Paths to Indy opening up East and West, in this week's Big Ten football power rankings

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How many Big Ten teams will make the College Football Playoff?

It's a fair question to ask now, at the midpoint of the calendar. Oregon's path looks painfully thin, while Iowa and (whisper it) UCLA are sitting pretty. The two teams pacing the conference all year will meet in Bloomington this week, with an inside lane to Indianapolis on the line.

We're still leaning four playoff spots, but that number remains fluid.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the rankings, we're consigning anyone with a zero in the standings to winless protection until further notice. That means you, Michigan and Penn State.

Let's look at the league, shall we?

1. Ohio State (5-1, 3-0)

Last week (1): 45-16 win vs. Maryland

This week: at Indiana, Oct. 17

What to know: Why can the Buckeyes win in Bloomington on Saturday? Indiana is 14th in the Big Ten in passing plays of 10-plus yards allowed, and Jeremiah Smith leads all conference receivers in that statistic. Nobody's stopped him yet. He can exploit one of IU's big weaknesses.

2. Indiana (6-0, 3-0)

Last week (2): 20-17 win at Nebraska

This week: Ohio State, Oct. 17

What to know: Why can the Hoosiers win in Bloomington? The Hoosiers have the best pass rush in the conference, and Ohio State has allowed 11 sacks through six games, including two against Texas and four against Iowa. The Buckeyes only allowed six sacks in the regular season in 2025, but they've given up 21 in their last eight games, dating back to the Big Ten championship in December.

3. Iowa (5-1, 2-1)

Last week (3): 41-24 win at Washington

This week: Bye

What to know: ESPN FPI projections have Iowa finishing 9-3 right now. The Hawkeyes' schedule from here? At Minnesota, Wisconsin, at Northwestern, Purdue, at Illinois, Nebraska. The power rankings lean toward 10-2.

4. UCLA (5-0, 3-0)

Last week (5): 17-15 win at Oregon

This week: Wisconsin, Oct. 17

What to know: How the loss of Nico Iamaleava to injury impacts the Bruins remains to be seen. But a win this weekend opens up a whole bunch of tantalizing November futures in Westwood, including a path to Indianapolis.

5. Northwestern (4-1, 1-1)

Last week (6): 45-14 win vs. Ball State

This week: at Michigan State, Oct. 17

What to know: While we're talking futures, Northwestern will visit its past this weekend, when the Wildcats face former coach Pat Fitzgerald in East Lansing. Navigate that successfully, and the Wildcats might be poised to end Oregon's fleeting playoff hopes two weeks later on Halloween in Eugene.

6. Southern Cal (6-1, 3-1)

Last week (8): 31-23 win at Penn State

This week: Bye

What to know: The Trojans have pulled it back together since the dispiriting defeat against Oregon. If Indiana-Ohio State is the marquee game on the conference calendar, then USC-Ohio State (Oct. 31) and USC-Indiana (Nov. 14) suddenly don't look so far behind.

7. Nebraska (5-1, 2-1)

Last week (7): 20-17 loss vs. Indiana

This week: at Oregon, Oct. 17

What to know: Not going to ding Nebraska for looking so good for so long against Indiana. Huskers need to close, though. Dana Holgorsen and Anthony Colandrea are really starting to gel.

8. Oregon (3-2, 1-1)

Last week (4): 17-15 loss vs. UCLA

This week: Nebraska, Oct. 17

What to know: Man, the vibes are not good. The Ducks' coordinator changes haven't taken, and now they have serious quarterback questions. Any playoff path is painfully narrow now.

9. Wisconsin (4-1, 2-0)

Last week (9): Bye

This week: at UCLA, Oct. 17

What to know: This feels like the cut line now for teams that might have some genuine influence on the playoff picture, beyond the odd upset. Scoring one in Westwood would accelerate the Badgers' climb.

10. Purdue (3-3, 2-1)

Last week (3): 41-13 win vs. Minnesota

This week: Washington, Oct. 16 (Friday)

What to know: Well, well, well. Look what we have here. Purdue's frankly dominant display against Minnesota pushes the Boilermakers into the top 10. And it's worth pointing out all their losses so far this season have come to teams currently ranked in the coaches' poll.

Insider: Purdue handing out Big Ten butt-whoopin's? Seeds planted months ago bearing fruit, more may come

11. Minnesota (4-2, 2-1)

Last week (10): 41-13 loss at Purdue

This week: Bye

What to know: The Gophers will spend their bye week reflecting upon which team they are: the one that beat Michigan and Washington, or the one that lost to Mississippi State and Purdue by a combined 53 points.

12. Illinois (3-3, 1-2)

Last week (15): 38-37 win at Michigan State (OT)

This week: Bye

What to know: The overtime win at Michigan State came at an almighty cost. Quarterback Katin Houser's broken hand could cost him most, if not all, of the rest of the season.

13. Washington (3-3, 0-3)

Last week (11): 41-24 loss vs. Iowa

This week: at Purdue, Oct. 16 (Friday)

What to know: Entering winless protection. It's beginning to feel like a lost season in Seattle. The defensive capitulation against Iowa was comprehensive and ugly.

14. Michigan (3-2, 0-2)

Last week (12): Bye

This week: Penn State, Oct. 17

What to know: Somebody's gonna get one in the conference win column Saturday in Ann Arbor. Kyle Whittingham is sticking with Bryce Underwood behind center. The bye better have done his offense good.

15. Penn State (3-3, 0-3)

Last week (14): 31-23 loss to Southern Cal

This week: at Michigan, Oct. 17

What to know: Penn State's offense has stalled out badly in conference play. The Nittany Lions are averaging a tick under 19 points, and fewer than 300 yards, per Big Ten game.

16. Michigan State (2-4, 0-3)

Last week (16): 38-37 loss vs. Illinois (OT)

This week: Northwestern, Oct. 17

What to know: It's beginning to feel like a lost first season in East Lansing for Pat Fitzgerald, in an era when you really can't afford those.

17. Maryland (2-4, 0-3)

Last week (17): 45-16 loss at Ohio State

This week: Rutgers, Oct. 17

What to know: Another winless protection bowl, this one in College Park. A loss here feels like the end for Mike Locksley.

18. Rutgers (1-4, 0-2)

Last week (18): Bye

This week: at Maryland, Oct. 17

What to know: Of course, things aren't terribly better in Piscataway. At least the bye might have given Rutgers time to get Antwan Raymond and the run game healthy again.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Paths to Indy opening up East and West, in this week's Big Ten football power rankings