Hello there and welcome to the Big Ten Power Rankings! Each week we’ll rank how the teams across the conference are playing, in the hopes of seeing just who is a contender, and who is a pretender over the course of the season.
The rules are few, but resolute:
Teams are ranked by how they’re playing at that time. Not body of work, not rankings in the polls, but simply how each team is playing at that point in the season.
The approach to the rankings is not necessarily on the field results (though those
do count, as an obvious, tangible data point), but more generally if the two teams played at a neutral site 100 times, which team would win 51 times (or more).
These rankings are subjective. As the author I get to follow the rules as closely or loosely as I want to, and if you don’t like the rankings, you’re wrong.
The 2025 season is in the books, and the final rankings of the season are here. How’d everyone do in the B1G thsi year? Let’s get to it!
Tier 1: Playoff Locks
Teams that are all but guaranteed to make the playoffs, if they continue to play the way they have played thus far.
1. Indiana
Just wow. What an incredible run for the Hoosiers, who ended the year 16-0 and national champions. After beating OSU in the B1G conference championship game 13-10, the Hoosiers had a first round bye as the #1 overall team in the country. In the quarterfinals, they demolished Alabama in the Rose Bowl 38-3, then smacked Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl in the semifinals. Finally, they took down Miami 27-21 in the national championship game, completing one of the best seasons I can think of in recent memory. Indiana could be a real problem going forward, hats off to Curt Cignetti for the job he’s done so far in Bloomington.
2. Oregon
The Ducks fared better in the playoffs than last year, leading off with a first round win over James Madison 51-34. Then in the quarterfinals they shut out Texas Tech 23-0 in the Orange Bowl. Their run ended at the hands of the Hoosiers in the semifinals, but Oregon has to feel pretty good about their year overall.
3. Ohio State
The Buckeyes end the year on a 2-game losing streak, first losing to the Hoosiers in the B1G CCG, and then being bounced in the quarterfinals by Miami, 24-14. A disappointing end to the year for OSU.
Tier 2: Playoff Hopefuls
Teams that could very well end up in the playoffs, but need to continue to improve their resume and move up the rankings before they can make it.
We’ll see who floats into this spot next year!
Tier 3: High-Level Bowl Teams
Teams that likely won’t make the playoffs, but will represent the conference in quality bowls, including the Citrus Bowl and the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
4. Iowa
The Hawkeyes defeated Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt Commodores 34-27 in the ReliaQuest Bowl, making them the best non-playoff team in the conference this year. Not a bad season!
5. Illinois
The Illini eked out a 30-28 win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, helping cement the B1G’s dominance over the SEC this year.
6. Washington
An early bowl game, the Huskies beat Boise State 38-10 in the LA Bowl. A solid year for Washington.
7. USC
The Trojans played hard but couldn’t defeat TCU in the Alamo Bowl, losing 30-27 in overtime. Still, a good year that had USC at least in playoff consideration.
8. Michigan
A disappointing end to the year for Michigan, as they first lost to OSU in The Game, and then lost to Texas 41-27 in the Citrus Bowl. There’s always next year!
Tier 4: Low-Level Bowl Teams
Teams that will end up making it to a bowl game, but likely the bowls that aren’t quite as prestigious, including the Pinstripe Bowl and the Music City Bowl.
9. Minnesota
The Gophers squeaked by New Mexico 20-17 in overtime in the Rate Bowl, but still got a win and likely could have done some work against the teams in Tier 3.
10. Penn State
After a dismal middle half of the season, the Lions rallied around interim head coach Terry Smith, made a bowl game, and then defeated Clemson 22-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl to secure a winning season. Onto next year!
11. Northwestern
The Wildcats defeated Central Michigan 34-7 in the GameAbove Sports Bowl, and that’s all I really have to say about that.
12. Nebraska
The Cornhuskers lost to Utah 44-22 in the Las Vegas Bowl, capping the end of a disappointing season. Still, a bowl appearance is better than Nebraska had had for some time, so not too bad overall!
Tier 5: Bowl-Ineligible Teams
Teams that are on a trajectory to end the season below .500 and miss out on a post-season bowl game.
13. Rutgers
No bowls from here on out, these teams will look ahead to the 2026 season.
14. Michigan State
New head coach Pat Fitzgerald could make MSU fun?
15. Maryland
Old head coach Mike Locksley likely won’t make Maryland fun.
16. Wisconsin
Luke Fickell somehow survived the season, we’ll see if 2026 is any kinder to him.
17. UCLA
Bob Chesney takes over for the Bruins, and I won’t lie, I would have loved it if he were here at Penn State. We’ll see how well he does out on the West Coast.
Tier 6: The Basement™
The worst of the worst, teams whose fans wear paper bags over their heads and count down the days until they have a new head coach.
18. Purdue
Will next year be any different for the Boilermakers?
Until next year, squiggles!
Indiana ends the year on top, after a historic season. Oregon takes up #2, with Ohio State sliding to #3. Iowa is the best of the rest, followed by Illinois and Washington. USC and Michigan tumble, and Minnesota holds steady. Penn State rises to the middle of the pack, with Northwestern staying put. Nebraska ends on a down note. Rutgers, Michigan State, Maryland, Wisconsin, UCLA, and Purdue all hold steady, ready for next season.
See everyone in August!
