Big Ten football power rankings after Week 2 – Oregon tumbles

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The world of Big Ten football changed after multiple teams in the conference were humbled. The USC Trojans remain unblemished and hope to match the high expectations for this year's talented roster. With both Ohio State and Oregon suffering losses early, the Big Ten could be wide open.

Here are my Big Ten rankings after the conclusion of Week 2:

1. Indiana Hoosiers (2-0)

The Indiana Hoosiers, through 2 weeks now, have looked like the best team in the Big Ten. Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers have shown no signs of regression. Josh Hoover has also been stellar and looks like he can be a great Fernando Mendoza replacement. You cannot count out this Hoosiers team.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-1)

The Ohio State Buckeyes had control over their game against Texas. Beating them in every aspect of the game until it mattered. This was a Ryan Day coaching blunder. As talented as this Buckeyes team is, they proved to be human and beatable. USC has enough talent to make it a game vs. Ohio State. With this performance, they have to feel more confident.

3. USC Trojans (3-0)

The Trojans are now 3-0 and have been impressive to start the season. All the pieces look in place for this team to have great success this year. Consistency will be a factor for this team, and whether the young guys can play big in the big games. This team for sure is right up with the best of them in terms of talent.

4. Oregon Ducks (1-1)

Oregon's start to the season has been very surprising. Two straight sluggish performances. This team is way too talented to play like they have started the year. The Ducks right now have a lot to prove if they are to be viewed as a team that can contend this year for a title.

5. Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0)

Penn State was expected to be a successful team this season with their schedule. So far, they are on their way to an impressive start. This team has talent, Matt Campbell has proved he can turn things around in previous stints, and Rocco Becht looks like the answer at quarterback.

6. UCLA Bruins (2-0)

The Bob Chesney UCLA Bruins are a new team. They win with the run game, and that has so far been great for quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The Bruins could be a potential dark horse this season in the Big Ten.

7. Michigan Wolverines (2-0)

It was a win last week against Western Michigan, but a loss in many ways for Michigan. Bryce Underwood was under scrutiny by the media and even his coach. Yet this Wolverines team took down a College Football Playoff team last year. Bryce Underwood was good enough to win this game, and the Wolverines defense was the best unit on the field in this game. That is how you respond, and Kyle Whittingham deserves much credit for that. Maybe it was too early to judge this team.

8. Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0)

New year, same Hawkeyes. This team will just win off the back of their defense. They will remain in many games, but in the big games it will be up to Hank Brown and the offense to win.

9. Washington Huskies (2-0)

The Huskies' defense has been the best unit to start the season. The offense will pick things up down the road, and with their upcoming schedule, they will need to. Very encouraging to see the defense play this well.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini (1-1)

Illinois got exposed vs. the Blue Devils. The Fighting Illini couldn't stop the run, and that could be an issue that plagues them all season long. The top Big Ten teams can all have success on the ground. This loss was very telling.

11. Wisconsin Badgers (1-1)

This was a great get-right game for the Badgers. It was a performance that felt like old times. The run game was effective, and the defense was suffocating. Luke Fickell could bring the Badgers back to success this season with this year's promising team.

12. Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-1)

The Minnesota Gophers got outmatched by the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Kamario Taylor made the Gophers' promising defense look silly. The Gophers' offense, on the other hand, could not get much going on the day. This very well could be the Gophers we get against the best of the best in the Big Ten.

13. Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0)

Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers did a great job this past week putting concerns and doubt on hold. Still, even with a great offensive showing, the Cornhuskers should be headed for a 6-6 season.

14. Maryland Terrapins (2-0)

Malik Washington put together a spectacular passing performance, and the Terrapins are 2-0 to start the year. This offense is fun to watch, but it is time for them to do it against real competition.

15. Michigan State Spartans (2-0)

Cam Edwards put together a special performance, and Alessio Milivojevic has been great to start the year. Pat Fitzgerald has done a good job early, and the Spartans are headed in the right direction.

16. Northwestern Wildcats (1-0)

The Wildcats were on their bye week, so not much has changed for Northwestern. Getting a bye week in Week 2 is brutal, and their upcoming schedule is, too.

17. Purdue Boilermakers (1-1)

The Boilermakers have been a bit impressive early, but this team is going to be just over Rutgers this season, that is it.

18. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-2)

Rutgers starting the season winless as they begin their conference schedule is the worst-case scenario for the season. The nail is already in the coffin for this team having success this season heading into Week 3 against USC.

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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Big Ten football power rankings after Week 2 – Oregon tumbles

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