In one of the wildest weekends you'll ever see for one conference, all but three teams shifted in our post-Week Big Ten power rankings.
Whew. What a weekend it was in the Big Ten, as each team competed in a conference matchup for the first week all season.
The most anticipated game of all, a top-10 matchup between the Oregon Ducks and Indiana Hoosiers, lived up to the hype as a must-watch game — for reasons unforeseen to many. The Hoosiers took it to the Ducks, coming away with an emphatic ten-point victory at Autzen Stadium and loudly announcing themselves as inner-circle national championship contenders in college football.
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, the sky is officially falling in Happy Valley. The Penn State Nittany Lions, hosting the Northwestern Wildcats, faltered for a second straight week coming off their closely-contested loss to Oregon. Within a months time, they went from being considered title contenders to questions now arising over whether or not they'll even make a bowl game. Rough times, to say the least.
The USC Trojans notched a signature win over the Michigan Wolverines in front of a primetime audience on Saturday night, changing the narrative of their play-style along the way. In a predictable outcome, the Ohio State Buckeyes handled the Illinois Fighting Irish, coming away with a three-score victory. Unexpected was UCLA's continued offensive scoring outburst under interim offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel and Nebraska's repeated ability to pull out a one-score win.
Just two weeks ago, who would've thought we'd be here now? Gotta love college football.
Without further ado, let's get into our post-Week 7 Big Ten power rankings, with all but three teams shifting — one squad by as many as seven spots.
18) Wisconsin Badgers (2-4, 0-3)
Game Result: L 37-0 vs. Iowa
Previous Ranking: 18
What's Next: vs. Ohio State
Analysis: It’s hard to imagine a worse outing for the Badgers, who fell behind 17-0 to Iowa after the first quarter and never came remotely close to putting any points on the board. Graduate transfer quarterback Hunter Simmons completed just eight of 21 passes for 82 yards and two interceptions while the rushing attack managed just 3.5 yards per carry. The seat is as hot as can be for head coach Luke Fickell, who may not make it to November the way it’s going.
17) Michigan State (3-3, 0-3)
Game Result: L 38-13 vs. UCLA
Previous Ranking: 14
What's Next: @ Indiana
Analysis: Another week, another disappointing showing for quarterback Aidan Chiles and the Spartans’ offense. Chiles completed eight of 17 passes for 66 yards before being pulled in the third quarter for backup Alessio Milivojevic, who tossed a garbage time touchdown for the second straight week. With the season quickly slipping away, head coach Jonathan Smith has to consider a switch at the game’s most important position.
16) Purdue Boilermakers (2-4, 0-3)
Game Result: L 27-20 vs. Minnesota
Previous Ranking: 16
What's Next: @ Northwestern
Analysis: Despite suffering their fourth straight loss, the Boilermakers continue to show impressive fight against superior competition. Purdue should've won this game, as they squandered a 20-13 lead thanks to a missed field goal, interception, turnover on downs and fumble in the fourth quarter. They're not going to win many games in the Big Ten with a drive chart like that, but if the Boilermakers continue to play compete, they'll pull one out soon enough.
15) Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-3, 0-3)
Game Result: L 38-19 vs. Washington
Previous Ranking: 13
What's Next: vs. Oregon
Analysis: The Scarlet Knights’ surprised by taking a two-score lead right away against Washington before faltering and losing by three scores. Once again, quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and running back Antwan Raymond had big days, but the defense simply couldn’t contain the opposing offense. They allowed 590 total yards, a mark that is far from synonymous with winning.
14) Northwestern Wildcats (4-2, 2-1)
Game Result: W 22-21 vs. Penn State
Previous Ranking: 17
What's Next: vs. Purdue
Analysis: Since losing to the Ducks in Week 3, the Wildcats have secured three consecutive wins, with two (UCLA and Penn State) bolstering their resume greatly. Taking on an emotionally wounded Nittany Lions squad on the road on Saturday, Northwestern simply wanted it more. The running back duo of Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II grinded their way to a combined 137 rushing yards, outgaining Penn State’s star-studded running back duo. At 4-2 and with Purdue up next, the Wildcats are putting themselves on a fast track to bowl eligibility.
13) Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2, 2-1)
Game Result: W 27-20 vs. Purdue
Previous Ranking: 12
What's Next: vs. Nebraska
Analysis: While it’s concerning that the Golden Gophers needed a late push to avoid a disappointing loss to Purdue at home, they got the win in the end. Quarterback Drake Lindsey completed just 21 of his 45 passes and was intercepted once while star running back Darius Taylor averaged just 2.3 yards per carry on 14 attempts. A Koi Perich pick-six saved the day, with the Golden Gophers defense holding strong after the eventual game-winning defensive score.
12) Penn State Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3)
Game Result: L 22-21 vs. Northwestern
Previous Ranking: 5
What's Next: @ Iowa
Analysis: What a disaster of a season for the Nittany Lions. In the span of 14 days, they went from being ranked No. 3 in the country to losing three straight and with fans calling for head coach James Franklin to be fired. Nothing went well for Penn State on Saturday, as Northwestern stole a win in Happy Valley. It went from bad to much, much worse after the game as Franklin announced that starting quarterback Drew Allar would miss the rest of the season with a lower leg injury. While he’s been far from excellent in 2025, he’s the best option they have — but no longer.
11) UCLA Bruins (2-4, 2-1)
Game Result: W 38-13 vs. Michigan State
Previous Ranking: 15
What's Next: vs. Maryland
Analysis: A week after upsetting Penn State, the winning ways continued for the Bruins as they went into East Lansing and hung 38 points on Michigan State. The two biggest offensive performances of the season have come with interim offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel calling the shots, whose profile has soared in college football — just like UCLA’s ranking, as they've jumped seven spots overall after an impressive two weeks.
