Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 8

After a week of inter-conference battles and upsets, the Big Ten finished with five teams in the AP poll and seven in the coaches poll. With injuries piling up and teams looking drastically different than in previous weeks, this is how things stack up entering a pivotal week nine.

1. Ohio State (AP No. 2, Coaches No. 2)

6-1 | 4-0 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 1

Movement: 0

A bye week could not have come at a better time for the Buckeyes. After a hard-fought win in Bloomington, Ohio State did not leave without suffering a big blow: junior quarterback Julian Sayin is out indefinitely with a right arm and throwing shoulder injury.

True freshman quarterback Luke Fahey is expected to get the start against USC, which is a relatively weak defense for a first career start. With the rest of the roster intact, the Buckeyes hope to make Fahey’s life incredibly easy.

Ohio State will still be favored in all of its upcoming matchups, but they become increasingly difficult with teams like Oregon, Northwestern and Nebraska.

The one thing that I’m most concerned about is junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith’s Heisman campaign with a new signal caller.

2. Indiana (AP No. 4, Coaches No. 4)

7-1 | 4-1 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 2

Movement: 0

That was an incredibly ugly game for the Hoosiers in the Big House. They were only able to score six points in regulation, and the only touchdown came in overtime, winning 13-6.

Graduate quarterback Josh Hoover looked absolutely atrocious. He was 8-for-18 passing the ball, with 81 passing yards and adding an interception for good measure. Indiana is definitely feeling the transition of going from Fernando Mendoza to Hoover.

The offense was kept afloat by the stellar run game, as third-year running back Turbo Richard and redshirt-senior running back Lee Beebe Jr. combined for 124 yards on the ground. However, it was Hoover who ran in the game-winning touchdown.

The defense for the Hoosiers had Michigan in a box the whole day. It only allowed 57 yards on the ground on a 1.4-yard-per-attempt average. Michigan freshman quarterback Tommy Carr looked incredibly lost after a solid debut against Penn State. He threw an interception, lost a fumble and finished with a 48.1 quarterback rating,

Indiana has to get things figured out before their next matchup with Minnesota, a team that has proven to be a difficult out. The path to the CFP is still clear, but the outlook once the Hoosiers get there is not.

3. UCLA (AP No. 7, Coaches No. 7)

7-0 | 5-0 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 3

Movement: 0

After losing senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava for the season, I expected some growing pains for the Bruins. I was not entirely wrong in that presumption. UCLA’s first drive ended in a lost fumble, their second was a 3-and-out and their third was a punt after five plays.

However, from there, the Bruins picked it up. The defense got things going in the second quarter, with Michigan State being on the field four times, turning the ball over twice, and punting the ball the other two times. The offense capitalized on both of those turnovers, with senior running back Jaivian Thomas and fifth-year running back Wayne Knight running in for touchdowns.

As long as UCLA’s run game, which went for 245 yards and three touchdowns against Michigan State, continues to be the engine of the offense, senior quarterback Ty Dieffenbach just has to be a game manager. This formula propelled the Bruins to a 28-10 win over the Spartans.

UCLA controls its destiny in terms of making the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff, but one loss against an opponent like Minnesota or USC changes their calculus. It should be smooth sailing this week, however, as the Bruins take on Nevada at home.

4. Northwestern (AP No. 20, Coaches No. 18)

6-1 | 3-1 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 5

Movement: +1

After escaping from the jaws of defeat in East Lansing, the Wildcats bounced back just as well as they could have, beating Rutgers 42-14.

The offense was firing on all cylinders, headlined by senior Aidan Chiles scoring five touchdowns (three through the air and two on the ground). However, he also had his first interception of the season as well.

The ground game stayed explosive, and Northwestern tallied 283 yards on the ground, with three rushing touchdowns. Redshirt junior Caleb Komolafe rushed for 150 yards on an insane 11.5 yards per carry average.

