Week 5 Big Ten power rankings: Oregon, Ohio State stand tall as contenders emerge

It was the biggest slate of college football all year long, with three highlight Big Ten games taking center stage. It started out with USC traveling to Champaign to face Illinois, Ohio State opening up Big Ten play at Washington, and closing out with the big game of the day (along with Georgia vs. Alabama) with Oregon trekking to Happy Valley to face Penn State.

The latter game certainly was a battle for Big Ten (and nationwide) supremacy, but with so many teams facing their first conference foe of the year, it revealed more about who could truly contend this season.

With that in mind, here are our post-Week 5 Big Ten power rankings.

18. UCLA Bruins (0-4, 0-1)

This week: L, at Northwestern, 14-17

Previous ranking: 18

Hi/Lo: 18/18

Despite going down multiple scores early at Northwestern, UCLA showed some fight it hasn't really shown yet this year. While still seeking their first win, the Bruins may have found a little something late under interim coach Tim Skipper that could help them down the road.

17. Northwestern Wildcats (2-2, 1-1)

This week: W, vs. UCLA, 17-14

Previous ranking: 16

Hi/Lo: 16/17

On the reverse end of UCLA, Northwestern had no business letting it be a game against the Bruins. This doesn't feel like a team that has much going for it whatsoever at the moment. The pass game continues to struggle, but the run game is getting going. And the defense continues to be the team's strength.

16. Wisconsin Badgers (2-2, 0-1)

This week: BYE

Previous ranking: 17

Hi/Lo: 16/17

Wisconsin was on bye this week but travels to Ann Arbor to face Michigan football in Week 6.

15. Purdue Boilermakers (2-2, 0-1)

This week: BYE

Previous ranking: 15

Hi/Lo: 15/15

Purdue was on bye this week, but hosts a ranked Illinois team in West Lafayette next week.

14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-2, 0-2)

This week: L, at Minnesota, 28-31

Previous ranking: 14

Hi/Lo: 14/14

Despite losing, Rutgers' ranking doesn't change this week. It had its chances at Minnesota, jumping out to an early lead and even scoring a go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter. But the Scarlet Knights couldn't hold on on the road. The rushing defense was excellent, but the passing defense allowed Gophers QB Drake Lindsey to shred it. Meanwhile, the rushing attack was good, if it weren't for Athan Kaliakmanis losing 29 yards on 10 'carries.' The blueprint is there, but with Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Ohio State, and Penn State on the schedule, getting to bowl eligibility will be a challenge.

13. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-2, 0-1)

This week: W, vs. Rutgers, 31-28

Previous ranking: 13

Hi/Lo: 13/13

Credit to PJ Fleck's team for battling back after a disappointing loss to Cal in Week 3. As noted in the Rutgers section, Drake Lindsey was excellent, but the run game leaves a lot to be desired. Even so, Minnesota continues to find ways to win without much fanfare. However, next week will be tough with a trip to Columbus to face Ohio State.

12. MSU Spartans (3-1, 0-1)

This week: BYE

Previous ranking: 12

Hi/Lo: 12/12

MSU was on bye this week, but travels to face Nebraska in Lincoln next week.

11. Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2, 1-1)

This week: L, vs. Indiana, 15-20

Previous ranking: 11

Hi/Lo: 11/11

Iowa's ranking doesn't change, despite the loss at home. It was a spirited effort in Kinnick against an Indiana team that annihilated Illinois last week. To some degree, there is some wonder as to what might have been if quarterback Mark Gronowski wasn't injured in the fourth quarter, given that Iowa had a chance to tie or take the lead late in the game. This team will be a tough out, regardless, and has a week to heal up with the bye forthcoming.

10. Maryland Terrapins (4-0, 1-0)

This week: BYE

Previous ranking: 10

Hi/Lo: 10/10

Maryland was on bye this week, but hosts Washington in College Park next week.

9. Washington Huskies (4-1, 1-1)

This week: L, vs. Ohio State, 6-24

Previous ranking: 8

Hi/Lo: 8/9

The home winning streak is gone, but it's not like Washington didn't have its chances. Hosting the Buckeyes, UW had plenty of opportunities, but shot itself in the foot with either penalties, protection issues, or red zone woes. From the poorly executed fake punt to the phantom roughing the passer, the Huskies never got into rhythm. The defense was solid, having kept OSU from unleashing its offense, but the UW offense couldn't get into the end zone once. Up next is a trip to Maryland.

