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 7 is in the books, and things surprisingly weren’t that chaotic, despite what happened elsewhere around the country. 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. Ohio State
The top 5 showdown against Indiana did not disappoint, as Ohio State secured a 19-15 win. A late missed touchdown by Indiana preserved the win for the Buckeyes, who will head to their bye week next.
2. Indiana
A game of inches is all it comes down to, as the Hoosiers missed a late game-winning touchdown by just that much. Still, a game that close means I can’t really fault Indiana in these rankings – they’re still really good, and should still make the playoffs. They’ll travel to play Michigan next.
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.
3. Iowa
The Hawkeyes were on their bye week, and will get back to it by traveling to play Minnesota next.
4. UCLA
The Bruins continued their winning ways, defeating Wisconsin 17-7 (NOT THAT HARD TO DO, APPARENTLY), and will host Michigan State next.
5. USC
The Trojans were on their bye week, and will travel to play Wisconsin next.
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. Oregon
The Ducks needed everything they had to defeat Nebraska, 17-14, as Dylan Raiola defeated his former team. Oregon will travel to play Illinois next.
7. Northwestern
The Wildcats also needed everything they had to defeat a not-particularly-good Michigan State team, 24-21. But a win is a win, so here they stay. They’ll host Rutgers next.
8. Nebraska
Seemingly another year, another batch of close losses for the Huskers, who lost to Oregon on a late touchdown. The bye week is up next.
9. Michigan
The Wolverines didn’t play particularly well, but thanks to three Penn State turnovers, scored all of their points in a 21-18 win over Penn State. They’ll host #6 Indiana next.
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.
10. Wisconsin
The Badgers couldn’t hang with UCLA, coming up short in a 17-7 loss. Bad news is they’ll host #16 USC next.
11. Penn State
The Lions played well in Ann Arbor, minus three turnovers which turned into 21 points for the opponent in a 21-18 loss. The bye week mercifully arrives next week.
12. Washington
The Huskies “upset” Purdue, at least as far as these rankings are concerned, 38-26 and move up the board a bit. They’ll also head to the bye week next.
13. Purdue
What a wacky team, eh? Some big wins, followed by some kinda unforeseen losses. Fun to watch, at any rate. Yet another bye week down in this end of the rankings.
14. Minnesota
The Gophers were on a bye, but will get back to it by hosting #15 Iowa.
15. Illinois
The Illini were on a bye, but will get back to it by hosting Oregon.
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.
16. Michigan State
The Spartans gave Northwestern everything they had, but couldn’t quite pull off the upset, losing 24-21. They’ll get to test their mettle again as they travel to play #9 UCLA.
17. Rutgers
UPSET ALERT! UPSET ALERT! A vintage B1G East game had Maryland and Rutgers going back-and-forth, with the Scarlet Knights emerging victorious, 37-30, and moving out of The Basement™. They’ll travel to play #24 Northwestern next.
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. Maryland
Ignominy, thy name is Maryland. The Terrapins find themselves in The Basement™ for the first time this season, following their loss to Rutgers. The bye week is next, which means they’ll be stuck down here for at least the next week.
Things mostly kinda chilled this week? Not too squiggly for once.
Ohio State, Indiana, Iowa, UCLA, and USC all hang out at the top. Oregon climbs, Northwestern treads water, and Nebraska falls. Michigan moves up, while Wisconsin slips a bit. Penn State moves up (weird to type), along with Washington. Purdue, Minnesota, and Illinois all dip. Michigan State hangs out, while Rutgers moves out of The Basement™, with Maryland instead taking up residence down there.
On to Week 8!