Despite only holding Rutgers to 14 points, the defense for the ‘Cats looked incredibly shaky. Northwestern allowed 244 rushing yards on the ground, with Rutgers having two players go for over 100 yards on the ground. The pass defense was incredibly strong, only allowing 100 yards through the air and forcing two interceptions.

If Northwestern wants to make a College Football Playoff push, the defense needs to be able to stop the run. The ‘Cats get to face a banged-up Oregon on Halloween, which should be the biggest test of the season since the matchup against Indiana

5. Minnesota

5-2 | 3-1 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 12

Movement: +7

How about the Golden Gophers! If it weren’t for a blowout loss to Purdue, Minnesota could very well be ranked. But after a scrappy win against Iowa, Minnesota had placed themselves as a threat on anyone’s schedule.

Minnesota struggled mightily to move the ball in the 13-10 win over Iowa, with only 209 yards of total offense. Junior quarterback Drake Lindsey threw for just 137 yards and had an interception. The running game averaged 3.1 yards per carry. But when it mattered most, the offense went down the field to set up a game-winning field goal. On this drive, Lindsey delivered a 39-yard strike, Minnesota’s longest play of the day, to junior wide receiver Jalen Smith.

While the offense sealed the deal for the Golden Gophers, the defense won the game. It forced four turnovers, two of which were in Minnesota territory with Iowa threatening to score. The defense has caused havoc the whole season and will continue as the backbone of this Minnesota team.

Unfortunately, Minnesota has to play four ranked Big Ten teams down the stretch of the season, including Indiana in the next game. Bowl eligibility is far from a guarantee for Minnesota, but this season has been better than most expected.

6. Wisconsin (AP No. 25)

5-2 | 3-1 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 9

Movement: +3

It has nearly been four years since the hiring of Head Coach Luke Fickell at Wisconsin. He was supposed to turn the program around and make the Badgers a competitive team. It took a long time to get here, but Wisconsin is ranked once again after 1,141 days.

The Badgers truly earned this ranking after a 24-7 upset victory over USC. The defense forced USC quarterback Jayden Maiava to have potentially his worst game of the season, as he threw two interceptions to start the game. USC also finished with -17 yards on the ground. Before this game, USC had yet to score below 21 points in a game. Wisconsin held the Trojans to seven.

The offense went on two 75-yard touchdown drives to end the second quarter and start the third. Senior quarterback Colton Joseph threw for just 58 yards, and the Badgers averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. It is not the conventional offense that is high-flying or high-scoring, but it gets the job done.

Wisconsin faces Iowa next, and with all the momentum and pressure, it could be a statement win that could potentially get Fickell off the hot seat.

7. Iowa (Coaches No. 24)

5-2 | 2-2 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 4

Movement: -3

Nothing like a QB controversy to ruin a season.

After third-year quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski looked incredibly impressive in a massive win over Washington in Week Six, former starting quarterback Hank Brown’s job was no longer his.

This would have been fine if Hecklinski had continued to play well. He did not.

Hecklinski threw an interception on the second drive of the game against Minnesota, when the offense was on the opposing 10-yard line. This would’ve been a chance to take a lead early in a game where touchdowns proved hard to come by.

Eventually, Brown would take over for Hecklinski, and he wasn’t any better, as he threw two interceptions of his own.

This is incredibly disappointing, considering the defense is still an elite unit that keeps the Hawkeyes in games. However, it is not impossible to envision a world where the season is lost for Iowa, as the offense is not able to find a rhythm with the quarterback shuffling.

The team’s schedule does not help either, as Iowa plays Wisconsin and Northwestern in back-to-back games, before finishing with a three-game stretch of tough Big Ten competition. What started off as a season with a lot of excitement has turned into one full of frustration.

8. USC (Coaches No. 25)

6-2 | 3-2 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 7

Movement: -1

The Lincoln Riley classic, I call it: USC heads into a season with huge expectations and shows promise, but marred by defense woes and upset losses, the team falls short.

It has essentially become a cycle for the Trojans and something the fans have to endure. The latest reminder was USC’s 24-7 loss against Wisconsin. Jayden Maiava had been playing absolutely stellar, but in this game you would’ve thought it was his first career start.

