Five weeks of the college football season are now complete, and that means we’re starting to see some separation among some of the pretenders (Clemson) and the contenders (Ohio State and Oregon). What we thought we knew at the beginning of the season was fantasy, and now we are dealing with reality, not only across the country, but in the Big Ten as well.
Now that we’ve had a few weeks to assess what’s going on in the conference, we feel like we have a little better handle on what teams are playing well — maybe as we expected — and which ones might be in for a long, long season. We’re even starting to have some surprise teams emerge (hello, Indiana again).
Advertisement
And so, we share with you our weekly Big Ten football power rankings. Some of the teams had an off week before their conference competition begins, so more to come. It still looks like Ohio State and Oregon, and might be the class of the league after Penn State went down unexpectedly and unexcusably to UCLA, but there are still others like Iowa, Michigan, and USC that could throw a wrench into things.
Here’s a look at our Big Ten football power rankings following Week 6. We start from No. 18 and make our way down to No. 1 as usual.
No. 18 – Purdue Boilermakers (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Aug 30, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers linebacker Alex Sanford Jr. (10) celibates a sack during the second half against the Ball State Cardinals at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Lost 43-27 vs. Illinois
Advertisement
Last Week Ranking: 15 ⇩ (down three spots)
Next Game: at Minnesota
What goes into the ranking
Purdue didn’t have a horrible showing against Illinois, but you can’t get beat like that at home. The defense can’t seem to stop running water in a faucet at this point, and that’s both a plumber and the team’s big problem. Combine that with UCLA doing some astonishing things to move up these power rankings and, well — here you are, Pur-don’t.
Aug 28, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Danny O’Neil (18) hands the football off to running back Darrion Dupree (6) during the fourth quarter against the Miami (OH) RedHawks at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Lost 24-10 at Michigan
Last Week Ranking: 16 ⇩ (down one spot)
Advertisement
Next Game: vs. Iowa
What goes into the ranking
This might be the worst Wisconsin team we’ve seen in a very long time. The defense kept the Badgers in it against Michigan in the Big House for a half, but the offense was and is abysmal. This looks like a team that will be sitting home for the holidays, and if things continue this way, the program might be putting a bow on a new head coach.
No. 16 – UCLA Bruins (1-4, 1-1 Big Ten)
Aug 30, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) following the loss against the Utah Utes during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Won 42-37 vs. Penn State
Last Week Ranking: 18 ⇧ (up two spots)
Next Game: at Michigan State
What goes into the ranking
OK, we see you, UCLA. Is something BRUIN in Westwood? If quarterback Nico Iamaleava plays like he did against Penn State, there could be some problems for the remainder of the league. One week does not a turnaround make, but the Bruins did enough against a good team to move up the rankings for now. Was it lightning in a bottle, or is a storm coming?
Advertisement
Aug 30, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Preston Stone (8) passes against Tulane Green Wave during the second half at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Won 42-7 vs. UL-Monroe
Last Week Ranking: 17 ⇧ (up two spots)
Next Game: at Penn State
What goes into the ranking
We really didn’t learn too much from the Wildcats’ win over an underwhelming opponent other than they put a real, live offense out on the field for once. Who knows? How in the world did the Northwestern defense hold UCLA to 14 points, and Penn State couldn’t keep it to under 40? Paging Jim Knowles.
Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles (2) throws against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Lost 38-27 at Nebraska
Advertisement
Last Week Ranking: 13 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: vs. UCLA
What goes into the ranking
There’s no doubt the Spartans are a more competitive bunch this season, but it’s one thing to be more competitive; it’s another to start notching wins instead of losses. There are no participation trophies handed out in the halls of the Big Ten offices, so we need to see Michigan State start to close games.
No. 14 – Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten)
Rutgers Head Coach, Greg Schiano watches his Scarlet Knights, Thursday, August 28, 2025.
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 14 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Washington
What goes into the ranking
Hey, look, it’s Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were on an off week, so we learned as much about them as we do when we see them play an actual American football game. Who really knows where this team slots right now? Yes, they are well coached, and we’ll get to see more when they traverse the entire North American continent to play Washington. Get those air miles …
Advertisement
No. 12 – Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
Nov 30, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck leads the Minnesota Golden Gophers onto the field before a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Last Week’s Result: Lost 42-3 at Ohio State
Last Week Ranking: 12 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: vs. Purdue
What goes into the ranking
You kind of know what you are going to get with Minnesota under P.J. Fleck. The Gophers will play solidly and beat average teams more often than not, but get publicly flogged by the really good teams of the league. Ohio State got out the whooping stick, and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the Minnesota head coach so dejected and lost for answers. We’ll root for the Gophers to sneak into a bowl game again, and that’s about the expectation these days.
Advertisement
No. 11 – Maryland Terrapins (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
Aug 30, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins players are introduced before a game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Lost 24-20 vs. Washington
Last Week Ranking: 11 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: vs. Nebraska
What goes into the ranking
Maryland came achingly close to getting a big win against a very good Washington team, but then it remembered it was Maryland in a Big Ten game. The Terps generally buy the winning optional package when the Big Ten starts, and we’ll see if that’s the case as 2025 continues on. It was a promising game, but a defeat nonetheless.
