Big Ten Football Power Rankings: Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, Penn State Separate Themselves From the Pack

    The pack has separated themselves as Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, and Penn State top the table in our updated Big Ten Football Power Rankings after Week 11.

    It’s a four-team race at this point of the season for the Big Ten crown, and our updated Big Ten Football Power Rankings indicate as much. From Eugene to Happy Valley, the four teams atop the conference have clearly separated themselves.

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    Week 11 Big Ten Power Rankings

    Our exclusive power rankings for the Big Ten come from our 1-134 rankings, looking at the college football world as a whole. Following Week 11, here’s how the Big Ten teams stack up.

    MORE: Full 1-134 College Football Power Rankings

    18) Purdue Boilermakers (–)

    Transitioning from Jeff Brohm to Ryan Walters didn’t provide immediate results, and Year 2 has not been much better. Following a 49-0 win over Indiana State to kick off the year, the Boilermakers have lost five straight. OC Graham Harrell was fired, and Purdue went to a … triple-option offense in Week 6?

    Notre Dame, Oregon State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Oregon took early leads and never let up, proving Purdue is still a couple of years away from putting up any sort of resistance in the Big Ten.

    Yet, redshirt freshman Ryan Browne had the offense redlining, taking Illinois to overtime in Week 7. But Browne couldn’t put a dent into the scoreboard against Oregon and reverted to the bench for a healthy Hudson Card — who proceeded to lose to Northwestern in Week 10 and Ohio State in Week 11.

    17) Maryland Terrapins (-1)

    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.

    Maryland’s final three drives (TD, downs, TD) vs. USC’s (punt, missed FG, downs) proved the difference in Week 8, as the Terrapins won their first conference game of the year in front of their home crowd. But after losing in a big way to Minnesota in Week 9, and with Oregon (39-18 L), Rutgers, Iowa, and Penn State remaining on the schedule, the 2024 season could be Mike Locksley’s final one as the program’s head coach.

    16) Northwestern Wildcats (+1)

    David Braun took the 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.

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    Of course, Washington and Indiana were on completely other levels. The defense actually performed well early on in both games, but not well enough to avoid an 0-2 start in the Big Ten. Coming into Maryland, the Wildcats were 10-point underdogs. They won by over 20, humiliating the Terps on their home turf.

    Yet, Wisconsin and Iowa nearly shut Northwestern out, holding the program to under 400 yards of total offense with points over the last two weeks. Purdue gave its all, but the Wildcats simply out-talented the program, leading to a 26-20 victory.

    15) UCLA Bruins (–)

    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.

    With Ethan Garbers hobbled by an ankle injury, Foster inserted sophomore Jusyn Martin, who showed some spark against Penn State’s stout defense in Week 6. While it wasn’t enough to upset the heavy favorites, Martin’s performance offered a glimmer of hope for a team desperately seeking a turnaround.

    Garbers returned for the Week 7 home bout vs. Minnesota, but it didn’t help, as the Bruins fell to 1-5 on the year and 0-4 in the Big Ten. Yet, Garbers harnessed his inner Troy Aikman, ripping Rutgers’ defense apart for 383 yards, four TDs, and the program’s first-ever Big Ten win in Week 8.

    Can he replicate that performance week in and week out? No, but at least the offense showed some life once this season. Make that twice, as the Bruins went into Lincoln and stole a 27-20 victory away from Nerbaska as nearly nine-point dogs.

    Actually, make it three times, as UCLA upset Iowa at home, 20-17. Each team turned the ball over three times, but the Bruins averaged nearly three more yards per carry (5.4 to 2.6).

    14) Michigan State Spartans (–)

    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, Ohio State, and Oregon. Yet, the Spartans bounced back in a big way, defeating Iowa 32-20, largely thanks to kicker Jonathan Kim, who set the program record with six made field goals.

    On paper, the Spartans should’ve beaten in-state rival Michigan, as they recorded more total yards, yards per play, and time of possession. Yet, a lost fumble and six penalties to the Wolverines’ donuts in both categories proved the difference in the 24-17 loss. True Freshman Nick Marsh (5-78-1 receiving line) was one of the few MSU players to get up vs. Indiana, as is evident in the 47-10 final score.

