We have four weeks in the books now, and we're starting to see separation among teams. Here are our Big Ten football power rankings after Week 4
Four weeks of the college football season are now complete, and that means we're starting to see some separation among some of the pretenders (Clemson) and the contenders (Ohio State). What we thought we knew at the beginning of the season was fantasy, and now we are dealing with reality.
Now that we've had a few weeks to assess what's going on in the Big Ten, we feel like we have a little better handle on what teams are playing well -- maybe as we expected -- and which ones might be in for a long, long season. We're even starting to have some surprise teams emerge (Indiana).
It's our weekly Big Ten football power rankings. Some of the teams had an off week before their conference competition begins. It still looks like Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State might be the class of the league, but there are still others like Iowa, Michigan, and USC that could throw a wrench into things.
Here's a look at our Big Ten football power rankings following Week 4. We start from No. 18 and make our way down to No. 1 as usual.
No. 18 - UCLA Bruins (0-3, 0-0 Big Ten)
Last Week Result: OFF
Next Game: at Northwestern
What goes into the ranking
The Bruins have been a hot mess on both sides of the ball. The defense is giving up way too many points and yards against every kind of competition, and quarterback Nico Iamaleava hasn't been the savior everyone thought.
No. 17 - Northwestern Wildcats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Off
Next Game: vs. UCLA
What goes into the ranking
Aside from one game, the Wildcats haven't looked very good, especially on offense. However, a game against UCLA is coming up, so that could be a shot in the arm. Lose to the Bruins, though, and it's going to be awfully hard to salvage the season.
No. 16 - Wisconsin Badgers (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Lost 27-10 vs. Maryland
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Where does Wisconsin go from here? The growth we thought we would see under head coach Luke Fickell just hasn't happened, and the natives are growing restless. It's now a program without an identity, and the team will have to find some way to turn things around, or the Fickell era could be coming to an end soon.
No. 15 - Purdue Boilermakers (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 31-0 vs. Ball State
Next Game: vs. Southern Illinois
What goes into the ranking
The Boilermakers aren't going to be much of a factor in the race for the Big Ten, but the offense seems to have more than a pulse under new head coach Barry Odom and has been a pleasant surprise. The defense is a work in progress and will probably hold this team back from making any kind of run.
No. 14 - Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Lost 38-28 vs. Iowa
Next Game: at Minnesota
What goes into the ranking
Despite the loss to Iowa, there's a lot to like about this Rutgers team. As you would expect from a Greg Schiano team, they are tough, play hard, and are well coached. What will hold the Scarlet Knights back -- as is almost always the case -- is the personnel. Look for Rutgers to sneak up and bite a team or two it isn't supposed to somewhere along the way this season.
No. 13 - Michigan State Spartans (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Lost 45-31 at USC
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
The Spartans just didn't have the fireworks on offense to stay with USC last week, but this program is on the right trajectory under Jonathan Smith. The Spartans won't be a factor in the Big Ten race this year, but they'll be competitive and surprise a team or two as the season goes on.
No. 12 - Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Off
Next Game: vs. Rutgers
What goes into the ranking
Minnesota has looked good aside from the road trip way out west, and the Gophers look like a P.J. Fleck squad that controls the ball on offense, and plays good special teams, and solid defense. That'll likely result in another bowl game for the program, but it's unlikely to blaze a path towards contending for the top of the Big Ten.
No. 11 - Maryland Terrapins (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 27-10 at Wisconsin
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Well, what do we have here? Usually, the start of the Big Ten part of the schedule spells doom for Maryland, but this time around, the Terrapins looked like a real, live, physical football team against Wisconsin. It's still too early to anoint this team as a problem in the Big Ten, but it looks like the team might be more competitive in the league this year.
No. 10 - Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 38-28 at Rutgers
Next Game: vs. Indiana
What goes into the ranking
It's hard to really know what Iowa is at the moment, but give the Hawkeyes credit for winning on the road at Rutgers last week. We still have questions about the offense, and we're about to find out a lot more this week when an explosive Indiana team comes to town.
No. 9 - Illinois Fighting Illini (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Lost 63-10 at Indiana
Next Game: vs. USC
What goes into the ranking
Which team is the real Illinois team? The one that put a whooping on Duke, or the one that received a whooping at the hands of Indiana last week? There are real issues with the offensive line, and that'll likely hold the Illini back from being a Big Ten and College Football Playoff contender. This week will tell a lot when an explosive USC team comes to town.
No. 8 - Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Lost 30-27 vs. Michigan
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Nebraska nearly pulled off a big win against Michigan, but it's yet another example of the Cornhuskers' inability to win close games. There's some talent on this team, but not enough to expect a statement year under head coach Matt Rhule. Now, it's a week to rest up before trying to turn things around and make a run.
No. 7 - Michigan Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 30-27 at Nebraska
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Michigan got by Nebraska on the road (barely) to keep pretty big things on the table, but who can get how pedestrian the offense looked against Oklahoma out of their minds. This team will probably get better as the season wears on, and credit where credit is due for finding a way to win, but there are some holes on this team before anyone believes it can win the Big Ten and beyond.
No. 6 - Washington Huskies (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 59-24 at Washington State
Next Game: vs. Ohio State
What goes into the ranking
Washington might be better than this -- we'll soon find out because the No. 1 team is coming to the banks of Lake Washington on Saturday. The offense looks mighty explosive, and this might be the surprise team in the Big Ten. But are the Huskies ready to make a statement this weekend and spring the upset?
No. 5 - USC Trojans (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 45-31 vs. Michigan State
Next Game: at Illinois
What goes into the ranking
If Washington is the surprise team in the Big Ten so far, USC is right behind it. The Trojans have carved up defenses so far this season and might be even better than this ranking. Next up is a game on the road against a physical Illinois team, and that's the type of squad that's given the Trojans issues since joining the Big Ten. Is this year different?
No. 4 - Indiana Hoosiers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 63-10 vs. Illinois
Next Game: at Iowa
What goes into the ranking
Is Indiana as good as what we saw last week? It seems pretty clear that last year was no fluke at this point, but we need to see more. Next up is a game on the road vs. a team that will be well coached and well prepared, and will make Indiana move the ball down the field with patience instead of allowing the big plays the Hoosier offense thrives on. It should be appointment television.
No. 3 - Oregon Ducks (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Won 41-7 vs. Oregon State
Next Game: at Penn State
What goes into the ranking
We are about to get some answers about the top five teams in these rankings. One of those answers will come when the Ducks -- who have looked almost unbeatable -- travel to Penn State for a whiteout game. Can dynamic quarterback Dante Moore continue to make big plays in extremely hostile territory? Is Oregon underrated? It sure looks like a CFP contender, but a big hurdle awaits.
No. 2 - Penn State (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Off
Next Game: vs. Oregon
What goes into the ranking
And here we go. Penn State hasn't been challenged so far in 2025 because it's been a pretty easy schedule. Still, the Nittany Lions have taken care of business even without quarterback Drew Allar playing up to his potential. This week, the competition goes way up quickly with Oregon coming to town. Penn State will need Allar to be the quarterback he's supposed to be to keep really big things on track.
No. 1 - Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
LastGame Result: Off
Next Game: at Washington
What went into the ranking
It sure looks like the next wave of Ohio State players is still an elite group. The defense might be even better than last year, and even though the offense is still figuring out its identity, new starting quarterback Julian Sayin has been fantastic. A big-time test on that narrative takes place on Saturday, though, with Sayin and his weapons making an appearance in the Pacific Northwest against a very talented Washington team.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten football power rankings after Week 4
Category: General Sports
