The 2024 season is one of change, with the Big Ten adding four new programs in USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon. There is also significant coaching turnover for several programs, yet the Big Ten Power Rankings see a familiar face atop the list.
2024 Big Ten Power Rankings
18) Northwestern Wildcats
National Rank: 104
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 18 (no change)
David Braun took the Northwestern Wildcats from 1-11 to 8-5 in his first season, marking one of the biggest one-year turnarounds in recent memory. However, Northwestern may have a reality check in 2024.
The team is bereft of top-tier talent, specifically on offense. That was clear in the first two weeks, as the Wildcats barely knocked off Miami (OH), 13-6, and fell to Duke, 26-20.
The coaching staff opted to bench veteran Mike Wright in order to see Jack Lausch vs. Eastern Illinois, and he played well, completing 20 of 31 passes for 227 yards and two scores with 62 more yards on the ground.
Of course, Washington was on another level and held the Wildcats to two points in the first half. The defense actually performed well, but it gave up two bombs early on, digging a hole the offense couldn’t get out of.
17) Purdue Boilermakers
National Rank: 98
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 17 (no change)
Transitioning from Jeff Brohm to Ryan Walters didn’t provide immediate results, and Year 2 may not be much better. Hudson Card is a better QB than given credit for — 24 of 25 passing for 273 yards and four TDs in the opener against Illinois State — and has Devin Mockobee and Reggie Love III in the backfield.
Yet, the transfer portal giveth and taketh away, with WR Deion Burks (Oklahoma) and EDGE Nic Scourton (Texas A&M) leaving for the SEC. Notre Dame, Oregon State, and Nebraska have gotten out to early leads in the last three weeks and never let up, proving the Purdue Boilermakers is still a couple of years away from putting up any sort of resistance in the Big Ten.
16) UCLA Bruins
National Rank: 97
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 16 (no change)
Chip Kelly is out, and DaShaun Foster is in. The roster and fanbase seemingly bought into his style of coaching in the offseason, but they were repaid with a 16-13 win over Hawaii, a home blowout loss to Indiana, a second-half collapse to LSU, and a lackluster home defense against Oregon, bringing more questions than answers.
Ethan Garbers is a game-managing QB with no weapons around him. But more troubling has been the running game and defense’s ineptitude.
15) Michigan State Spartans
National Rank: 82
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 15 (no change)
Jonathan Smith’s turnaround in Corvallis, Ore., took a few years, and Michigan State fans should prepare for the same in East Lansing, Mich. Camp star Aidan Chiles’ debut was anything but impressive, as he completed just 10 of 24 passes for 114 yards and two picks against FAU.
Chiles didn’t do much better in Week 2 against Maryland, throwing the same amount of TDs as INTs (3). It was still enough to eke out a 27-24 win, but he has to improve his decision-making or the Spartans will begin to lose games at a rapid pace.
Of course, PVAMU provided little resistance in Week 3, but that wasn’t the case against Boston College and Ohio State, and it doesn’t get any easier from here: at Oregon, vs. Iowa, at Michigan, vs. Indiana, and at Illinois.
14) Maryland Terrapins
National Rank: 73
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 14 (no change)
Even behind an offensive line rooting out four new starters, Billy Edwards Jr. impressed in a 50-7 Week 1 victory, completing 20 of 27 passes for 311 yards and two TDs. UConn may not be a vaunted opponent, but the Huskies are no FCS program.
Edwards performed well once again against Michigan State, but the lack of a running game (2.8 yards per carry), an INT, nine total penalties, and facing 17 third downs was too much to overcome. The poor rushing attack (3.5 YPA) and penalties (eight) remained against Virginia in Week 3, but the defense more than made up for it, snatching two INTs and recovering two fumbles.
UConn may not have been an FCS team, but Week 4 opponent Villanova is. While the Wildcats checked in at No. 6 on the FCS Power Rankings, they were simply outmatched against the Terrapins.
Of course, Indiana is no Villanova, and it proved as much in Week 5. Despite a 75-yard rushing TD by Roman Hemby and some solid efficiency from Edwards through the air, Indiana’s offense took off in the second quarter. By the fourth, it was 35-21, and Maryland couldn’t pull off the improbable comeback.
13) Minnesota Golden Gophers
National Rank: 63
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 13 (no change)
P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota tenure has been defined by “culture.” However, culture can only take you so far, especially with four more teams joining the conference. Fleck knows this and put his chips on former New Hampshire star Max Bosmer to provide stability at QB.
He played fine enough against North Carolina, but the Golden Gophers desperately missed one-man wrecking crew Darius Taylor, with Marcus Major averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. The defense did all it could to contain Doak Walker Award finalist Omarion Hampton, but if the offense doesn’t get back on track, their efforts will be null and void.
