Big Ten Power Rankings: Ohio State Surges to Top as USC Slides in Conference Shake-Up

Ben Bolch’s Big Ten Power Rankings

Game of the Week: UCLA (4-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) faces Oregon (3-1, 1-0) at 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday on CBS. Coach Bob Chesney’s Bruins will bring one of the nation’s strongest rushing attacks into Autzen Stadium, fueled by mutual respect following Chesney’s outreach to Oregon quarterback Dante Moore after his concussion against USC last week.

1. Ohio State (4-1) – Buckeyes appear to be in a league of their own within the Big Ten. (Last week: 1)

2. Indiana (5-0) – Northwestern close call seems less significant now. (2)

3. Oregon (3-1) – Unexpectedly, the Ducks’ biggest early challenge comes from UCLA. (3)

4. Iowa (4-1) – Hawkeyes would prefer being at an Atlanta Hawks game Saturday. (5)

5. UCLA (4-0) – Victory over Oregon elevates CFP conversation for Bob Chesney’s Bruins. (6)

6. USC (5-1) – Trojans’ ranking reflects recent struggles. (4)

7. Minnesota (4-1) – P.J. Fleck gaining local celebrity status alongside music legends. (10)

8. Wisconsin (4-1) – Luke Fickell’s job security strengthens with continued success. (8)

9. Northwestern (3-1) – Former UCLA assistant Jerry Neuheisel embraces new Wildcats era. (13)

10. Nebraska (5-0) – Perfect record faces reality check against Indiana. (12)

11. Michigan (3-2) – Struggling Wolverines approaching .500 territory. (7)

12. Washington (3-2) – Huskies unexpectedly competitive in USC matchup. (11)

13. Penn State (3-2) – James Franklin’s departure rationale remains unclear. (9)

14. Purdue (2-3) – Historic breakthrough ending multi-year conference drought. (16)

15. Illinois (2-3) – Unfortunate spot in program history. (14)

16. Michigan State (2-3) – Poor performance against Wisconsin continues slide. (15)

17. Rutgers (1-4) – Expected outcome in matchup with Indiana. (17)

18. Maryland (2-3) – Critical turnover potentially costly for Mike Locksley. (18)

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