Tony Liebert's Week 1 Big Ten power rankings: Impressive and ugly first impressions

Tony Liebert's Week 1 Big Ten power rankings: Impressive and ugly first impressions

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Tony Liebert's Week 1 Big Ten power rankings: Impressive and ugly first impressions

Week 1 of the college football season is officially in the rearview. There were plenty of storylines and intriguing results. It’s important not to overreact to a one-game sample size, but we’re going to anyway, and here are updated Big Ten power rankings after one week of games.

Post-Week 1 Big Ten power rankings

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks the field during warmups as the Oregon Ducks host the Boise State Broncos on Sept. 5, 2026, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

  • 1. Ohio State (unchanged)
  • 2. Indiana (up one spot)
  • 3. Oregon (down one spot)

Although Oregon struggled at home as three-touchdown favorites against an unranked Boise State team, it’s hard to knock them down too far after one game. Ohio State probably had the cleanest performance of the week against Ball State, and Indiana has some things to work out with its defense after an up-and-down showing against North Texas.

  • 4. USC (unchanged)
  • 5. Iowa (up two spots)
  • 6. Penn State (up three spots)
  • 7. Washington (down two spots)

USC remains one of the most interesting teams in the conference after two blowout wins over West Coast group of six teams to open the season. Iowa and Penn State both shut out inferior oponents to open the season, and Washington looked a bit clunky in the Apple Cup against Washington State.

Sep 6, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch holds the Apple Cup Trophy following a game against the Washington State Cougars at Husky Stadium at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

  • 8. UCLA (up three spots)
  • 9. Minnesota (down one spot)
  • 10. Michigan (down four spots)
  • 11. Wisconsin (up two spots)
  • 12. Maryland (up two spots)
  • 13. Nebraska (down one spot)
  • 14. Illinois (down four spots)

I could hear an argument for any order with this tier of teams. UCLA was the only team in the conference to beat a power conference opponent in Week 1, and it went on the road to take down a good Cal team. Michigan looked terrible against Western Michigan in a game it should’ve lost, but there’s still a W in the record books. Wisconsin also showed a lot of improvement against Notre Dame with new QB Colton Joseph.

Michigan football coach Kyle Whittingham watches a replay during his team’s game against Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

  • 15. Northwestern (unchanged)
  • 16. Michigan State (unchanged)
  • 17. Purdue (up one spot)
  • 18. Rutgers (down one spot)

Northwestern beat a good South Dakota State team, but I still have a lot of questions. Michigan State and Purdue looked shaky in comfortable wins, while Rutgers had the worst loss of the season so far against UMass at home, as 30-point favorites.

Sep 3, 2026; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Massachusetts Minutemen head coach Joe Harasymiak shakes hands with Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano after the game at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Sep 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Gophers section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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