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 7 is in the books, and things are starting to get topsy turvy. 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. Ohio State
OSU defeated Illinois 34-16, in what was a mostly ho hum day at the office for the Buckeyes. They’ll take on hapless Wisconsin next.
2. Indiana
The Hoosiers toppled Oregon 30-20, giving the Ducks their first official Big Ten loss since joining the conference. Indiana has moved into #2 in the conference and would love to start looking at tickets to Indianapolis, but one step at a time – Michigan State is next.
3. Oregon
The Ducks finally succumbed to one of their conference rivals, but are still a top 10 team that I think will make the playoffs. They play Rutgers next to get back in the W column.
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.
4. USC
The Trojans handled Michigan easily, winning 31-13 and putting themselves into the top 25 (shoulda been there already but I don’t vote in the AP). A fun game is next against Notre Dame that will either cement USC as a playoff contender, or put the kibosh on it.
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. Michigan
The Wolverines just couldn’t muster enough offense to compete with USC, and don’t have an easy task with Washington coming to town next.
6. Iowa
The Hawkeyes beat the brakes off Wisconsin 37-0, and may have found an offensive identity at long last. They’ll try to put another nail in Penn State’s coffin next.
7. Nebraska
Big Red got a solid 34-31 win over Maryland, and are working their way up this board and into the top 25. They’ll take on Minnesota in another big game next week.
8. Illinois
The Illini have faltered in their big games this year (I can commiserate), but remain a solid team. They’ll be on a bye next.
9. Washington
The Huskies took down Rutgers 38-19, and are on a solid upward trajectory. They’ll try to keep the positive vibes rolling with a game against Michigan.
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. Minnesota
The Gophers eked out a 27-20 win over Purdue, but will have a much tougher test next against Nebraska.
11. Maryland
The Terrapins couldn’t quite pull off the win over Nebraska, but played well overall. They’ll take on upstart UCLA next.
12. Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights couldn’t hang with Washington, and get to take on a potentially angry Oregon squad next.
13. Michigan State
The Spartans got slapped around by UCLA 38-13, and are suddenly not having a good time (I can also commiserate). Indiana is up next.
14. Northwestern
The Wildcats moved up a tier thanks to their 22-21 win over Penn State. They’ll try to take on more step toward bowl eligibility with a game against Purdue next.
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. UCLA
While the Bruins are suddenly playing quite well, they still need to dig themselves out of an 0-4 start to the season. Can they take down Maryland to get one step closer?
16. Wisconsin
The Badgers are in free fall at this point, and get to play Ohio State next. Not looking good.
17. Purdue
The Boilermakers played well against Minnesota, but ultimately came up short. No shame in that, and they’ll try to take down Northwestern next week to get back in the W column.
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. Penn State
Not only did Penn State lose to Northwestern in what looked like the most disinterested loss of the season, but they also lost Drew Allar for the season and ended the weekend with James Franklin fired. Quite the turnaround from just a couple weeks ago when they were up by a touchdown in overtime over Oregon. A night game at Kinnick awaits.
Squiggles used to bring me joy.
Ohio State stays at the top with Indiana on the rise. Oregon dips for the first time all season, with USC on the climb. Michigan tumbles, but Iowa and Nebraska are heading up. Illinois takes a big dip, while Washington stays steady. Minnesota moves up while Maryland slides. Rutgers and Michigan State stand pat, with Northwestern and UCLA on their way up. Wisconsin and Purdue take steps down, while Penn State continues its residence in the basement.
On to Week 8.