Get-right games against Richmond and Nevada renewed confidence, as the Golden Gophers put up 75 unanswered points across both contests.
However, Iowa and Michigan have undone the positive momentum over the last two weeks. While the Golden Gophers weren’t truly expected to win either game.
12) Washington Huskies
National Rank: 50
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 11 (-1)
QB Will Rogers and the passing game weren’t all that imposing against Weber State in Week 1, but they didn’t need to be with RB Jonah Coleman running rampant. The roles were flipped in Week 2, as Rogers threw four TDs against five incompletions vs. Eastern Michigan, highlighting the Huskies’ ability to flow with the game script offensively.
However, they ran into the buzzsaw that is the 2024 Washington State Cougars, losing the Apple Cup for just the second time since 2013. Rogers and Co. rebounded against Northwestern in Week 4 but picked up another loss against Rutgers in Week 5.
If Jedd Fisch’s squad can’t compete with the talented teams in the Big Ten, they could finish the year 4-8, a far cry from the Huskies’ national title bid last season.
11) Wisconsin Badgers
National Rank: 48
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 8 (-3)
Did Tyler Van Dyke flame out in Miami? Yes. Is he an above-average QB? Maybe, but not with Phil Longo calling the plays. The offense is stale with Longo at the helm, and while the Badgers will “air it out,” the ball isn’t moving that far.
It worked against Western Michigan and South Dakota through the first two weeks, largely due to the ground game and defense, but can TVD keep up with higher-octane offenses?
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We didn’t get to see it for long against Alabama in Week 3, and we may not see it all, as Van Dyke injured his leg, was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game, and appeared on the sidelines with crutches and a brace around his right knee.
Now 2-2 after losing 38-21 to USC, the Badgers are in danger of free-falling with backup QB Braedyn Locke under center.
10) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
National Rank: 32
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 12 (+2)
Kyle Monangai bullied Howard and Akron for 160+ yards, and although Virginia Tech was far more formidable in the trenches, the Scarlet Knights had little issue producing their third win of the season, starting 3-0 for the fourth straight year.
Little did they know that 4-0 was right around the corner, as Monangai picked up another 130+ yards against Washington in Week 5. If the passing game is able to compete with higher-octane offenses, Rutgers could go far in the Big Ten.
9) Nebraska Cornhuskers
National Rank: 31
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 10 (+1)
Blitzing UTEP and rival Colorado was a solid two-game introduction for Raiola, and the good times kept going against Northern Iowa. But the Patrick Mahomes clone got his first taste of the Big Ten against Illinois this week, leading to the Cornhuskers’ first loss of the season.
It was a back-and-forth bout that required overtime, but by that point, the Illini had the offensive line’s number and sacked Raiola twice on Nebraska’s last-ditch effort.
The game could’ve gone very differently if starting kicker Tristan Alvano had been healthy, as freshman backup John Hohl missed the potentially game-winning 39-yard field goal with under three minutes remaining in the contest.
Despite going 1 for 8 on third downs and missing three field goals against Purdue in Week 5, the Huskers were still able to escape with a 28-10 road victory. With Rutgers, Indiana, and Ohio State up next, they’ll need to figure out their kicking woes quickly.
8) Illinois Fighting Illini
National Rank: 28
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 9 (+1)
Following a bowl appearance and an 8-5 record, Illinois fell to 5-7 last season. We know how the defense will perform under HC Bret Bielema, but the offense could reach new heights in 2024.
Their 45-0 route of Eastern Illinois (a solid FCS program) put Kansas on notice entering Week 2, but the Jayhawks couldn’t come out on top as 4.5-point road favorites. The Illini’s defense forced four turnovers, with DB Xavier Scott snatching two picks and returning one to the house.
It was much of the same against Central Michigan in Week 3, but Nebraska took Illinois to overtime in Week 4. Still, the Illini outlasted their opponent, with QB Luke Altmyer putting on a masterclass in game management, completing 21 of 27 passes for 215 yards and four TDs.
Penn State proved to be a different beast in Week 5, highlighting the offense’s ceiling but also the defense’s prowess in a 21-7 loss.
7) Indiana Hoosiers
National Rank: 23
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 7 (no change)
The Hoosiers haven’t had a winning season in three years — that will change in 2024. Curt Cignetti ransacked the transfer portal for reinforcements, bringing in several of his most talented players from James Madison.
The second half of the schedule is no cakewalk, but the additions of QB Kurtis Rourke, WR Elijah Sarratt, EDGE Mikail Kamara, DTs CJ West and James Carpenter, LB Jailin Walker, and CB D’Angelo Ponds give Indiana a fighting chance.
