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.
Week 10 is in the books, and my previous assertion that most of the conference is mid, with pretty much anyone having the ability to beat anyone, continues to hold true. 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. UCLA
The Bruins continued their winning ways, beating Minnesot 34-20 on the road. They don’t have very many tests left, and may have already cemented their spot in the playoffs at this point. They return home for a Friday night game against Illinois next.
2. Indiana
The Hoosiers were on their bye week and will head down the home stretch of the season with a visit from #20 USC.
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.
3. Iowa
The Hawkeyes are 100% playoff contenders after dispatching Northwestern 24-10. A visit from Purdue is next which should keep them on the path toward the playoffs.
4. USC
The Trojans were on their bye week, and will head on the road to play Indiana in what is a playoff elimination game for the Trojans. A win, however, and we may see USC sneak toward that top 12.
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.
5. Oregon
The Ducks look like a team resurgent, demolishing Ohio State 41-28. Unfortunately, it’s likely too little too late, as losses earlier in the year almost certainly keep them out of the playoffs. A visit from Michigan is up next.
6. Ohio State
The fraud allegations proved to be true! With backup QB play, the Buckeyes could not do much of anything against Oregon, and are now a 3-loss team in the regular season. They’ll get a visit from Northwestern next, which has the chance to be just, super ugly football.
7. Wisconsin
The Badgers dispatched Rutgers 31-10. Not much else to say about that, and they’ll head on the road to play Maryland next.
8. Minnesota
The Gophers couldn’t quite pull off the upset against UCLA, losing 34-20. They’ll head on the road next to play Penn State.
9. Northwestern
The Wildcats are officially on a losing streak having come up short against Iowa 24-10. A road trip to Ohio State has a chance to get them back in the win column? Feels weird to type that.
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.
10. Illinois
The Illini got a solid 24-13 win over Nebraska, who has fallen off super hard. A Friday night trip west to UCLA will be tough.
11. Penn State
It was a tale of two halves (again) but the Lions dispatched Washington 28-25 to continue their winning ways, this time on the west coast. They’ll return home to play Minnesota next.
12. Washington
Just when it seemed like the Huskies would complete the comeback, they allowed Penn State to run out the clock. A trip east to play Michigan State is next.
13. Nebraska
Big Red has fallen on hard times, this time with a 24-13 loss to Illinois. A trip to Rutgers could make things a little better?
14. Michigan
Woof. The Wolverines got upended by little brother Michigan State 15-6 with a combined 7 field goals between the two teams. The only reason I still have the Wolverines up here is because they managed to get some wins earlier in the season, and are still likely to make a bowl game. A visit to Oregon, however, does not help that narrative.
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.
15. Michigan State
The Spartans defeated Michigan 15-6 and managed to claim at least one bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming season. A visit from Washington is next.
16. Maryland
The Terrapins pulled themselves up off the mat with a 34-29 win over Purdue. A visit from Wisconsin is coming up next.
17. Purdue
Things have really run off the rails for Purdue, who are once again waiting for the season to be over. A trip to #19 Iowa is just the next step in that journey.
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. Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights have reclaimed their spot at the bottom, following a 31-10 loss to Wisconsin. A visit from Nebraska is next, so perhaps there’s hope?
The season-long mid-off continues!.
UCLA and Indiana stay steady at the top, with Iowa, USC, and Oregon climbing. Ohio State tumbles, while Wisconsin ticks upward. Minnesota and Northwestern drop, while Illinois holds stead. Penn State rises, but Washington, Nebraska, and Michigan all move down. Michigan State an Maryland move up, while Purdue and Rutgers move down.
On to Week 11!
