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).
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, Oregon, and Penn State might be the class of the league, 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 5. We start from No. 18 and make our way down to No. 1 as usual.
No. 18 – UCLA Bruins (0-4, 0-1 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Lost 17-14 at Northwestern
Last Week Ranking: 18 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: vs. Penn State
What goes into the ranking
UCLA at least made things close against Northwestern, but you still have to wonder if this team is going to win a game all year. The offense is in shambles, and it’s hard to see any kind of massive turnaround. It’ll be a long finish to the season in Westwood.
No. 17 – Northwestern Wildcats (2-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
Last Game Result: Won 17-14 vs. UCLA
Last Week Ranking: 17 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: vs. UL-Monroe
What goes into the ranking
Yeah, the Wildcats pulled to .500 with a close win vs. UCLA, but that’s nothing to send a carrier pigeon home for. The offense has still struggled mightily against any kind of defense, and there are still a lot of good ones Northwestern will have to face. Look for the team to have a winning record after this week, but that’s more Fool’s Gold than anything else.
No. 16 – Wisconsin Badgers (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 16 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: at Michigan
What goes into the ranking
My, how far a once proud Wisconsin program has fallen. The bruising culture may not have been enough to get the Badgers into a College Football Playoff, but at least the program knew what it was and was contending for Big Ten titles. Under Luke Fickell, it seems like it’s lost its identity and is in purgatory. The Badgers just aren’t a good team this year, all around.
No. 15 – Purdue Boilermakers (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 15 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: vs. Illinois
What goes into the ranking
Purdue’s offense looks like it can punch above its weight so far in 2025, but the defense has been a real problem against good teams. It sure seems like the Boilermakers have had a lot of so-called transition years recently, and that’ll be the case again this season.
No. 14 – Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Lost 31-28 at Minnesota
Last Week Ranking: 14 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Remember, these are power rankings, not standings. Yes, Rutgers has lost two games and is winless in the Big Ten, but it has been more than competitive. The wins will come, but for now, Greg Schiano might actually be chopping wood at a cabin during the off week, trying to figure out how to get his team to win close games. Unfortunately, it won’t get much easier with Washington looming after a week to rest.
No. 13 – Michigan State Spartans (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 13 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: at Nebraska
What goes into the ranking
The Spartans also enjoyed a week off, and it looks like they will be a more competitive team behind the improved quarterback play of Aidan Chiles. There’s still a long way to go, but making a bowl game should be a real possibility in 2025.
No. 12 – Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Win 31-28 vs. Rutgers
Last Week Ranking: 12 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: at Ohio State
What goes into the ranking
Going to a bowl game has been a staple under P.J. Fleck, and it looks like that should be more than possible this year. Minnesota is throwing the ball a lot more than in years past, and you know it’ll be sound in all phases of the game under Fleck. This isn’t a contender, and the Gophers will have their hands full in Columbus this week, but you can’t let them hang around in games, or else.
No. 11 – Maryland Terrapins (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 11 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: vs. Washington
What goes into the ranking
Maryland actually won its first Big Ten game — an issue in past campaigns, but we’ll get a better feel for how good the Terps are when they welcome a pretty dynamic Washington team to the DMV area on Saturday. So far, though, Malik Washington has played well at quarterback, and the defense has been outstanding. Both of those will need to continue as the competition heats up.
No. 10 – Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Lost 20-15 vs. Indiana
Last Week Ranking: 10 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Last week against Indiana was a very typical Iowa game that had a low and odd score. The Hawkeyes usually find a way to win games like that at home, but the Hoosiers made plays at the end of the game to remain undefeated. Iowa is, well — Iowa, with points at a premium — and it played well enough against a really good team to not drop in these rankings.
