The Big Ten power rankings will be published weekly throughout the regular season using a mix of data-driven insight and unapologetic subjectivity. With 18 teams, nine conference games and wild variations in the quality of non-conference schedules, comparative analysis is an inherently flawed approach. Which is fine, because the Hotline hasn’t been wrong about anything in at least 90 minutes.
(Last week’s rankings are here.)
(All times Pacific)
1. Ohio State (7-0/4-0)
Result: won at Wisconsin 34-0
Next up: idle
Comment: The Buckeyes have allowed 5.9 points per game, an outrageously low number — Oklahoma is next at 9.4 — that could hold up into late November. They play Penn State, Purdue, UCLA and Rutgers before finishing with Michigan. (Previous: 1)
2. Indiana (7-0/4-0)
Result: beat Michigan State 38-13
Next up: vs. UCLA (9 a.m. on Fox)
Comment: In the latest Heisman Trophy odds (from BetMGM), Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza is a betting frontrunner at +300 alongside Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Alabama’s Ty Simpson. (Previous: 2)
3. Oregon (6-1/3-1)
Result: won at Rutgers 56-10
Next up: vs. Wisconsin (4 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: No team in the country is more reliant on the eye test and metrics — rather than actual results — for its position in the AP Top 25 than the sixth-ranked Ducks, who lost decisively at home to the only ranked team they have played (Indiana). (Previous: 3)
4. USC (5-2/3-1)
Result: lost at Notre Dame 34-24
Next up: idle
Comment: Best-case scenario at this point? We’ll presume a loss in Eugene and give the Trojans a win (at home) over Northwestern. That leaves Nebraska (road), Iowa (home) and UCLA (home) as the swing games. Win two of the three, and that’s 8-4. (Previous: 4)
5. Michigan (5-2/3-1)
Result: beat Washington 24-7
Next up: at Michigan State (4:30 p.m. on NBC)
Comment: The easiest team to slot considering the 18-point loss to the Trojans and the 17-point win over the Huskies. Since USC is not that much better than Washington, we’ll attribute a good portion of the differential to the Wolverines being vastly better at home than they are on the road — not unusual for a team with a freshman quarterback. (Previous: 6)
6. Washington (5-2/2-2)
Result: lost at Michigan 24-7
Next up: vs. Illinois (12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network)
Comment: The problem isn’t that UW is two games off the pace. The problem is that UW feels five games off the pace after being outscored 34-3 in the second half by Ohio State and Michigan. (Previous: 5)
7. Illinois (5-2/2-2)
Result: did not play
Next up: at Washington (12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network)
Comment: The Illini couldn’t have asked for better logistics for the long trip to Seattle than two weeks to prepare and an opponent battered from its game at Michigan. (Previous: 8)
8. Minnesota (5-2/3-1)
Result: beat Nebraska 24-6
Next up: at Iowa (12:30 p.m. on CBS)
Comment: Combine the Gophers’ success with the number of vacancies nationally and the likelihood of this being PJ Fleck’s last season in Minneapolis is approximately 177 percent. (Previous: 11)
9. Iowa (5-2/3-1)
Result: beat Penn State 25-24
Next up: vs. Minnesota (12:30 p.m. on CBS)
Comment: Too low for the Hawkeyes? Not in our view. Their three Big Ten victories have come against teams (Wisconsin, Rutgers and Penn State) with a combined record of 0-12 in conference play. (Previous: 9)
10. UCLA (3-4/3-1)
Result: beat Maryland 20-17
Next up: at Indiana (9 a.m. on Fox)
Comment: Two things, equally true: The Bruins are light years better than they were prior to the coaching change, but they haven’t beaten any quality opponents under Tim Skipper. (Previous: 10)
11. Northwestern (5-2/3-1)
Result: beat Purdue 19-0
Next up: at Nebraska (9 a.m. on FS1)
Comment: Three of the final five games are on the road (Nebraska, USC and Illinois) while the home dates are challenging (Michigan and Minnesota). We like Northwestern’s chances for win No. 6, but it’s not quite a given. (Previous: 14)
12. Nebraska (5-2/2-2)
Result: lost at Minnesota 24-6
Next up: vs. Northwestern (9 a.m. on FS1)
Comment: Every loss is a win for the Cornhuskers in that it (seemingly) reduces the likelihood of Matt Rhule jumping to Penn State. (Previous: 7)
13. Michigan State (3-4/0-4)
Result: lost to Indiana 38-13
Next up: vs. Michigan (4:30 p.m. on NBC)
Comment: We do not expect the Spartans to make an in-season move on Jonathan Smith, but the dynamics could change if they lose badly this weekend. The James Franklin firing has ramped up the seat heat for every coach in precarious position. (Previous: 12)
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14. Maryland (4-3/1-3)
Result: lost at UCLA 20-17
Next up: idle
Comment: Then again, it might behoove middle-tier schools with struggling coaches (hello, Terps) to avoid heading to a crowded marketplace this winter. The competition for the best coaches available will be fierce. (Previous: 13)
15. Penn State (3-4/0-4)
Result: lost at Iowa 25-24
Next up: idle
Comment: The top tier of the Big Ten might be stronger than the top tier of the SEC, but the bottom of the Big Ten is indisputably worse than the bottom of the SEC. (Previous: 15)
16. Rutgers (3-4/0-4)
Result: lost to Oregon 56-10
Next up: at Purdue (9 a.m. on Big Ten Network)
Comment: Greetings to the worst defense in major college football based on yards-per-play allowed. Only Air Force is close to the Scarlet Knights in the level of utter ineptitude. (Previous: 16)
17. Purdue (2-5/0-4)
Result: lost at Northwestern 19-0
Next up: vs. Rutgers (9 a.m. on Big Ten Network)
Comment: For all the Big Ten’s influence and wealth, it produces a fair share of third-rate football. For example: Purdue vs. Rutgers. (Previous: 17)
18. Wisconsin (2-5/0-4)
Result: lost to Ohio State 34-0
Next up: at Oregon (4 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: It appears Luke Fickell will remain in charge for the duration, which suggests the school doesn’t have the money to make a change this week. (Previous: 18)
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