Big Ten Football Power Rankings: Post Week 3

We are primarily out of conference season so now we get to see a lot of head-to-head matchups between the B1G teams. Let the chaos ensue:

Travis:

1. Ohio State (Beat Ohio 37-9, Last week: 1) – Ohio made it a little bit of a game, but for another year, at least, the Buckeyes are kings of Ohio.
2. Oregon (Beat Northwestern 34-14, Last week: 2) – This was a cruise control win. The Ducks needed only half the game and getting outscored 14-3 in the fourth quarter shows they left for O’Hare early.
3. Penn State (Beat Villanova 52-6, Last week: 3) – Even Jay Wright couldn’t help Villanova.
4. Illinois (Beat Western Michigan 38-0. Last week: 4 ) – This sets up a big game with (checks notes) Indiana!?!?! Indiana-Illinois is a major Big Ten football game in the year of Our Lord 2025.
5. Indiana (Beat Indiana State 73-0, Last week: 6) – 2025 Indiana State is slightly worse than 2024 Purdue.
6. USC (Beat Purdue 33-17, Last week: 5) – The Trojans were at least challenged in week 3 and earned a ranking out of it.
7. Michigan (Beat Central Michigan 63-3, Last week: 10) – Connor who?
8. Nebraska (Beat Houston Christian 59-7, Last week: 7) – The Huskers have outscored their opponents 147-24 so far, with Ciincinnati scoring 17 of those points.
9. Michigan State (Beat Youngstown State 41-24, Last week: 9) – Is Sparty good? I would say we get to find out this week, but I am gonna be real sleepy by 11pm Saturday night.
10. Maryland (Beat Towson 44-17, Last week: 15) – Is it just me, or does Maryland play Towson every year? Would it be shocking if they snuck them on the schedule again?
11. Rutgers (Beat Norfolk State 60-10, Last week: 14) – Iowa at Rutgers on a Friday night. That sounds more like a punishment.
12. Iowa (Beat Massachusetts 47-7, Last week: 16) – We live in a world where Iowa actually has a decent offense. Well, at least as long as it is playing teams from the northeastern United States.
13. Washington (On BYE, Last week: 13) – Sure, why not? It is Apple Cup week.
14. Purdue (lost to USC 33-17, Last week: 11) – Purdue is not absolutely terrible. What if we stun the Irish in South Bend and drag them into hell for the rest of the season?
15. Minnesota (Lost to Cal 27-14, Last week: 8) – What are you doing voluntarily going out to Cal when you already have to go to Oregon?
16. Wisconsin (Lost to Alabama 38-14, Last week: 12) – Wisconsin might be bad, kids. I am just as confused as you all.
17. Northwestern (Lost to Oregon 34-14, Last Week: 17) – They were getting shutout until the final 7 minutes.
18. UCLA (Lost to New Mexico 35-10, Last Week: 18) – Lost a must-win game by 25 points at home to a Group of Five team. If they do not beat Northwestern next week they are going winless.

Ryan:

1. #1 Ohio State Buckeyes (-)

Last Week: Won 37-9 vs Ohio
Week 4 Matchup: BYE

It wasn’t particularly pretty, but Ohio State pulled through. Having Jeremiah Smith on your team helps too.

2. #6 Oregon Ducks (-)

Last Week: Won 34-14 at Northwestern
Week 4 Matchup: Vs Oregon State

The Ducks came out east and handedly beat a struggling team in a soccer stadium.

The game was far in hand, so the Duck got some light reading in on the sidelines as well.

3. #2 Penn State Nittany Lions (-)

Last Week: Won 52-6 vs Villanova
Week 4 Matchup: BYE

No real movement in the top tier of Big Ten teams as everyone won and it wasn’t particularly close for anyone. We are just anxiously waiting for Oregon to go to Penn State in 2 weeks. Asides from having one of the best home-field advantages in college football, the Nittany Lions will also get an extra week of prep time.

4. #9 Illinois Fighting Illini (-)

Last Week: Won 38-0 vs Western Michigan
Week 4 Matchup: At #19 Indiana

The first big B1G showdown starts this week as Illinois heads to Bloomington to face off against Indiana. Illinois may finally be putting a quarter century of inconsistency in the rear view, but they need to clear this hurdle first.

5. #25 USC Trojans (-)

Last Week: Won 33-17 at Purdue
Week 4 Matchup: Vs Michigan State

For the first time in over a decade, USC won a game in the Eastern Time Zone. The USC offense came back down to Earth but the defense held its ground and forced 3 interceptions and 5 sacks. The Trojans return home this week to take on the Spartans so I expect to see a wooden horse and several trick plays, or I will be disappointed.