    13) Rutgers Scarlet Knights (–)

    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. But Nebraska is the best all-around team that Rutgers had faced this year, and QB Athan Kaliakmanis’ ineptitude under center (15 of 37 passing for 186 yards, one TD, and two INTs) doomed the Big Ten battle from the start.

    Facing Wisconsin led to much of the same in Week 7. The Badgers were always going to be a tough matchup for Rutgers, but 42-7 tough? The loss seemingly knocked the Knights off of their rocker, as they fell to a previously 1-5 UCLA squad, allowing nearly 400 yards and four TDs through the air.

    We knew the passing game was inept, but if the defense continues to fall flat, Rutgers is dead in the Big Ten waters. Case in point: Week 9’s contest at USC. The Trojans scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters, punting the ball just three times in a dominant 42-20 win. At least they played spoiler to Minnesota’s longshot conference championship hopes in Week 11 (26-19).

    12) USC Trojans (–)

    Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s remodeled 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. Miller 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.

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    Wisconsin scored 21 points in the first half, but Lynn had their number by the second, leading to a 38-21 home victory.

    However, it may be time to start questioning Lincoln Riley’s play-calling and development of QBs, as he had no answers against Minnesota through the air, couldn’t put the game away against Penn State, and fell apart in the fourth quarter against Maryland, leading to a three-game losing streak.

    Rutgers, who was also on a three-game skid, was the sacrificial lamb in Week 9, as USC scored on all four of their first-half possessions, while the injury-depleted defense shut the Scarlet Knights out for a 42-20 victory. But Moss’ three INTs vs. Washington were too much to overcome, placing the Trojans toward the bottom of the conference at 2-5 in league play.

    11) Washington Huskies (–)

    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.

    Washington shook it off and enacted revenge on the team that defeated them in the national championship: Michigan. It was a hard-fought victory, and while the Huskies have few players who played in that game still on the roster, it still meant something to the fans, as they stormed the field after the final whistle.

    The celebrations were short-lived, as Iowa forced two turnovers and held the Huskies to just 5.3 yards per pass, suffocating the offense in Week 7.

    There were few breaths of air against Indiana in Week 9, with Hoosiers CB D’Angelo Ponds picking Rogers off twice and returning one for a TD. But the Huskies were able to get back into the win column on the back of three INTs by the defense against USC in Week 10. Unsurprisingly, Week 11 flipped the script, with Penn State crushing the Huskies’ confidence with a 35-6 victory.

    10) Wisconsin Badgers (–)

    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?

    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.

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    Now 2-2 after losing 38-21 to USC, the Badgers are in danger of free-falling with backup QB Braedyn Locke under center. Luckily, Purdue already hit rock bottom, giving Wisconsin an easy win in Week 6, even though Locke threw two picks early on.

    The Badgers then gave Rutgers its second loss of the year and Northwestern its fourth, outplaying both teams in every phase. Wisconsin was 5-2, but with Locke at the helm, it was difficult to see many more wins with Penn State (28-13 L), Iowa (42-10 L), Oregon, and Nebraska on deck.

    9) Nebraska Cornhuskers (–)

    Blitzing UTEP and rival Colorado was a solid two-game introduction for true freshman QB Dylan 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. Kicking woes were irrelevant in Week 6, as Rutgers rarely allowed Nebraska to sniff scoring range.

    Raiola completed less than 50% of his passes and threw a pick, but the defense snatched two of their own. The 14-7 score looks ugly, but it shows the team can win in grind-it-out Big Ten matchups. But Indiana, Ohio State, and UCLA (albeit on the opposite end of the spectrum) aren’t your typical Big Ten opponents, as the Huskers are now 2-4 in conference play.

    8) Minnesota Golden Gophers (–)

    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 undid the positive momentum over the next two weeks.

    The Golden Gophers got back in the win column in a big way, upsetting USC 24-17, sweeping southern California with a 24-17 victory over UCLA in Week 7, and crushing Maryland in Week 9.

    However, after a loss to Rutgers in Week 11, the Golden Gophers are out of Big Ten contention and will shift their focus to upsetting one-loss Penn State next week.

