The Big Ten football title chase is changing. USC football is a team to watch over the next few weeks for a potential surge to the top. The Trojans are a contending team, building steam and getting healthier at the right time. The rest of the Big Ten's top teams are adding more reasons for concern than confidence.
Here are my Big Ten football rankings after Week 7:
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1)
The Ohio State Buckeyes pulled off a signature win in the Big Ten, but they left the game with a ton of questions. Losing their starting quarterback right as the season heats up is less than ideal. The Buckeyes at full strength are the best team in the conference, but with injuries, adversity is going to strike this team in the next few weeks.
2. Indiana Hoosiers (6-1)
The Hoosiers gave the Buckeyes a big scare. However, losing this football game with Julian Sayin going down with an injury early in the 4th quarter shows this is a different Hoosiers football team. Josh Hoover may, in fact, be the biggest factor standing in the way of the Hoosiers replicating last year's success. Indiana beating USC is not looking like a guarantee anymore.
3. UCLA Bruins (6-0)
No matter what the circumstances are, the UCLA Bruins now know how to win. They made a dangerous Wisconsin Badgers team look less than without their starting quarterback. This team is becoming inevitable.
4. USC Trojans (6-1)
The Trojans did not play a game this past week, and they were one of the biggest winners of the week. Things are clearing up, and USC has a real shot at earning a top spot in the conference. If Lincoln Riley and the Trojans want it.
5. Iowa Hawkeyes (5-1)
Iowa is in a really good spot coming off of the bye week. There is a real chance for this team to make the College Football Playoff and maybe even the Big Ten title game with their remaining schedule.
6. Oregon Ducks (4-2)
It has been an up-and-down season for the Ducks, but they have shown they are still not far from being the team they were expected to be heading into the season. They showed in Week 7 that they are still where the Nebraska Cornhuskers want to be.
7. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-2)
The Cornhuskers no doubt are a better football team this year. Anthony Colandrea lays it on the line for his team every game. He is also extremely talented and can make defenses pay. This team still, when it is time to put games away, they haven't proved it can do that. They should be 7-0 with big wins against Indiana and Oregon.
8. Northwestern Wildcats (5-1)
The Wildcats continue to impress. They may have been in a battle with Michigan State; however, this team is learning how to win. The Wildcats now have consistency from their offense. Winning the games you are supposed to win is a great start for this team's path to contention.
9. Michigan Wolverines (4-2)
The Michigan Wolverines' elite defense finally got their offense to be a great complement. With a quarterback change, the Wolverines have found their formula for offensive success. Tommy Carr looks like the guy to take Michigan to new heights after a big comeback win.
10. Wisconsin Badgers (4-2)
The Badgers are too reliant on transfer quarterback Colton Joseph. He by himself is not enough to take down a high-powered offense or a well-coached football team. The Badgers got a great opportunity on the road against USC, but that is a game they should get overpowered offensively again.
11. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-4)
What once started off as a very exciting season has completely fallen off in the last few weeks. Rocco Becht can not limit the turnovers, and Penn State has looked like a different team in the second half for 3 straight weeks. It is bad coaching and bad quarterback play that are the biggest factors in the Nittany Lions' downfall.
12. Washington Huskies (4-3)
The Huskies offense is back to being a problem for opposing defenses. The run game has juice and is a big reason for the Huskies' resurgence over the last 2 weeks. Elijah Brown is exactly what this offense needs to be more aggressive. It is too late for the Huskies to compete this season, but next season could be their year to make a name for themselves in the Big Ten.
13. Illinois Fighting Illini (3-3)
Instead of being a team to beat, Big Ten teams want to avoid; it feels like Illinois is a get-right opponent. That spells trouble for the Fighting Illini in their next 6 games. They could very well stay put at 3 wins.
14. Purdue Boilermakers (3-4)
There might not be too much of a change in how this team's season finishes in terms of wins and losses. However, the Purdue Boilermakers are a much more competent football team. Payton Browne is having a fantastic season.
15. Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2)
The Gophers got a much-needed bye week; however, the 3 teams the Gophers face coming up will humble them even further than the loss to Purdue did. What once looked to be a promising season for P.J. Fleck and Minnesota could quickly get away from them.
16. Michigan State Spartans (2-5)
Pat Fitzgerald has this Spartans team consistently competitive. Yet the talent and team makeup are not there yet for them to start winning games. This is potentially the beginning stage for a team that will be back to relevance in the next few years.
17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-4)
The Scarlet Knights have enough talent to have explosive performances. However, there are a ton of weaknesses on this team. With the remaining schedule for the Knights, Rutgers can still move up a couple of spots.
18. Maryland Terrapins (2-5)
The Terrapins lost the battle of the worst teams in the conference, earning themselves the crown for worst team in the conference.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Big Ten football power rankings after Week 7 - Ohio State tops Indiana