College Football Big Ten power rankings entering Week 1
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Marshall. UAB. Ball State. North Texas. UMass. What do all of those college football teams have in common? They are Week 1 opponents of Big Ten schools. I know the SEC gets a bad rap for its unimposing non-conference scheduling, but I think the Big Ten may actually be much worse in that department this year, and certainly this week. We will learn very little about this conference this week.
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10. Illinois
ECU transfer Katin Houser was really solid last year for the Pirates, and now he’s stepping in to replace Luke Altmyer for the Illini. I trust this team to have at least a baseline level of respectability under Bret Bielema.
9. Nebraska
Cornhusker fans — did you grow tired of the conservative, risk-averse, dink-and-dunk style of offense with Dylan Raiola? Well buddy, do I have news for you! In comes Anthony Colandrea to start in Lincoln, and while you don’t always know WHAT will happen when he drops back to pass, I can guarantee you that SOMETHING will happen.
8. Iowa
Word out of the Iowa training camp is that transfer WR Tony Diaz could be the best WR Iowa has had in a decade. I’m trying to figure out if that’s a compliment or a slight. Either way, we’ll get to find out how they plan to utilize him this week!
7. Penn State
Death, taxes, and a 10-2 Penn State team that we don’t know is any good or not. That was the average result under James Franklin, and I’m kind of feeling that again this year. They’ll start that journey under Matt Campbell at 1-0 after beating Marshall.
6. Washington
It’s Apple Cup Week! While I still find it odd that this rivalry moved from Thanksgiving weekend, I do find it cool that Washington and Washington State are playing a standalone rivalry game on Sunday afternoon. The whole country will get to watch Demond Williams Jr do this thing.
5. Michigan
I really like the Wolverines this season. I like the new coach, I like the new OC, I like the QB, and I like what he’s got around him. We’ll have to wait for Week 2 to find out how good this team really is, though, when Oklahoma comes to Ann Arbor.
4. USC
The 75 USC Trojan fans that were in attendance last Saturday have to feel pretty good about their team’s performance. Freshman WRs Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt stepped up and made plays for Jayden Maiava as the first-string offense just kept humming. Some garbage time TDs made the score look a whole lot closer than that win felt.
3. Indiana
Are the Hoosiers being disrespected? I just feel like if a program like Alabama, Georgia, or Ohio State were coming off of a National Championship, returned a lot of pieces, and had a great portal class, they’d be ranked higher than 6th in the AP poll. Curt Cignetti has some bulletin board material.
2. Oregon
If not now, then when? This feels like a make-or-break year for Dan Lanning and the Ducks. All of those great recruiting classes have had time to gel and develop, and they’re getting a bonus year from Dante Moore. This really gives me 2025 Penn State vibes, but I think Oregon will fare much better than that team.
1. Ohio State
A Week 1 game at home against Ball State is honestly going to feel like an NFL preseason game. However many points Ohio State wants to score, they will score. And they likely won’t put anything innovative on film before their trip to Austin next week.
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