    7) Michigan Wolverines (–)

    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. Then Week 6 happened.

    After completing just 3 of 7 passes for 15 yards, Orji was subbed out for sixth-year QB Jack Tuttle. And while Tuttle threw a TD, he also tossed the game-sealing INT. Week 8 provided another loss, with Illinois forcing three turnovers and allowing the Wolverines to score just seven points.

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    In the Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, Michigan turned back to Warren under center, although Orji played a key rushing role. The result was a tight 24-17 victory that ended in an on-field brawl with more of a fight than the Wolverines gave Oregon in Week 10 (38-17 loss).

    Still, even with a championship-caliber defense, Michigan is only playing for a bowl game in 2024, which remains elusive, as the Wolverines couldn’t upset Indiana in Week 11.

    6) Iowa Hawkeyes (-1)

    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 Ohio State was a brick wall, and McNamara couldn’t elevate his play to keep the contest competitive. Iowa then hosted Washington as 2.5-point favorites in Week 7 — they won by 24 (40-16).

    The Hawkeyes suffered one of their most uncharacteristic losses in Week 8, allowing Michigan State to rack up nearly 500 yards and double their time of possession (39:44 to 20:16). And although they won 40-14 against Northwestern, it required a QB change from McNamara to junior Brendan Sullivan.

    Sullivan then powered the Hawkeyes to their highest point total of the year vs. Wisconsin (42-10), going 7 of 10 through the air for 93 yards and a TD while adding another 58 yards and a score on the ground. Yet, his beginner’s luck ran out in a 20-17 road loss to UCLA, as he completed just 6 of 9 passes with zero TDS and two INTs. The committee will have a tough time keeping the Hawkeyes in the Top 25.

    5) Illinois Fighting Illini (+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 has reached new heights in 2024.

    Their 45-0 route of Eastern Illinois 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. The ground game struggled to do much of anything against Purdue, but it didn’t matter, with Altmyer totaling 400+ yards and four scores.

    It was the defense’s turn to carry in Week 8, generating three turnovers and conceding just seven points to a shell-of-itself Michigan squad. But the Illini couldn’t keep up with Oregon in Week 9, as the defense turned into a sieve, ushering in a 35-3 halftime deficit. Then, both sides fell flat in Week 10, allowing Minnesota to win 25-17.

    4) Penn State Nittany Lions (–)

    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.

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    Outside of rough first halves against Bowling Green and USC, the Nittany Lions’ defense has stifled everyone across from them this season, solidifying their status as a top contender this season.

    However, head coach James Franklin’s inability to win big games reared its ugly head in Week 10, as Penn State fell to Ohio State once again, moving to 1-10 against the Buckeyes in Franklin’s tenure. Washington did offer a nice bounce-back spot in Week 11, with the Nittany Lions earning a 35-6 victory.

    3) Indiana Hoosiers (–)

    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.

    With Indiana keeping its foot on the pedal against Big Ten competition, including victories against UCLA, Maryland, Northwestern, Nebraska, Washington (without Kurtis Rourke under center, no less), Michigan State, and Michigan, they should earn a first-round bye in the playoffs.

    2) Ohio State Buckeyes (–)

    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 the Buckeyes smothered Iowa in Week 6, were one play away from beating Oregon on their home turf, stifled Nebraska 21-17 in Week 9, sent Penn State packing once again in Week 10, and dispatched Purdue in Week 11, although it wasn’t nearly as dominant as it could’ve been because of Howard’s inconsistencies under center.

    1) Oregon Ducks (–)

    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 in Week 4, UCLA in Week 5, Michigan State in Week 6 (even with two red-zone INTs by Dillon Gabriel), and Purdue in Week 8, setting the stage for a hostile stretch.

    The Ducks — with the help of a game-sealing scramble by Ohio State QB Will Howard — defeated the Buckeyes for the second consecutive contest, this time in front of their home crowd in Autzen Stadium.

    It came down to the final play, but that victory, plus the recent thrashings of Illinois and Michigan, prove Oregon isn’t just a national championship contender — they’re the favorite. Maryland made them work for their Week 11 win, but the Ducks remain undefeated with Wisconsin and Washington left on the schedule.

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