The Big Ten power rankings will be published weekly throughout the regular season using a mix of data-driven insight and unapologetic subjectivity. With 18 teams, nine conference games and wild variations in the quality of non-conference schedules, comparative analysis is an inherently flawed approach. Which is fine, because the Hotline hasn’t been wrong about anything in at least 90 minutes.
(Last week’s rankings are here.)
The first rankings of the second season of the 12-team College Football Playoff will be revealed Tuesday, and the Big Ten figures to stand team-for-team with the SEC — at least at the very top.
The undefeated duo of Ohio State and Indiana should occupy two of the top-four seeds, meaning they would be on track for opening-round byes. Unbeaten Texas A&M and one-loss Alabama are expected to claim the other top spots.
(If you’ll recall, the CFP changed its format for the 2025 season: No longer are the top-four seeds reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions; the selection committee will seed teams according to their ranking.)
But beyond the top four, trajectories could diverge.
The SEC has at least five teams that should crack the top 12 or land within close range: Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Vanderbilt.
In contrast, the Big Ten could have just one: Oregon.
The conference’s next tier features Iowa, Michigan, USC and Washington. All of them have two losses and at least one daunting assignment left on the schedule, meaning a third loss for each is more likely than not.
That disparity in quality depth is partly rooted in non-conference results — the SEC dominated matchups with the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 — and figures to remain a central talking point throughout the stretch run and into CFP selection day (Dec. 7).
Put another way: The SEC is perfectly situated to collect three at-large bids, while the Big Ten, which claimed three last year, is tracking for just two.
To the power rankings …
(All times Pacific)
1. Indiana (9-0/6-0)
Result: won at Maryland 55-10Next up: at Penn State (9 a.m. on Fox)Comment: The Hoosiers finish with Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue, which have a combined record of 0-16 in conference play. Not their fault but also ridiculous. (Previous: 1)
2. Ohio State (8-0/5-0)
Result: beat Penn State 38-14Next up: at Purdue (10 a.m. on Big Ten Network)Comment: Julian Sayin’s emergence as the Heisman Trophy frontrunner says more about voting tendencies than it does about Sayin’s performance. And what it says isn’t flattering. (Previous: 2)
3. Oregon (7-1/4-1)
Result: did not playNext up: at Iowa (12:30 p.m. on CBS)Comment: As the Hotline noted a few weeks ago, the Ducks would not be a lock for the CFP if they lose again and finish with no victories over ranked opponents. Put another way: They need USC and Washington to keep winning. Oh, the horror! (Previous: 3)
4. USC (6-2/4-1)
Result: won at Nebraska 21-17Next up: vs. Northwestern (6 p.m. on Fox)Comment: Give the Trojans partial credit for the victory. Had you told us in advance that the Cornhuskers would lose quarterback Dylan Raiola to a broken leg, we’d have projected them to lose by many more than four points. (Previous: 4)
5. Michigan (7-2/5-1)
Result: beat Purdue 21-16Next up: idleComment: Clearly, the Wolverines have one eye on The Game even though it remains weeks away. Hard to blame them given the lineup of opponents. Purdue, Northwestern and Maryland equate to one giant yawn. (Previous: 5)
6. Washington (6-2/3-2)
Result: did not playNext up: at Wisconsin (1:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network)Comment: Tough to declare Wisconsin a trap game for the Huskies considering they are coming off a bye and their next opponent is Purdue. But it could turn tricky quickly if they start poorly. (Previous: 6)
7. Illinois (6-3/3-3)
Result: beat Rutgers 35-13Next up: idleComment: Having watched Illinois and Indiana several times since the 63-10 mid-September wipeout, we are fully convinced that if they played again, the Hoosiers would only win by 43. (Previous: 8)
8. Iowa (6-2/4-1)
Result: did not playNext up: vs. Oregon (12:30 p.m. on CBS)Comment: The Hawkeyes held their own at home against Indiana while Indiana beat Oregon comfortably in Eugene — all of which suggests a close game Saturday afternoon … or maybe not. (Previous: 7)
9. Minnesota (6-3/4-2)
Result: beat Michigan State 23-20 (OT)Next up: idleComment: The Gophers did well to secure another bowl berth over the weekend with two challenging games up next (at Oregon, at Northwestern), followed by the anything-goes finale against Wisconsin. (Previous: 9)
10. Nebraska (6-3/3-3)
Result: lost to USC 21-17Next up: at UCLA (6 p.m. on Fox)Comment: Add Nebraska’s Troy Dannen to the expanding list of athletic directors who have doled out unnecessary, in-season contract extensions to football coaches following gross misreads of the hiring market. (Previous: 10)
11. Northwestern (5-3/3-2)
Result: did not playNext up: at USC (6 p.m. on Fox)Comment: The Oct. 18 victory over Purdue could very well end up being Northwestern’s last win of the season. Which would mean a team that was once 5-1 would miss out on the postseason. (Previous: 11)
12. UCLA (3-5/3-2)
Result: did not playNext up: vs. Nebraska (6 p.m. on Fox)Comment: Good timing for the Bruins, who will face Nebraska’s backup quarterback, freshman TJ Lateef, following Raiola’s season-ending injury against USC. Of note: Lateef played for Southern California powerhouse Orange Lutheran. (Previous: 12)
13. Michigan State (3-6/0-6)
Result: lost at Minnesota 23-20 (OT)Next up: idleComment: Bye weeks are typically the time for in-season coaching changes. (Previous: 13)
14. Maryland (4-4/1-4)
Result: lost to Indiana 55-10Next up: at Rutgers (11:30 a.m. on FS1)Comment: After their 4-0 start, the Terps have dropped four in a row — and it’s easy to envision the losing streak extending to seven, if not eight. Coach Mike Locksley might be on the clock in the final weeks of his seventh season. (Previous: 14)
15. Rutgers (4-5/1-5)
Result: lost at Illinois 35-13Next up: vs. Maryland (11:30 a.m. on FS1)Comment: Hard to believe a Greg Schiano-coached team would have the worst defense in the Big Ten, much less the entire Power Four. But the Scarlet Knights are allowing an astounding 7.5 yards per play. (Previous: 15)
16. Penn State (3-5/0-5)
Result: lost at Ohio State 38-14Next up: vs. Indiana (9 a.m. on Fox)Comment: It’s November, and the Nittany Lions are winless in the Big Ten. Maybe give that some thought for a few minutes instead of contemplating whether we’re alone in the universe. (Previous: 16)
17. Purdue (2-7/0-6)
Result: lost at Michigan 21-16Next up: vs. Ohio State (10 a.m. on Big Ten Network)Comment: Admittedly, the Hotline expected more from Barry Odom’s first season in west Lafayette. And with Ohio State, Washington and Indiana upcoming, the Boilermakers don’t have much chance to conjure a late-season uptick. (Previous: 17)
18. Wisconsin (2-6/0-5)
Result: did not playNext up: vs. Washington (1:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network)Comment: If the Badgers are as stout defensively this week as they were in Eugene and muster a morsel of offense, it could get interesting. (Previous: 18)
*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to wilnerhotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716
*** Follow me on the social media platform X: @WilnerHotline