No. 9 – USC Trojans (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
Last Game Result: Lost 34-32 at Illinois
Last Week Ranking: 4 ⇩ (down five spots)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Just when you thought USC had figured things out a bit on defense, it gives up a bushel of points to an Illinois team that struggled to do anything on offense against Indiana the week before. This team is still going to be a tough out because of the offensive firepower it has with quarterback Jayden Maiva, but can it play complementary football? There’s no doubt the loss in Champaign has reset expectations a little.
No. 8 – Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Won 34-32 vs. USC
Last Week Ranking: 9 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: at Purdue
What goes into the ranking
Illinois bounced back in a big way with a win over what we thought was a pretty dangerous USC squad, and that’s to be commended, but there’s still that awful loss to Indiana that is the bottom of what this team can be when going against a defense that can expose issues on the offensive line. For now, the Illini get a little nod for the tight win after getting up off the mat.
No. 7 – Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 8 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: vs. Michigan State
What goes into the ranking
The Cornhuskers are just a few plays away from being undefeated, but they still have to find ways to win those close games. Quarterback Dylan Raiola gives the team a real difference maker who can put the team on his back at times, but he’ll need help against the best teams in the league. The program seems to be headed in the right direction under Matt Rhule, but there’s still a long way to go to contend for confetti and trophies.
No. 6 – Washington Huskies (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
Last Game Result: Lost 24-6 vs. Ohio State
Last Week Ranking: 5 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: at Maryland
What goes into the ranking
Washington might be better than this — we’ll soon find out because the No. 1 team is coming to the banks of Lake Washington on Saturday. The offense looks mighty explosive, and this might be the surprise team in the Big Ten. But are the Huskies ready to make a statement this weekend and spring the upset?
No. 5 – Michigan Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 7 ⇧ (up two spots)
Next Game: vs. Wisconsin
What goes into the ranking
Michigan has looked fantastic against subpar competition, good against good competition, but not good enough against really good competition. Bryce Underwood is going to continue to grow throughout the season and make the team better by the end of the year, but there appears to be a gap between the Wolverines and the top of the league right now. Other teams will also get better, so the gap has to close faster.
No. 4 – Indiana Hoosiers (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Won 15-10 at Iowa
Last Week Ranking: 4 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
After administering a public flogging to Illinois, Indiana found itself in a dogfight at Iowa. You have to be able to win ugly sometimes, and the Hoosiers should get credit for winning in a tough environment. The offense looks great again with Fernando Mendoza operating as one of the best quarterbacks in the country right now, and the defense is playing fast and aggressively. Now, for a week off before trying to make another surprising run.
No. 3 – Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
Last Game Result: Off
Last Week Ranking: 2 ⇩ (down one spot)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Penn State almost got an elusive top-five win in a game that is going to have huge ramifications in the Big Ten and College Football Playoff race, but came up short once again. The season isn’t over by any means, but somehow, someway, the Nittany Lions have to get better production from Drew Allar and the offense in the biggest of circumstances. The good news is that there will be other opportunities.
No. 2 – Oregon Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten)
Last Week’s Result: Won 30-24 at Penn State
Last Week Ranking: 3 ⇧ (up one spot)
Next Game: Off
What goes into the ranking
Oregon is officially a serious threat for a repeat crown in the Big Ten and another College Football Playoff run after beating Penn State in a whiteout. That’s nothing to sneeze at, especially with the talent and experience the Nittany Lions have this year. Dante Moore has been fantastic under center, and the roster talent is there for really big things.
No. 1 – Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Last Game Result: Won 24-6 at Washington
Last Week Ranking: 1 ⇔ (no change)
Next Game: vs. Minnesota
What went into the ranking
Ohio State continues to impress and seems to be getting better each week. Maybe I end up being wrong, but it sure feels like Washington is going to give a lot of teams serious issues and might even be a contender for the Big Ten title long into the season. There are still a lot of tests ahead for this Ohio State team, but with the defense playing like it is, and with an offense that will continue to emerge as Julian Sayin continues to develop.
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 5: The cream rises to the top
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