The blame is not solely on him, as the run game was nonexistent. The running back room could find a collective 40 yards on 20 carries.

The defense continues to be a thorn in the side of the Trojans, as it consistently gives up big plays and points that aren’t familiar with those ideas.

USC has a tough stretch to end the season, playing Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA. Those could very easily be three losses. One has to wonder if Riley will find himself on the hot seat.

9. Oregon

4-3 | 2-2 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 6

Movement: -3

I think it is very obvious that Oregon has had the most disappointing season in the Big Ten and in college football.

After an early-season defeat to Oklahoma State was labeled a quality loss, and a close loss to UCLA could be attributed to the absence of senior Dante Moore, the Ducks have run out of excuses in a 21-10 loss to Illinois.

I was incredibly high on junior quarterback Dylan Raiola transferring to Oregon, but it is clear that he needed more time to sit. He went 27-for-41 and 246 yards through the air with no touchdowns and a lost fumble. Sure, he did not have a lot of receiver help, as the wide receiver room is plagued with injuries, but he just hasn’t looked good in the games he has played.

The run game looked solid against Illinois, rushing for 180 yards, but if there is no threat of a pass, teams will key in on the run. The defense continues to be a solid unit, and if it had a solid offense, Oregon could be one of the top teams in the sport.

With Moore unlikely to suit up against Northwestern this Saturday, the Ducks find themselves looking towards next season as the one where a national championship is finally theirs.

10. Nebraska

5-2 | 2-2 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 8

Movement: -2

Matt Ruhle has this team right where he wants them: start off promising, then fall off down the stretch.

After starting off 5-0, Nebraska dropped two close games against Indiana and Oregon. The rest of the season is not smooth sailing, as the Cornhuskers still have Ohio State and Iowa on their schedule. The rest of the Big Ten slate isn’t easy either, as their next matchup against Washington won’t be easy.

However, unlike previous seasons, I have a lot of faith in this Nebraska squad to finish with at least eight wins. And if it doesn’t, hopefully Ruhle can continue to recruit talent out of the DC universe.

11. Michigan

4-3 | 1-3 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 13

Movement: +2

Things were supposed to be different. Bryce Underwood was supposed to be the problem. Tommy Carr was supposed to fix everything. Michigan was supposed to be good this year.

What I suppose is that Michigan is having a massive identity crisis, nothing better characterized than the 13-6 loss to Indiana.

The offense continued to look stagnant, as the team could not find the end zone once in the game. Carr looked like what I expected: a freshman quarterback playing Indiana, as he threw an interception and lost a fumble. The run game didn’t give him any support either, as the team averaged a measly 1.4 yards per carry.

The defense continues to show it is one of the best units in the Big Ten. It is unfortunate that it is being wasted due to the offensive struggles of this team. It remains to be seen what the quarterback position looks like in the future and if offensive coordinator Jason Beck holds onto his job. The team will have a chance to figure some things out against Rutgers this weekend.

12. Washington

4-3 | 1-3 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 10

Movement: -2

Washington is hoping to get rolling again, powered by a 38-26 win against Purdue prior to its bye week. It would definitely help if third-year quarterback Demond Williams comes back this week, but he remains day-to-day with a rib injury.

The team showed signs of promise early in the season against Minnesota and USC, but just fell short in both of those matchups. This team is incredibly talented and has the ability to beat anyone on any given day.

The Huskies have had it rough since their national championship appearance in 2024, but things are trending in the right direction. If the team can close out the rest of this season strong, starting with Nebraska this week, there’s a lot to look forward to.

13. Purdue

4-3 | 1-3 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 11

Movement: -2

Every Big Ten team that doesn’t have Purdue on their schedule should be jumping up and down with joy. For the first time in a long time, this team is playing up to their competition, and not. And sometimes, the Boilermakers are just flat-out better.