6. #23 Michigan Wolverines (-)

Last Week: Won 63-3 vs Central Michigan
Week 4 Matchup: At Nebraska

We have heard this numerous times so far this year: ‘Big Ten team beats up on MAC team’. Michigan is no different and Bryce Underwood bounced back nicely after a tough road loss the week before. Now the Wolverines will travel to another tough environment in Lincoln.

7. # 19 Indiana Hoosiers (+1)

Last Week: Won 73-0 vs Indiana State
Week 4 Matchup: Vs #9 Illinois

The Hoosiers moved up because they beat their FCS opponent more handedly than Nebraska. A lot can change after IU hosts Illinois this week, but the Hoosiers had a bad habit of laying eggs against good teams last year (when they actually played them). Will Curt Cignetti flip the narrative?

8. Nebraska Cornhuskers (-1)

Last Week: Won 59-7 vs Houston Christian
Week 4 Matchup: Vs #21 Michigan

A good measuring stick this week as Nebraska hosts Michigan. This is a face off of 5-star QBs, Dylan Riaola gets the benefit of experience and a home crowd.

9. Washington Huskies (-)

Last Week: BYE
Week 4 Matchup: At Washington State

A bye week to prep for the Apple Cup should let the Huskies coast into conference play. The final game against the current configuration of the conference you left should be an interesting talking point though.

10. Iowa Hawkeyes (+1)

Last Week: Won 47-7 vs Massachusetts
Week 4 Matchup: At Rutgers (Friday)

Iowa almost hung 50 on the newest MAC team, which is very promising. but levels of competition make a difference.

11. Michigan State Spartans (+1)

Last Week: Won 41-24 vs Youngstown State
Week 4 Matchup: At #25 USC

Coming off a hard-fought victory, Michigan State again got the win at home to an FCS team. Now Sparty gets to go to LA and take on the newly ranked Trojans where MSU defense it going to be tested often.

12. Minnesota Golden Gophers (-2)

Last Week: Lost 27-14 at California
Week 4 Matchup: BYE

Playing 1,500 miles away from home without your star running back is tough and a few breaks didn’t go the Gophers way. Minnesota will get plenty of rest after getting home with the week off.

13. Maryland Terrapins (-)

Last Week: Won 44-17 vs Townson
Week 4 Matchup: At Wisconsin

3 games into the season and we still don’t know how this team will do come conference season. The Terps have put all of their faith in Malik Washington, but can the freshman perform on the road? We’ll find out in Madison this week.

14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+1)

Last Week: Won 60-10 vs Norfolk State
Week 4 Matchup: Vs Iowa (Friday)

Punching down against an FCS team doesn’t move the needle much (see Maryland above) but Rutgers is still one of the undefeated schools in the nation. The offense will have its work cut out for them as Iowa comes to town on Friday

15. Wisconsin Badgers (-1)

Last Week: Lost 38-14 at #19 Alabama
Week 4 Matchup: Vs Maryland

I can’t fault Wisconsin for struggling on the road at Alabama but I’m sure when this game was scheduled initially, both sides thought this would be a much closer matchup. It feels like there’s a disturbance in the force when Wisconsin doesn’t rush for over 100 yards in a game.

16. Purdue Boilermakers (-)

Last Week: Lost 33-17 vs USC
Week 4 Matchup: At #24 Notre Dame

Some quick math for this game: Ryan Browne threw 3 interceptions in the red zone, and one was returned for a touchdown. If Purdue turns each of those possessions into just a field goal (I’m being conservative considering the third pick was a play after what should have been a touchdown) and USC loses their pick-six, Purdue gains 9 points and USC loses 7. At least a 16-point swing in what ended as a 16-point game. Costly turnovers are costly for a reason though.

17. Northwestern Wildcats (-)

Last Week: Lost 34-14 vs #4 Oregon
Week 4 Matchup: BYE

The final score looks closer than the game actually was because Oregon took their foot off the gas after going up 34-0 in the fourth quarter. Preston Stone is still struggling mightily but at least the Cats can prep for a week before playing UCLA and its new head coach at home.

18. UCLA Bruins (-)

Last Week: Lost 35-10 vs New Mexico
Week 4 Matchup: BYE

On Friday, UCLA lost badly at home to a Mountain West team to drop to 0-3. On Sunday, UCLA fired head coach, Deshaun Foster. It was probably the least inopportune time to fire him as the Bruins are off this week. Maybe the changing of the guard will rally the players but 0-3 is a pretty deep hole to dig out of if UCLA wants to salvage its season.