Big Ten power rankings: Purdue and the Michigan teams lead the way at the conference halfway point

The Nittany Lions got off the Big Ten schneid and finally won a conference game last night, a 59-52 victory over Northwestern. Though PSU is no longer winless in the conference, the job security of Pat Chambers may still be in jeopardy. Penn State is one of the toughest Big Ten jobs — football-crazed campus with less than ideal fan support, giant mausoleum of an arena, no real legacy of success — so whoever does take over the job will be in for an uphill climb.

13. Northwestern (12-10, 3-8)

12.