After keeping it close with teams like Wake Forest and UCLA early in the season, Purdue rattled off wins against Illinois and Minnesota. It took a tough loss to Washington at home prior to the bye, but the team looked solid.

Purdue has to make a difficult trip out to Happy Valley next, but with a win there and a probable win against Maryland after that, Purdue could find itself just one win away from a potential bowl game appearance.

14. Illinois

4-3 | 2-2 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 15

Movement: +1

Maybe I was too harsh on this Illinois team. After a 2-3 start, Illinois has found itself at 4-3 after a 21-10 win over Oregon.

After falling behind 7-0 early, the team was able to bounce back nightly. This was highlighted by 225 yards on the ground. The rushing attack was led by fifth-year running back Aidan Laughery, who ran for 123 yards, including a 75-yard scamper to the end zone in the second quarter.

The defense was also impressive, playing the ultimate bend but don’t break. Oregon rarely got any explosives despite the counting stats being rather impressive.

Illinois can all but guarantee the matchup against Maryland this weekend to be a win. But, beyond that it might be hard for Illinois to find another win, meaning a bowl game is far from a guarantee.

15. Penn State

3-4 | 0-4 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 14

Movement: -1

The Nittany Lions have yet to win a game against a Power Four opponent. And the next three matchups against Purdue, Washington and Minnesota are not going to be easy places to squeeze out a win.

Not much has gone right for Penn State. Ever since the game against Northwestern, everything that seemed to be a part of the team’s identity is up in the air.

The run game is completely stagnant. The team has averaged just 2.2 yards per carry in three straight matchups. Rocco Becht has not been a steady game manager. He threw two interceptions in the game against Michigan, both of which led to points for the Wolverines. He also lost a fumble.

The defense has not helped out in any way either. Teams have run for over 150 yards in three straight games, with over 200 for Michigan and over 400 for Northwestern.

This was expected to be a transition year for Penn State, but the possibility of missing a bowl game for a team that started ranked was not expected. The Nittany Lions have to turn the ship around this weekend against Purdue.

16. Michigan State

2-6 | 0-5 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 16

Movement: 0

After taking Northwestern to the brink in East Lansing, the Spartans lost to UCLA 28-10 in a game where there were countless missed opportunities.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Alessio Milivojevic was out, which did not help the offense. His replacement, true freshman Kayd Coffman, mightily struggled, as he threw an interception in UCLA territory and was eventually replaced by redshirt freshman Leo Hanan, who also threw an interception.

The rushing offense could not get anything going, and the defense could not stop the Bruins once they found their groove.

Head coach Pat Fitzgerald is having a rough first season, as his team has dropped six straight games. The losing streak may see no end, as every game left on the schedule is one the Spartans could lose. Luckily, Fitzgerald has a chance to rally the troops during a bye week prior to a matchup against Michigan.

17. Rutgers

2-5 | 1-3 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 17

Movement: 0

I thought Rutgers would put up a better fight against Northwestern than they did. In a 42-14 loss, the Scarlet Knights turned the ball over three times and just couldn’t get anything going until the second half.

However, the run game was outstanding. Junior running back Antwan Raymond went for 150 yards and a touchdown. But he wasn’t the only 100-yard rusher, as senior running back Clay Thevenin rushed for 113 yards.

Heading into a matchup against a tough Michigan run defense, Rutgers has to find other answers on offense and hope the Wolverines’ offensive woes continue.

18. Maryland

2-5 | 0-4 B1G

Last Week Ranking: 18

Movement: 0

Last and certainly least are the Terps. The headline for the season is that head coach Mike Locksley was fired; that is never something you want to be the main part of your season.

It doesn’t come without good reason, however. Maryland lost 12 straight Big Ten matchups, and it’s likely that streak continues this season. It is by pure virtue that Maryland isn’t at the bottom of the Big Ten standings, as Michigan State hasn’t had its bye week. After the Terps play Illinois this weekend, they can gain the title that is rightfully theirs at the bottom of the conference.

It is going to be a long rest of the season for Maryland fans. At least they look forward to the exciting process of finding a new coach.