by the NCAA.
On Saturday, the Buckeyes crushed the struggling Illinois Fighting Illini, 52-22, to maintain their unbeaten season. With just two remaining games -- a road game against the Wisconsin Badgers in two weeks and the regular season finale against the Michigan Wolverines on Nov. 24 -- Ohio State could potentially finish the year unbeaten.
The Cornhuskers beat the Michigan St. Spartans, 28-24, on Saturday to improve to 7-2 while the Wildcats had a bye in anticipation of Saturday's game against Michigan.