10) Maryland Terrapins (4-2, 1-2)
Game Result: L 34-31 vs. Nebraska
Previous Ranking: 11
What's Next: @ UCLA
Analysis: After starting the season 4-0, the Terrapins have lost two straight Big Ten games that they arguably should’ve won. They held a 20-0 lead over Washington in the second half before faltering down the stretch and led 31-24 over Nebraska in the final quarter before being outscored by ten to finish the game. This team, led by freshman quarterback Malik Washington, competes — they just have to learn how to finish the job.
9) Iowa Hawkeyes (4-2, 2-1)
Game Result: W 37-0 vs. Wisconsin
Previous Ranking: 10
What's Next: vs. Penn State
Analysis: In classic Iowa fashion, the Hawkeyes scored 37 points yet threw for just 109 yards. The defense and run game were the catalysts, as they forced three Badgers turnovers and ran for 210 yards and four scores. Not a ton can be gleaned from this game against an overmatched Wisconsin squad on its last legs, except for the fact that the passing game is still broken and puts a major cap on the team’s potential.
8) Washington Huskies (5-1, 2-1)
Game Result: W 38-19 vs. Rutgers
Previous Ranking: 9
What's Next: @ Michigan
Analysis: Slow starts have plagued the Huskies this season, as they fell behind 10-0 against Rutgers a week after having to crawl back from a 20-0 deficit against Maryland. Lucky enough, they won both games thanks to quarterback Demond Williams Jr.’s heroics, who had career-highs in passing yards (402) and rushing yards (136) while scoring four total touchdowns. There’s no doubt that Washington had a quarterback they can rely on, but they have to get out of the gates faster.
7) Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1, 2-1)
Game Result: W 34-31 vs. Maryland
Previous Ranking: 8
What's Next: @ Minnesota
Analysis: Quarterback Dylan Raiola threw four touchdowns in leading the Cornhuskers to a come-from-behind victory over Maryland. The issue is that he also threw three interceptions that put them behind, something that will have to be cleaned up moving forward. Regardless, one-score games have been a major struggle for this Nebraska program. With this win, they move to 2-1 in such games, a significant step forward after going 2-5 in one-score games in 2024.
6) Illinois Fighting Illini (5-2, 2-2)
Game Result: L 34-16 vs. Ohio State
Previous Ranking: 6
What's Next: Bye
Analysis: There’s no doubt that Illinois is a good football team. They beat USC and handled Duke, after all. But there’s simply no evidence that they’re a great team, or anything close to it. A 53-point loss to Indiana and an 18-point loss to Ohio State, in which the offense was ineffective in averaging 228 total yards in the two games, signifies that the Fighting Illini just aren’t at the level of the powers in the Big Ten.
5) Michigan Wolverines (4-2, 2-1)
Game Result: L 31-13 vs. USC
Previous Ranking: 4
What's Next: vs. Washington
Analysis: When the Wolverines are out-physicalled, they’re not going to win a ton of football games. That’s exactly what happened on Saturday night, as the Trojans took it to Michigan at the line of scrimmage in outrushing them by over 100 yards and holding the ball for over seven more minutes. Now with two losses, head coach Sherrone Moore’s squad has to go undefeated if they hope to make the College Football Playoff.
4) USC Trojans (5-1, 3-1)
Game Result: W 31-13 vs. Michigan
Previous Ranking: 7
What's Next: @ Notre Dame
Analysis: The Trojans beat Michigan at their own game, a stark difference from the early days of head coach Lincoln Riley’s tenure at USC. The physicality stuck out, as the running game amassed 224 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Jayden Maiava continued to impress through the air, throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns, one apiece to star wide receiver Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobe Lane. At 5-1, the Trojans appear to have a complete team and look to be a real threat in the Big Ten.
3) Oregon Ducks (5-1, 2-1)
Game Result: L 30-20 vs. Indiana
Previous Ranking: 1
What's Next: @ Rutgers
Analysis: Riding as high as could be headed into this Saturday, the Ducks came crashing down by game’s end. Head coach Dan Lanning and his staff were unequivocally out-coached, failing to adjust to the Hoosiers’ various pass rush pressures and allowing a standout game to star receiver Elijah Sarratt. Quarterback Dante Moore came back to Earth as well, tossing two interceptions. On the bright side, the goal of a national championship is still on the table — it just won’t come with an undefeated season. Back to the drawing board they go.
2) Indiana Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0)
Game Result: W 30-20 vs. O
Previous Ranking: 3
What's Next: vs. Michigan State
Analysis: Right up there with the most impressive wins of the season in all of college football, the Hoosiers showed extreme resilience in the fourth quarter. Coming off a pick-six, quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers offense marched all the way down the field for the game-leading touchdown. Head coach Curt Cignetti’s team is for real and announced themselves as legitimate national title contenders in a big way.
1) Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0)
Game Result: W 34-16 vs. Illinois
Previous Ranking: 2
What's Next: @ Wisconsin
Analysis: The Buckeyes leapt out to a 20-0 lead over Illinois on the road and never looked back, coming away with a comfortable win. It wasn’t the sharpest effort, as the running game averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and the offense managed just 272 total yards, but they got the job done nonetheless. With Oregon’s loss, Ohio State reclaims the top spot — yet will now have to hold off a surging Indiana squad in the coming weeks.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Big Ten Power Rankings: New team replaces Oregon Ducks in top spot
Category: General Sports