8. USC Trojans (4-1, 2-1)

This week: L, at Illinois, 32-34

Previous ranking: 5

Hi/Lo: 5/8

The USC defense continues to be bipolar, having moments of greatness mixed with awful efforts, particularly against the run game. Illinois got more than 300 yards passing (although one long pass was on a screen, effectively working as a run) and nearly 200 yards rushing. While the Trojan offense got things going late, USC scored too quickly on the go-ahead score with under two minutes left in the game, allowing the Illini to drive the field and score the walk-off field goal. There are still questions about if USC has the line play on either side to contend in the Big Ten. The Trojans will have a bye week to sort things out.

7. Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1, 1-1)

This week: W, vs. USC, 34-32

Previous ranking: 9

Hi/Lo: 7/9

What a bounce back for the Illini after being embarrassed last week in Bloomington. The offense was humming, often cutting through the USC defense like a hot knife through butter. The self-inflicted wounds, with two fumbles, however, left the door open for the Trojans, in a game where USC really wasn't competitive, minus some bursts. Even still, Illinois drove the field to win the game when it counted most, showing that, if nothing else, this is a tough-minded team.

6. Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, 0-1)

This week: BYE

Previous ranking: 7

Hi/Lo: 6/7

Nebraska was on bye this week, but hosts Michigan State in Lincoln next week.

5. Michigan Wolverines (3-1, 1-0)

This week: BYE

Previous ranking: 6

Hi/Lo: 5/6

Michgan was on bye this week, but hosts Wisconsin in Ann Arbor next week.

4. Indiana Hoosiers (5-0, 2-0)

This week: W, at Iowa, 20-15

Previous ranking: 4

Hi/Lo: 4/4

It's always tough to play in Kinnick, and some of the Hoosier magic was quelled in Iowa City. Yes, Indiana still came away with a win, but it took all game to get there. Fernando Mendoza was still quite good, but not nearly as invincible as he had been to this point. Curt Cignetti and company will have a week to look back and figure out what happened before going to Oregon in two weeks.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1, 0-1)

This week: L, vs. Oregon, 24-30 2OT

Previous ranking: 3

Hi/Lo: 3/3

We didn't penalize Penn State for losing at home in overtime to what looks like an elite Oregon team (especially since Indiana struggled a bit at Iowa this week). But the offense continued to look pedestrian, moribund, and mundane -- until near the end of the game. Yes, Penn State found some late life, but with it taking the Nittany Lions until the fourth quarter to score their first touchdown, it wasn't exactly an inspiring performance. The defense under Jim Knowles is legit (further evidenced by the copious holds by the Ducks that went uncalled). It's not a death knell anymore to lose a regular-season game, but it's not exactly a good look for James Franklin and Drew Allar, who thought they had overcome these ranked-team losses.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0)

This week: W, at Washington, 24-13

Previous ranking: 2

Hi/Lo: 2/2

It wasn't pretty, but Ohio State went into Washington and ended a multi-year home winning streak for the Huskies. The pass game was almost entirely short game, and the run game looked better than ever with freshman Bo Jackson leading the charge. But this wasn't the typical explosive Buckeye offense overwhelming the opponent. In fact, Washington hung around for much of the game, but the OSU defense stood strong when it mattered most. Ohio State hosts Minnesota for an elusive home night game next week.

1. Oregon Ducks (5-0, 2-0)

This week: W, at Penn State, 30-24 2OT

Previous ranking: 1

Hi/Lo: 1/1

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't even necessarily convincing. But in a redux of last year's Big Ten Championship Game, Oregon traveled more than 2,000 miles in the regular season, went into arguably the most hostile of territories, and came away with a win. Despite having a 10-point lead, the Ducks squandered it, even with a defense that was stifling. It took two overtimes to win, but Oregon prevailed. The offense drove the field often (though it struggled to finish -- especially in the fourth quarter), and the Ducks come away (along with Ohio State) as the teams to beat in the Big Ten. But it can also be said that Penn State is still right there.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Big Ten power rankings shake up after crucial Week 5 conference games