The defense held FIU underwater in Week 1, and the offense rode the run game to a 31-7 victory. And although Western Illinois is no Georgia, the Hoosiers set program records for offensive yards (701) and points (77) in Week 2. Unsurprisingly, Charlotte proved to be no match in Week 3, as the offensive fireworks continued to launch.
If Indiana keeps its foot on the pedal against Big Ten competition, which began with victories of UCLA and Maryland, it could enter its early November matchup with Michigan 9-0.
6) Iowa Hawkeyes
National Rank: 22
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 6 (no change)
The Hawkeyes were anything but explosive in the first half against Illinois State in Week 1, but they found their groove in the second. At least the defense, led by preseason All-Americans LB Jay Higgins, CB Sebastion Castro, and S Xavier Nwankpa, can keep the team in games as the offense irons out its kinks.
RB Kaleb Johnson is a legitimate Heisman candidate and proved as much with a 21-206-3 rushing line against Minnesota. But a date with Ohio State is a mere week away, and McNamara needs to elevate his play if Iowa hopes to keep the contest competitive.
5) USC Trojans
National Rank: 18
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 5 (no change)
The Trojans underperformed despite having No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams under center the last two years. A large reason for their failures was the defense, which new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has remodeled this offseason.
Lynn’s unit showed up in Week 1, holding LSU to 20 points and a 3.2-yard average on the ground outside of a 39-yard run. And for those worried about a significant drop-off from Williams to Miller Moss, Moss put those concerns to rest with 27 of 36 passing for 378 yards, slinging anticipation throw after anticipation throw.
Moss didn’t rip Utah State’s secondary apart in Week 2, but he didn’t have to, with the defense conceding zero points and the rushing attack averaging 7.2 yards per carry.
However, Michigan gave Moss and the Trojans their “Welcome to the Big Ten” moment in a 27-24 Week 4 win. The defense held up well enough, but Kalel Mullings wore the unit down and ultimately broke them down the stretch, finishing with a 17-159-2 line. Wisconsin scored 21 points in the first half, but Lynn had their number by the second, leading to a 38-21 home victory.
4) Michigan Wolverines
National Rank: 12
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 4 (no change)
The Wolverines will go as far as their QB situation takes them. Davis Warren did not look like the answer under center, and after throwing three INTs against Arkansas State in Week 3, he was benched in favor of Alex Orji. The junior finished out the win, upset USC in Week 4, and had little issue with Minnesota in Week 5.
Nevertheless, even with a championship-caliber defense led by DTs Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, EDGEs Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore, LBs Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Hausmann, and DBs Will Johnson, Makari Paige, and Ja’Den McBurrows, Michigan is in trouble if the offense can’t produce through the air against elite competition.
3) Penn State Nittany Lions
National Rank: 5
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 3 (no change)
While questions surrounding Penn State’s WR corps are warranted, former Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki has the offense humming with Drew Allar behind center. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen also form one of the best RB duos in the nation, and they both nearly surpassed 100 yards against Illinois’ vaunted defense in Week 5.
Outside of a rough first half against Bowling Green, the Nittany Lions defense has stifled everyone across from them.
2) Oregon Ducks
National Rank: 4
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 2 (no change)
Dan Lanning has gone 22-5 with consecutive bowl victories in his two years in Eugene, but it’s time to take the next step. The Ducks didn’t get off to the hottest start, beating Idaho by only 10 points (24-14) and Boise State by only three (37-34). But they demolished in-state rival Oregon State and then UCLA in Week 5, setting the stage for a hostile stretch.
An October bout with Ohio State will test the Ducks’ mettle, but their November schedule will determine whether they make the playoffs or not: at Michigan, vs. Maryland, at Wisconsin, and vs. Washington.
1) Ohio State Buckeyes
National Rank: 2
Last Week Big Ten Rank: 1 (no change)
Ohio State has defeated all but one Big Ten opponent in the past three regular seasons — Michigan. That changes in 2024. Jim Harbaugh is gone, and the Wolverines are in a state of flux.
QB Will Howard and RBs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson form the deadliest collegiate backfield; Emeka Egbuka and true freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith lead an elite WR corps; and Ryan Day hired his mentor, Chip Kelly, to call the plays.
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But the offense isn’t the only championship-quality unit. The defense is battled-tested and comes equipped with an experienced, skilled, and athletically gifted front four (Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloa, Tyleik Williams, and Ty Hamilton) and secondary (Caleb Downs, Lathan Ransom, Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock, and Davison Igbinosun).
One-sided wins over Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall, and an average-at-best Michigan State team don’t mean much, but one thing is clear: true freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith won’t just meet the lofty expectations placed on him — he’ll surpass them.
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