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 5 is in the books, and the top has finally moved around a bit thanks to a top 10 upset. 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 Washington 24-6, a sign that the Buckeyes are mortal and that Washington is better than people think. But still, a 3-score road win is a good day, and the Buckeyes take on Minnesota next.
2. Oregon
The Ducks traveled east into a prime time White Out and emerged victorious, defeating Penn State 30-24 in double overtime. The schedule looks very favorable from here for the Ducks to repeat a second straight undefeated regular season, but next up is a bye week.
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. Penn State
A slooooooow start offensively ultimately doomed the Lions, as they fought back to tie the game in regulation, only to lose in double overtime. Two more matchups against last year’s playoff teams are on the schedule, meaning Penn State may be on the bubble come playoff selection time. Up next, UCLA.
4. Indiana
The Hoosiers took care of business against Iowa, but also showed that their high flying offense can be contained. They’ll get their shot against both Oregon and Penn State, but first a bye week.
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 were on their bye week, and thus avoided any chaos. They’ll take on Wisconsin next.
6. Illinois
The Illini played an instant classic against USC and emerged victorious, 34-32 on a last second field goal. Purdue is next on the schedule.
7. USC
The Trojans sneaked into the top 25 rankings only to immediately lose. They’ll have a bye week to lick their wounds before getting back to work.
8. Iowa
The loss to Indiana was actually respectable? Weird sentence to write, but here we are. The Hawkeyes are still going to have to figure out their offense, so perhaps the bye week will help.
9. Nebraska
The Huskers were on the bye, and will welcome Michigan State next.
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. Maryland
The Terps were also on their bye week, and will take on Washington who may be reeling after their OSU loss.
11. Washington
The Huskies honestly hung in their with OSU, but couldn’t generate enough offense for the win. A cross-country trip to Maryland may be cause for a big let down (or a big rebound, we shall see).
12. Minnesota
Perhaps an omission on my part, but the Gophers vault into Tier 4 after their 31-28 win over Rutgers. Things don’t get any easier, though, as they’ll travel to take on Ohio State next.
13. Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights lost in another instant classic, but are still playing well so far in the season. The bye week beckons.
14. Michigan State
The Spartans were on the bye, and will take on Nebraska in what could be a statement game for MSU.
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. Wisconsin
Another bye week, and things don’t get much easier as the Badgers travel to take on Michigan next.
16. Purdue
Would you believe me if I told you there was another bye? The Boilermakers will welcome Illinois next.
17. Northwestern
Another shuffle in the tiers as the Wildcats officially move out of the Basement with their 17-14 win over UCLA. It’s possible they move back down at some point, but right now they’ve proven they’re not the worst team in the league. UL Monroe comes to town next for an October non-conference game.
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. UCLA
The Bruins couldn’t defeat Northwestern, and will welcome an angry (or potentially dejected?) Penn State team next week.
We’ve got some shakeups as some cross-tier upsets took place!
Ohio State retains the top spot, but Oregon moves up at the expense of Penn State. Indiana holds steady, followed by Michigan and Illinois on the rise. USC and Iowa drop, with Nebraska, Maryland, and Washington keeping their spots. Minnesota makes a big move, causing Rutgers, Michigan State, and Wisconsin to slide. Purdue, Northwestern, and UCLA round out the bottom.
On to Week 6!
