Week 4 looked like it would be interesting with the best conference matchup of the young season on the schedule in Illinois at Indiana. Yeah, so much for that. The Hoosiers aren’t ready to give up the Big
Ten dark horse title just yet. Both Oregon and Washington had no trouble in rivalry games, but have much harder tasks ahead of them this week. September Maryland still is a thing. 2025 Wisconsin also is a thing. It’s gonna be a rough couple of months Badgers fans.
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (Previously #1)
Ohio State remains #1 after a bye week. The Buckeyes prepared for a cross-country trip to Washington to face the Huskies on CBS at 2:30. The Buckeyes are 9.5 point favorites.
#2 Oregon Ducks (Previously #2)
The Ducks just missed covering the 34.5 point spread as they win the Civil War over in-state rivals Oregon State 41-7 last weekend. Dante Moore led the way with 305 yards passing aid four touchdowns and ran for another. This week we arguably get one of the most anticipated games on the Big Ten schedule as Oregon heads to Happy Valley and a white out battle at Penn State. It should be great and will be for at minimum the #2 spot on this list next week.
#3 Penn State Nittany Lions (Previously #4)
Penn State moves up a spot on their bye week after the Illinois loss. Will the bye help them prepare for the Ducks to come to town this weekend? It probably can’t hurt at least. Should be a fun night on NBC with the Nittany Lions as 3.5 point favorites.
#4 Indiana Hoosiers (Previously #5)
In what looked like a battle between last years Big Ten sweetheart and this seasons, Indiana told the Illini to sit the hell down and get out of the way. Then they repeatedly ran over them absolutely demolishing Illinois 63-10. Yes, 63-10. Fernando Mendoza threw for five touchdowns in the win. I thought about moving Indiana up to #3, but I’m still not sure if the whole team is for real, or if Illinois was just a paper tiger. So despite the absolute butt-kicking, Indiana sits at #4 for now. They head to Iowa on Saturday as 7.5 point favorites. Can they avoid the let down?
#5 Michigan Wolverines (Previously #7)
Michigan was just good enough it a battle of teams that are good but not great knocking off Nebraska in Lincoln 30-27. Justice Haines ran for 149 and a touchdown—though half of that was on one 75 yard run. Michigan gets a bye this week and has a VERY favorable schedule going forward.
#6 Illinois Fighting Illini (Previously #3)
Oooof Illini. Given a chance to make a statement—well ya sure did. Just not the one you were planning. A 63-10 beatdown at Indiana is demoralizing, and it will be interesting to see if that derails their season, or if they can bounce back from it and forget about it. USC comes to town for an 11 AM game on Saturday and the Trojans are favored by 7.5. It’s a massive game for both teams.
#7 Iowa Hawkeyes (Previously #8)
Iowa knocks off a scrappy Rutgers team on Friday night in a shockingly high scoring affair 38-28. Yes Robb Smith’s defense is THAT bad to allow Iowa to score 38 points. Can Iowa give Indiana a tough test on Saturday, or will Indiana continue to get in a groove and roll over the Hawkeyes?
#8 Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previously #6)
A tough close loss for Nebraska to Michigan falling at home 30-27. The Cornhuskers still have not won a game against a ranked opponent since 2016. They get a week to lick their wounds on bye before returning to action next weekend.
#9 USC Trojans (Previously #11)
USC suddenly is looking closer to the traditional power than the middling team they were a season ago. They took out Michigan State 45-31 late after dark last Saturday night. Jordan Maiava with a very efficient 20/26 for 234 yards and 3 TDs against Joe Rossi’s defense. They now play a sneaky huge game Saturday morning at 9 Am pacific time against a sure to be pissed off Illinois team in Champaign.
#10 Washington Huskies (Previously #12)
Washington moves up to 3-0 after a thrashing of their in-state rival Washington State 59-24 in the Apple Cup Game. Their young quarterback looks like a stud with four TDs in the win over the Cougars. But can he do that this weekend when Ohio State comes to town? It’s going to be much much harder.
#11 Michigan State Spartans (Previously #9)
The Spartans looked rough going from east to west and dropping a two TD loss at USC. They fall to 3-1 on the season and have a bye this week.
#12 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Previously #10)
The Gophers drop a pair of spots on their bye due to the nice wins by USC and Washington. Minnesota can try and jump back up with a nice win of their own this Saturday against a very beatable Rutgers team. But, the offense will need to come to play and take advantage of the awful Scarlet Knight defense.
#13 Maryland Terrapins (Previously #15)
Welcome back September Maryland. The Terps went into Camp Randall and just demoralized the Badgers picking up a 27-10 win to move to 4-0 and be the first Big Ten team within a pair of games of bowl eligibility. They get a bye this week before the schedule gets much tougher for them in October.
#14 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Previously #13)
Rutgers drops a spot after giving up 38 freaking points to Iowa. IOWA. Seriously Robb Smith? Hopefully that defense will be just a porous this week when the Scarlet Knights come to Minneapolis. Minnesota is favored by 5.5 points.
#15 Wisconsin Badgers (Previously #14)
Honestly 15 might be too high for Wisconsin. They look putrid. Now 2-2 after consecutive beat downs by Alabama and Maryland, the Badgers have a bye this week to try and figure out something.
#16 Purdue Boilermakers (Previously #16)
Purdue kept the game at Notre Dame close briefly, but the Irish easily pulled away to take a 56-30 win and drop the Boilermakers to 2-2. They have a bye this week and will likely lose a spot next week to the winner of the game between the two teams below.
#17 Northwestern Wildcats (Previously #17)
Northwestern had a bye last week and now will face their fellow basement dweller as they host UCLA. You don’t want to lose this game if you are the Wildcats.
#18 UCLA Bruins (Previously #18)
UCLA also used their bye week to hopefully regroup. It’s as close to a must win as there ever was this week at Northwestern, because a loss here moves you to 0-4 and you will be strong underdogs in your remaining eight games. Lose Saturday and 0-12 is a very distinct possibility.
