Big Ten Power Rankings – Week 2

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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 2 is in the books, and the shakeups have begun! 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. Indiana

A rather boring 55-0 win over Howard for the Hoosiers keeps them undefeated. They’ll take on Western Kentucky next in their last non-conference game.

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.

2. Ohio State

What a game! After dominating Texas for three quarters and opening up a 23-3 lead, Ohio State let the Longhorns back in it, and Texas came back to win 24-23. OSU is still incredibly potent, but needs to play much more mistake-free going forward to get back into the Locks category. They’ll play the mighty Kent State Golden Flashes next week.

3. USC

The Trojans handled Louisiana 49-30, though letting up 30 against such a team is a little pause. The Trojans open Big Ten play next against bottom-feeder Rutgers.

4. Oregon

Wow wow wow wow wow. Wow. After a rocky start with a close win over Boise State, the Ducks went splat against the Oklahoma State Cowboys – who themselves had lost to Tulsa just the week before – 39-31. There are a lot of comparisons being made to 2025 Penn State, but we’ll see if Oregon spirals before we call it Penn Stating. Portland State comes to town next.

5. Penn State

There was some sloppiness in a 27-9 win over Temple that prevented it from being something more like 41-9, but still, the Lions took care of business. A home game against Buffalo awaits.

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.

6. Michigan

A week after losing to beating Western Michigan, the Wolverines may have sorted some things out. A 17-10 win over #11 Oklahoma moves Michigan back up these rankings, and once again has them looking dangerous. They’ll take on UTEP next.

7. Iowa

Iowa prevailed against Iowa State 16-13 in a score that perfectly encapsulates that annual rivalry game. Northern Iowa comes to town next.

8. Washington

Two weeks in a row the Huskies have looked questionable, squeaking out a 16-14 win over Utah State. There’s one more game to sort things out, and Eastern Washington provides just such an opportunity.

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.

9. Nebraska

A 56-7 win over Bowling Green is fine, not much else to say about it. Undefeated North Dakota comes to town next, which could be a fun one to watch.

10. Michigan State

The Spartans dismantled Eastern Michigan 35-7 to stay undefeated on the year. Unfortunately, they’ll head on the road to take on #3 Notre Dame next, so that may not last.

11. Northwestern

The Wildcats were on an early-season bye, and will host Colorado next.

12. Illinois

A 31-27 loss to Duke is a tough one, but there’s still time for Illinois to turn things around. Southern Illinois visits next.

13. Minnesota

The Gophers got absolutely ham blasted by Mississippi State, 38-13. A get-right game against Akron awaits, but this may be a long season for Goldy.

14. Maryland

September Maryland continued its ways by beating UConn 38-14. A non-conference test at home against Virginia Tech is up next, in what should be a good litmus test for both teams.

15. UCLA

The Bruins defeated San Diego State 28-10 in a ho hum affair. Conference play begins with a visit from Purdue up next.

16. Wisconsin

The Badgers took down Western Illinois 36-9 to get in the win column, and will take on Eastern Michigan 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.

17. Purdue

Alas poor Purdue, we knew him well. The Boilermakers took Wake Forest to the wire, ultimately succumbing 38-36 in double overtime. A potential slap fight is set up next week against the Bruins.

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. Rutgers

Rutgers could not get a win in week 2, falling to Boston College 28-21, though they did look better than they did in week 1. Unfortunately, #12 USC comes to town next, so moving out of the basement seems unlikely at this point in time.

Fun fact, growing up, I called ramen squiggle soup.

Indiana jumps to the top, while Ohio State falls. USC rises, and Oregon drops. Penn State stands firm, with Michigan on the rise. Iowa and Washington move down, with Nebraska and Michigan State on the rise. Northwestern stays put, but Illinois and Minnesota plummet. Maryland and UCLA hold steady, while Wisconsin and Purdue flip flop. Rutgers remains basement-bound.

On to Week 3!

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