No. 10 – Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) lines up under center against the Albany Great Danes Aug. 30, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 10 ⇔ (no change)
Advertisement
Next Game: at Wisconsin
What goes into the ranking
Iowa does what Iowa does, and we were beginning to wonder if the offense would score more points sitting on the couch this week than when it suits up for a game. As always, the defense seems to be great, but that will only carry the Hawkeyes so far. Next up is a chance to win the Heartland Trophy. It’s going to be a punter’s dream Saturday.
No. 9 – USC Trojans (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) talks with Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 4 ⇩ (down five spots)
Next Game: vs. Michigan
What goes into the ranking
USC was also off this past week, so hopefully it had a chance to examine the defense. The offense behind quarterback Jayden Maiva can keep the Trojans in almost any game; it’ll just boil down to whether or not the defense gets off the bus against the better teams.
Advertisement
Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts during the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Lost 42-37 at UCLA
Last Week Ranking: 3 ⇩ (down five spots)
Next Game: vs. Northwestern
What goes into the ranking
What happened in the Rose Bowl on Saturday is one of the most shocking results I’ve seen in a long, long time, and now the margin for error is razor thin, and maybe gone for the Nittany Lions with the way Ohio State and Oregon are playing. You have to wonder if former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is having buyer’s remorse and seeing the colors of Scarlet and Gray in his nightmares. The defense on Saturday made UCLA look like the second coming of Pete Carroll’s USC Trojan offenses.
Advertisement
No. 7 – Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten)
Aug 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) jumps on teammate Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Eli Coenen (96) after a sack on Western Illinois Leathernecks quarterback Chris Irvin (5) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Won 43-27 at Purdue
Last Week Ranking: 8 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: vs. Ohio State
What goes into the ranking
Illinois has looked so good in all of the games that it didn’t give up 63 points. Seriously, I’ve heard of outliers, but the Indiana game may have been dropped down to Earth by an alien spacecraft. As bad as that game was, the Illini now have a chance to show the world it just didn’t show up because No. 1 Ohio State comes to town this coming weekend.
Sep 6, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) runs against the Akron Zips during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Won 38-27 vs. Michigan State
Advertisement
Last Week Ranking: 7 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Maryland
What goes into the ranking
Nebraska might be better than this ranking, but we just don’t know. Dylan Raiola at quarterback seems to be settling down and putting this team in a position to be a player in the Big Ten race, but the loss to Michigan is going to sting, and the trip to Maryland will not be easy as long as the Terps think of it as a nonconference game. It would also help if it isn’t a close game because Nebraska has yet to solve that crossword puzzle.
Sep 27, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright (7) runs for yards after the catch against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Won 24-20 at Maryland
Advertisement
Last Week Ranking: 6 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: vs. Rutgers
What goes into the ranking
After watching Washington last week against Ohio State, I was convinced that the Huskies were one of the better teams in the Big Ten. The first half of the Maryland game had me re-thinking that, but then Washington came back and won a tough contest against a team that might be better than we think — and on the road. It was a good bounce back and showed resiliency for a team that still might have a lot ahead of it.
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) makes a pass against running back Justice Haynes (22) against New Mexico during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Last Week’s Result: Won 24-10 vs. Wisconsin
Advertisement
Last Week Ranking: 5 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at USC
What goes into the ranking
Michigan won again, but we still can’t get that very dysmal performance against Oklahoma out of our noggins. It seems like Bryce Underwood will be a better quarterback at the end of the year, and that could be a problem for — ahem, Ohio State. Right now, though, Michigan’s best win is a close one against Nebraska, and we’re still not sure what kind of team the ‘Huskers are just yet.
No. 3 – Indiana Hoosiers (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten)
Sep 20, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti watches his team during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 4 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Oregon
Advertisement
What goes into the ranking
With Penn State’s belly flop in the shallow end of the pool in Pasadena, it’s a no-brainer that Indiana moves up to the No. 3 spot, and deservedly so. The Hoosiers have looked fantastic aside from the trip to Iowa, and even then, they were able to pull out a close one at the end in a hostile environment. The question is — how big is the gap between the No. 3 team and the top two here?
No. 2 – Oregon Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten)
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers Sept. 20, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 3 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: vs. Indiana
What goes into the ranking
You could make a case for Oregon being the top team in these rankings, but after Penn State’s showing against UCLA, it does make you wonder just how impressive the win in Happy Valley will end up looking. Still, this is a good team with a good roster, a good coach, and a quarterback who can go out and win a matchup game when it matters.
Advertisement
Sep 13, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) reacts after the game against the Ohio Bobcats at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Last Game Result: Won 242-3 vs. Minnesota
Last Week Ranking: 1 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: at Illinois
What went into the ranking
The Buckeyes looked awfully impressive against Minnesota and seem to be getting better by each passing week. The offense hasn’t looked as explosive, but based on what we saw Saturday, it feels like it can turn the temperature up any time it wants. Oh, and the defense? Ridiculous. The silver bullets have only surrendered 25 points in five games. There’s no better team in college football right now — at least that’s how it looks at the moment. A tricky game in Champaign is up next.
Advertisement
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten football power rankings after Week 6: Two teams separate
