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- 1. Ohio State Buckeyes
- 2. Indiana Hoosiers
- 3. USC Trojans
- 4. Oregon Ducks
- 5. Penn State Nittany Lions
- 6. Washington Huskies
- 7. Iowa Hawkeyes
- 8. Minnesota Golden Gophers
- 9. Nebraska Cornhuskers
- 10. UCLA Bruins
- 11. Illinois Fighting Illini
- 12. Michigan Wolverines
- 13. Wisconsin Badgers
- 14. Northwestern Wildcats
- 15. Maryland Terrapins
- 16. Michigan State Spartans
- 17. Purdue Boilermakers
- 18. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Week 1 upended expectations across Big Ten country — from Rutgers’ shocking loss to UMass to Michigan’s controversial finish and Oregon’s narrow escape against Boise State. Badgers On SI has updated its conference power rankings as teams head into Week 2, spotlighting which programs answered questions and which raised new ones.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
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Last week: No. 1
No change at the summit. Ohio State handled Ball State without drama, and the true test arrives this weekend in Austin when the Buckeyes meet No. 4 Texas. Saturday night’s showdown should reveal more about where this Ohio State team stands nationally.
2. Indiana Hoosiers
Last week: No. 2
Indiana remains high in the pecking order. The Hoosiers did not exactly dominate in last year’s opening win over Old Dominion — when Colton Joseph rushed for 179 yards and two scores — but coach Curt Cignetti’s group still inspires confidence. The ranking reflects a belief they’ll need a clear stumble to be passed.
3. USC Trojans
Last week: No. 4 (moves up one)
After some early-season questions in Week 0, USC looked decisive against San Jose State. Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw three touchdowns while completing remarkably few passes that missed, a sign of efficiency that, coupled with Oregon’s shaky performance vs. Boise State, bumped the Trojans up a spot.
4. Oregon Ducks
Last week: No. 3 (moves down one)
The Ducks barely held off Boise State, prompting concern in Eugene. Boise State is a strong Group of Six opponent, but Oregon did not perform like a top-two team in that game. How the Ducks respond will be closely watched.
5. Penn State Nittany Lions
Last week: No. 5
Matt Campbell’s first appearance in Happy Valley went smoothly. Penn State dismantled Marshall 45-0, a convincing opening-night statement even if the opponent was manageable on paper.
6. Washington Huskies
Last week: No. 6
Washington scraped out an Apple Cup win, with Demond Williams Jr. making key plays down the stretch. Washington State isn’t viewed as elite, so the Huskies earn a pass for a closer-than-expected result against a rival.
7. Iowa Hawkeyes
Last week: No. 8 (moves up one)
Iowa still appears to be sorting out its quarterback situation, but that problem was irrelevant in a 40-0 victory over Northern Illinois. The Hawkeyes produced a dominant defensive performance in Week 1.
8. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Last week: No. 9 (moves up one)
Minnesota handled FCS Eastern Illinois without incident. This ranking partly benefits from other teams’ struggles — and from the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Michigan following Week 1. There’s not much to judge yet from the Gophers’ opener.
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last week: No. 10 (moves up one)
UNLV transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea showed competence, if not star power, in Lincoln. The bigger storyline was true freshman running back Jamal Rule, who amassed 169 yards and three touchdowns in his debut against a solid MAC opponent.
10. UCLA Bruins
Last week: No. 12 (moves up two)
UCLA impressed on the road against a hyped California team. While QB Nico Iamaleava wasn’t spectacular, the Bruins produced 277 rushing yards — a ground game worth monitoring as they prepare for Big Ten defensive fronts.
11. Illinois Fighting Illini
Last week: No. 13 (moves up two)
Illinois escaped UAB but left questions, especially about tackling. On the positive side, Katin Houser looks like a reliable presence at quarterback, giving the Illini a foundation to build on.
12. Michigan Wolverines
Last week: No. 7 (moves down five)
Saturday night at the Big House produced one of the most debated finishes of the early season. Though the record books show a Michigan win, many observers felt Western Michigan deserved better. Beyond the controversy, concerns linger about QB Bryce Underwood, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
13. Wisconsin Badgers
Last week: No. 11 (moves down two)
Wisconsin’s view in these rankings fell mainly because other teams rose around them. The Badgers didn’t change the evaluator’s opinion after facing Notre Dame, so the question now is what they can demonstrate against FCS Western Illinois.
14. Northwestern Wildcats
Last week: No. 15 (moves up one)
Northwestern balanced its attack against South Dakota State, passing for 273 yards and rushing for 224. The Wildcats have a Week 2 bye before a demanding stretch — Colorado at home, at Indiana, then Penn State in Evanston — where consistency will be essential.
15. Maryland Terrapins
Last week: No. 16 (moves up one)
Maryland dominated Hampton and racked up an eye-popping 365 rushing yards. Still, lessons from a lopsided win over an FCS opponent are limited, so the Terps’ ranking reflects potential more than proof.
16. Michigan State Spartans
Last week: No. 17 (moves up one)
Michigan State played Toledo much closer than many expected. The narrow margin reinforces the view that East Lansing may be in for a long season.
17. Purdue Boilermakers
Last week: No. 18 (moves up one)
Purdue survived a slow start against FCS Indiana State, leading just 16-6 at halftime before pulling away. The Boilermakers move up chiefly because Rutgers’ result shifted the conference bottom.
18. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Last week: No. 14 (moves down four)
The Scarlet Knights suffered a stunning home loss to UMass, a team that went 0-12 last season. The Minutemen controlled the game by the second quarter, and the defeat prompted sharp criticism about Rutgers’ direction and its coach’s position.
