Indiana has ascended to the No. 1 position in Ben Bolch's latest Big Ten football power rankings following a disappointing fourth-quarter performance by Ohio State that saw them lose the top spot. The Hoosiers, now 2-0, have surprised many under new head coach Curt Cignetti.
Ohio State dropped to No. 2 after their loss to Texas. The Buckeyes held a strong position before faltering in the final quarter of their matchup.
Week's Notable Matchups
Michigan State, under new coach Pat Fitzgerald, is set to face a significant early test against Notre Dame in a matchup scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PDT on NBC. Fitzgerald, who was previously fired from Northwestern, has guided the Spartans to a 2-0 start.
Oregon, currently ranked third, faces questions about their early-season performance, particularly their loss to Oklahoma State. USC holds the fourth spot but is noted as not yet deserving of "Big Three" status until they secure a victory against a Power Four opponent. UCLA is ranked fifth, with observations suggesting the team could be stronger if their first-half offense were more potent.
Penn State and Michigan are ranked sixth and seventh, respectively. Penn State's start is deemed positive against lesser opponents, while there's a note of caution regarding Kyle Whittingham's teams, which are known to improve as the season progresses.
Other Teams in the Rankings
Washington is eighth, with "winning ugly" potentially being their approach for the 2026 season. Iowa secured a comeback victory over in-state rival Cyclones to earn the ninth spot. Michigan State's rise to tenth place sets them up for their challenging game against Notre Dame.
Nebraska's quarterback Anthony Colandrea is identified as a potentially significant player for the team, which is ranked eleventh. Maryland coach Mike Locksley is looking to counter narratives of his team's struggles, placing them at twelfth.
Illinois, ranked thirteenth, suffered a home loss to Duke, which was characterized as a sign of trouble. Minnesota's victory over Mississippi State places them fourteenth. Wisconsin, at fifteenth, is looking to build momentum after a win against Western Illinois.
Northwestern had a bye week early in the season, placing them sixteenth. Purdue's double-overtime loss to Wake Forest has led to significant frustration, ranking them seventeenth. Rutgers remains at the bottom of the rankings at eighteenth with an 0-2 record.