After a week of Big Ten play that had the most shocking upset in college football in 2025, there are three power house matchups in Week 7.
What a week it was in the Big Ten.
UCLA stunned Penn State, Ohio State cemented itself as perhaps the top defense in the nation and Washington had a comeback for the ages, scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter on the opposite side of the country to survive Maryland.
If that week was good, this week should be elite. The top six teams in this week's power rankings are all facing one another. For the first time all season, every single Big Ten team is in action in conference play.
Here are the Big Ten power rankings heading into Week 7 (last week's here):
1. Ohio State (5-0)
Last week's ranking: 1.
This week's game: at Illinois.
What to know: Ohio State continues to lay one beatdown after another against teams that don't stack up. This will be the toughest test to date going to Champaign and yes, that includes against Texas in Week 1.
2. Oregon (5-0)
Last week's ranking: 2.
This week's game: vs. Indiana.
What to know: The Ducks are looking to prove there's levels to being an elite team in the Big Ten and have a massive home field (and travel) advantage to do so against one of the top teams in the league.
3. Indiana (5-0)
Last week's ranking: 3.
This week's game: at Oregon.
What to know: If the Hoosiers want to not just get the Big Ten's attention, but the entire nation, this would be the way to do it and would be perhaps the best win for any team in the entire nation this season.
4. Illinois (5-1)
Last week's ranking: 5.
This week's game: vs. Ohio State.
What to know: The Illini already dropped their first massive test in horrific fashion, falling 63-10 to Indiana. A home win against USC was impressive but a win over the vaunted Buckeyes would nearly lockup a College Football Playoff berth.
5. Michigan (4-1)
Last week's ranking: 6.
This week's game: at USC.
What to know: The Wolverines are underdogs going into a game for just the second time this season, with USC favored by 1½ points. It's an elite matchup and a win would give U-M the inside track at the CFP.
6. USC (4-1)
Last week's ranking: 7.
This week's game: vs. Michigan.
What to know: The Trojans slid under the radar much of September, then when push came to shove, folded at Illinois. If the Trojans want any hope of a truly great season, it starts with a home victory over a talented Wolverines squad that's finding its footing.
7. Washington (4-1)
Last week's ranking: 8.
This week's game: vs. Rutgers.
What to know: Washington had the steal of the year last week, scoring 21 straight at Maryland. Now, it gets to welcome an East Coast team to the West Coast, which has to feel like a prime opportunity.
8. Nebraska (4-1)
Last week's ranking: 9.
This week's game: at Maryland.
What to know: Nebraska didn't look good in many facets, giving up 21 straight points to MSU in the middle portion of the game. But the homefield advantage and terrible MSU special teams were enough to flip the tide and get a much needed win.
9. Penn State (3-2)
Last week's ranking: 4.
This week's game: vs. Northwestern.
What to know: The worst loss for any team in the entire nation this year goes to Penn State, falling to previously winless UCLA. But shoutout to James Franklin for showing he doesn't only lose big games. Chess not checkers.
10. Maryland (4-1)
Last week's ranking: 10.
This week's game: vs. Nebraska.
What to know: The definition of a gut-punch loss, it felt like the Terps were on their way to a 5-0 start for just the second time since 2001. Now's a chance to prove the fourth quarter was a fluke and beat a Nebraska team at home that's decent, but not great.
11. Iowa (3-2)
Last week's ranking: 13.
This week's game: at Wisconsin.
What to know: The middle and bottom of the pack of the Big Ten was so bad this week, the Hawkeyes move up two spots without playing a game. It looks like a solid chance to stack a win this week, heading to Madison.
12. Rutgers (3-2)
Last week's ranking: 14.
This week's game: at Washington.
What to know: The Scarlet Knights got to regroup over a bye week, which should help with the nearly 3,000 mile trip to the Pacific Northwest. They've been competitive in losses to Iowa and Minnesota, but this is another level up in difficulty from that.
13. Michigan State (3-2)
Last week's ranking: 12.
This week's game: vs. UCLA.
What to know: Nebraska has loser DNA, but MSU has something even worse, it seems. The Spartans' offense and defense played well enough to possibly win the game, but a blocked punt for a touchdown and a fumbled kickoff doomed them. Really, really, not good.
14. Minnesota (3-2)
Last week's ranking: 11.
This week's game: vs. Purdue.
What to know: Ohio State will make a lot of teams look like that this year, but 42-3 is pretty awful any way you slice it. A needed bounce back spot is on the docket with a home game against Purdue.
15. Northwestern (3-2)
Last week's ranking: 16.
This week's game: at Penn State.
What to know: The Wildcats got a homecoming win over a lousy Louisiana Monroe team. Now, they go to Penn State where they will either be the punching bag or find a team that's completely given up.
16. Purdue (2-3)
Last week's ranking: 15.
This week's game: at Minnesota.
What to know: Purdue has been better than expected this year, but that's not saying much with a team many thought was in the gutter. It's not a big chance, but there's a chance at a win in the twin cities this weekend.
17. UCLA (1-4)
Last week's ranking: 18.
This week's game: at Michigan State.
What to know: What a feel-good moment for UCLA, stunning top-10 Penn State at home. That's what college sports is about − maybe there's a tiny bit of juice heading into the game in East Lansing.
18. Wisconsin (2-3)
Last week's ranking: 17.
This week's game: vs. Iowa.
What to know: Wisconsin actually played well in Ann Arbor this past weekend, but with three straight losses, finds itself at the bottom of the rankings. The defense is solid, however, so first team to 13 points in a clash vs. Iowa will probably be the winner.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Big Ten power rankings: Week 7 should be epic
Category: General Sports
