As we reach the midseason point in the college baseball season, we’re here to rank the Big Ten’s best teams. The Oregon Ducks were ranked first in the Big Ten Preseason Poll, but do they still find themselves on top?
Big Ten Baseball Power Rankings
Five teams that find themselves in the middle of the standings swept their previous series, attempting to make a late-season push prior to postseason play. The Ducks rebounded after being upset by the Portland Pilots last week—but was it enough to unseat the dominant UCLA Bruins? Find out below.
Our power rankings are created with the use of D1Baseball.com, statistics, and personal opinion.
1) UCLA Bruins
- Last Week: 2-1
- Overall: 25-6
- Conf. Record: 10-2
The Bruins had been on a roll, winning nine games in a row before they were drafted by the San Diego Toreros on Sunday, falling in 14 innings. While that may affect their national ranking, they stay at the top of the Big Ten power rankings after producing a 10-2 conference record to this point.
UCLA’s combination of excellent scoring ability (nine runs per game) and depth in their bullpen has been the catalyst behind their surprising run this season. After finishing 2024 with a 19-33 overall record, the Bruins’ debut season in the Big Ten has been nothing short of excellent, as they find themselves in the driver’s seat to claim a regular-season title.
2) Iowa Hawkeyes
- Last Week: 2-1
- Overall: 20-10
- Conf. Record: 12-3
After beginning conference play 2-2—including losses to Rutgers and Michigan State, who have a combined nine conference wins—the Hawkeyes surged to 10 consecutive wins before falling to Northwestern on Sunday.
That shouldn’t drop them at all in the rankings, however, as their stretch of excellent baseball has solidified them as a contender in the Big Ten.
Iowa has established itself as one of the top pitching teams in college baseball. It allows the eighth fewest hits per nine innings and registers the 13th most strikeouts per game in the country. Getting back in the win column is paramount for the Hawkeyes, who have shown the ability to get—and stay—hot.
3) Oregon Ducks
- Last Week: 2-1
- Overall: 22-9
- Conf. Record: 10-5
The Ducks rebounded with two out of three wins against the Wolverines in their most recent series after shockingly falling to the Portland Pilots on April 2. After defeating Michigan by a combined score of 28-5 in the first two games, they lost 12-11 in the third and final game of the series in which many of the team’s weaknesses showed.
Oregon’s offense is excellent, averaging 9.1 runs per game. What tends to hold them down is their propensity to play down to the level of their opponents, which was demonstrated in a big way against the Pilots. A high-ceiling and low-floor team, the Ducks have the ability to beat anyone in the conference—while potentially losing to anyone as well.
4) Penn State Nittany Lions
- Last Week: 3-0
- Overall: 21-10
- Conf. Record: 9-6
The Nittany Lions begin a run of teams just outside the top contenders who swept their series this last week, as Penn State took care of business and downed Minnesota. A key series at home against USC, whom they barely top in our rankings, may determine whether they can be true contenders.
5) USC Trojans
- Last Week: 3-0
- Overall: 20-11
- Conf. Record: 9-6
The Trojans defeated Ohio State in Los Angeles this past week, breaking a previously .500 conference record and pushing themselves up the standings.
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Their offense was explosive, scoring nine runs per game against the Buckeyes.
6) Indiana Hoosiers
- Last Week: 3-0
- Overall: 18-14
- Conf. Record: 9-6
The Hoosiers left no doubt of their superiority over Michigan State, sweeping them by a combined score of 38-8. Though impressive, they’ll need to show their ability to beat the best teams in the conference before being considered among the elite.
7) Illinois Fighting Illini
- Last Week: 3-0
- Overall: 18-11
- Conf. Record: 7-5
Winner of five of their last six, the Fighting Illini are fighting to rebound after beginning Big Ten play 2-4. Their upcoming series against Indiana will serve as an important litmus test for just how good they can be.
8) Washington Huskies
- Last Week: 3-0
- Overall: 16-17
- Conf. Record: 8-4
After a disappointing sequence of non-conference games earlier this season, Washington is still under .500 but holds an 8-4 conference record after taking all three games against Purdue. A big series is on the horizon, as they’ll face top-ranked UCLA for a road series starting on Friday.
9) Michigan Wolverines
- Last Week: 1-2
- Overall: 17-14
- Conf. Record: 8-7
Michigan avoided the sweep against the Ducks, barely winning the third game. Largely uneven throughout the season, the Wolverines have to find their footing soon if they’re to be taken seriously as the season progresses.
10) Northwestern Wildcats
- Last Week: 1-2
- Overall: 14-15
- Conf. Record: 6-6
The Wildcats are another team that’s been unable to escape mediocrity. They hold a 6-6 conference record after nearly being swept by Iowa. A pivotal series in East Lansing against Michigan State could be a turning point for Northwestern—for good or for bad.
11) Michigan State Spartans
- Last Week: 0-3
- Overall: 17-13
- Conf. Record: 4-8
The Spartans had a very disappointing week, succumbing to three straight losses at the hands of the Hoosiers. They managed only eight runs and never had much of a change in any of the games.
12) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Last Week: 1-2
- Overall: 15-17
- Conf. Record: 5-7
After showing life and securing victories in three straight games, the Scarlet Knights were promptly beaten by Nebraska in the first two games of the series before Rutgers avoided the sweep, coming away with a 7-5 win in the final game. They remain stuck in mediocrity.
13) Purdue Boilermakers
- Last Week: 0-3
- Overall: 20-11
- Conf. Record: 3-9
The Boilermakers have lost seven consecutive games after starting the season 10-0 and eventually 20-4 before this disastrous run. Our rankings have reflected that, as their losing streak has revealed several major flaws.
14) Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Last Week: 2-2
- Overall: 14-18
- Conf. Record: 4-8
The Cornhuskers provided some hope for improvement when they were able to come away with a 2-1 mark in their series against Rutgers. It hasn’t been a pretty season in Lincoln, as they’ve struggled to piece it all together.
15) Maryland Terrapins
- Last Week: 0-3
- Overall: 14-18
- Conf. Record: 3-9
Maryland has struggled offensively, scoring only seven total runs in three games against Illinois, including being shutout in the series finale. The Terrapins will host the Ducks in an intriguing three-game series starting on Friday,
16) Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Last Week: 0-3
- Overall: 11-17
- Conf. Record: 2-10
Six straight losses later, and the Golden Gophers find themselves with a 2-10 Big Ten record after starting conference play 2-4. Their last win came on March 22 in a series against High Point—where they didn’t even manage to sweep the low-Division 1 Panthers.
17) Ohio State Buckeyes
- Last Week: 0-3
- Overall: 8-20
- Conf. Record: 2-10
It’s been a bleak season in Columbus. The Buckeyes have taken their hits, managing only eight wins. However, they’ve shown signs of competitiveness of late, combining for only a 21-27 deficit in their three showings against USC on the road.
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