With week 3 of the 2025 college football season in the books, the stage is set for what is guaranteed to be an entertaining Big Ten Conference schedule.
UCLA made headlines in the aftermath of its Week 3 loss to New Mexico by firing head coach DeShaun Foster, the conference’s first coaching change of the season. The Bruins are the only winless team in the Big Ten, having lost to Utah, UNLV and New Mexico in Weeks 1-3, respectively.
On the other end of the standings, the conference’s top tier of Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State is no surprise. The three are among college football’s leading national title contenders. Behind them, the Big Ten’s second tier will gain clarity in the coming weeks, especially after Illinois-Indiana and Michigan-Nebraska in Week 4 and USC-Illinois and Ohio State-Washington in Week 5.
Before those games ignite the conference schedule, here is an updated look at the Big Ten power rankings.
18. UCLA Bruins (0-3, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 35-10 loss to New Mexico
Previous Rank: No. 18 (No change)
Analysis: UCLA appears headed for a worst-case season, already sitting at 0-3 with three decisive losses. So while Foster’s exit may change the team’s form in the short term, it’s hard to see the interim coach leading any significant turnaround.
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17. Northwestern Wildcats (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 34-14 loss to Oregon
Previous Rank: No. 17 (No change)
Analysis: Northwestern joins UCLA in the conference’s bottom tier. The team was largely uncompetitive against Oregon; its two fourth-quarter touchdowns made a 34-0 margin look a bit more respectable. The Wildcats now face a tough road to bowl eligibility.
16. Purdue Boilermakers (2-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 33-17 loss to USC
Previous Rank: No. 16 (No change)
Analysis: Purdue is showing early progress under new coach Barry Odom. After opening wins over Ball State and Southern Illinois, the team competed against a strong USC team. While it was still far from an upset win, the performance was far better than what the team displayed last season.
15. Maryland Terrapins (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 44-17 win over Towson
Previous Rank: No. 15 (No change)
Analysis: Maryland is exactly where it needs to be through three weeks, sitting at 3-0 with three decisive victories over inferior competition. Freshman quarterback Malik Washington has been a major story. He’s thrown for 773 yards, six touchdowns and an interception through three weeks, plus has added 28 yards and a score on the ground. His play will be key to the team’s chance at a statement road win at Wisconsin this weekend.
14. Wisconsin Badgers (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 38-14 loss to Alabama
Previous Rank: No. 12 (Down 2)
Analysis: Wisconsin was not expected to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa. However, the team’s performance was far from confidence-inspiring. The Badgers trailed 28-0 after the first play of the second half, then needed the subsequent kickoff return touchdown to even crack the scoreboard. The game raised some alarms about the team’s bowl chances, given the gauntlet of a schedule that remains.
13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 60-10 win over Norfolk State
Previous Rank: No. 14 (Up 1)
Analysis: Rutgers is part of a larger pack of teams that may have to battle to reach a bowl game in 2025. The Scarlet Knights handled their nonconference matchups, capped off by a 50-point win over Norfolk State. The team’s real test begins with a Week 4 home matchup against Iowa. Including that matchup, Rutgers will have to turn several coin-flip games into wins.
12. Michigan State Spartans (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 41-24 win over Youngstown State
Previous Rank: No. 13 (Up 1)
Analysis: Michigan State is creeping up the power rankings after three weeks. Quarterback Aidan Chiles is a reason why. The second-year starter has somewhat limited turnovers, plus delivered big plays in key moments, especially in the team’s Week 2 win over Boston College.
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11. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 27-14 loss to California
Previous Rank: No. 9 (Down 2)
Analysis: Minnesota was one of several Big Ten teams to suffer a deflating loss in Week 3. The result halts what appeared to be a strong start to the season. Running back Darius Taylor’s health is a major variable to watch moving forward; he missed Saturday’s loss to Cal after leaving the team’s Week 2 win with a leg injury.
10. Indiana Hoosiers (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 73-0 win over Indiana State
Previous Rank: No. 11 (Up 1)
Analysis: Just like last season, Indiana is 3-0 with three decisive victories against low-ranked competition. The team’s real test begins in Week 4 with a home game against No. 9 Illinois. That contest should show whether the Hoosiers took a step back after last year’s breakthrough.
9. Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 47-7 win over UMass
Previous Rank: No. 10 (Up 1)
Analysis: Iowa’s tough Week 2 loss to Iowa State is the thing keeping the team out of the conference’s second tier. On the positive side, quarterback Mark Gronowski played his best game as a Hawkeye on Saturday, completing 16 of 24 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll need to replicate that play during the team’s conference slate, which begins on Friday at Rutgers.
Get more (Iowa) news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 69-7 win over Houston Christian
Previous Rank: No. 7 (Down 1)
Analysis: Nebraska’s narrow Week 1 win over Cincinnati is keeping it in a strong position in these rankings. The team’s Week 4 home game against a Sherrone Moore-less Michigan team is critical to its quest for a breakthrough. The Dylan Raiola vs. Bryce Underwood quarterback matchup brings a ton of intrigue.
Get more (Nebraska) news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
7. Michigan Wolverines (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 63-3 win over Central Michigan
Previous Rank: No. 8 (Up 1)
Analysis: Michigan responded decisively to its Week 2 loss to Oklahoma, dominating Central Michigan 63-3. Freshman QB Bryce Underwood excelled, throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown, plus rushing for 114 yards and two scores. His play is arguably the single biggest factor in Michigan’s playoff chances.
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6. Washington Huskies (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: N/A (BYE)
Previous Rank: No. 5 (Down 1)
Analysis: Washington remains my sleeper pick to make a run at the playoff and potentially contend for the Big Ten. crown. It closes its nonconference schedule in Week 4 with a rivalry matchup against Washington State. Then, the stage will be set for a huge home game against Ohio State.
Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire
5. USC Trojans (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 33-17 win over Purdue
Previous Rank: No. 6 (Up 1)
Analysis: USC didn’t overly impress in its road win over Purdue. However, the result was an important one for a Trojan team that struggled on the road in Big Ten play last season. Through three weeks, the team appears to have made significant strides after its rough first year in the conference.
Get more (USC) news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire
4. Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 38-0 win over Western Michigan
Previous Rank: No. 4 (No change)
Analysis: Illinois enters Week 4 in the top 10 of the AP Poll. It gets an important chance to validate that ranking when it visits Indiana on Saturday. With a win, the Fighting Illini will jump squarely into the playoff picture.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 52-6 win over Villanova
Previous Rank: No. 3 (No change)
Analysis: There isn’t much to take away from Penn State’s first three weeks. The team is a clear contender to win the Big Ten, which was already known before the season. We’ll learn about whether the Nittany Lions are title-ready when they host Oregon on Sept 27.
Get more (Penn State) news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
2. Oregon Ducks (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 34-14 win over Northwestern
Previous Rank: No. 2 (No change)
Analysis: Oregon is one of the biggest winners of the nonconference schedule. The team doesn’t appear to have taken a step back after a terrific 2024 campaign. As mentioned previously, the Ducks can validate that thought when they travel to Penn State on Sept. 27.
Get more (Oregon) news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Week 3 Result: 37-9 win over Ohio
Previous Rank: No. 1 (No change)
Analysis: Ohio State remains the best team in the Big Ten, if not in the entire sport. Its Week 1 win over Texas is arguably the best of any Big Ten team through three weeks. Looking forward, the Buckeyes will need to avoid upset spots at Washington, Illinois and Wisconsin.
Get more (Ohio State) news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Big Ten Football Power Rankings after Week 3: Final update before conference play
Reporting by Ben Kenney, Badgers Wire / Badgers Wire
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