Big 10 Power Rankings Entering Week Four

18. UCLA Bruins (1-1) | Previous: 18

After struggling in the season opener against Hawai'i, the Bruins were pummeled by Indiana 42-13 in Week 3. Ethan Garbers threw for 137 yards and an interception, while the team averaged 3.7 yards per carry. Things won't get any easier for UCLA moving forward, with games against LSU, Oregon and Penn State coming up.

17. Purdue Boilermakers (1-1) | Previous: 14

I gave the Boilermakers the benefit of the doubt last week due to their bye and season-opening shellacking of Indiana State. I was wrong. Notre Dame -- fresh off a loss to Northern Illinois -- came to West Lafayette and beat the brakes off Purdue 66-7. Purdue will go on the road to face Oregon State next week.

16. Northwestern Wildcats (2-1) | Previous: 17

Northwestern made a quarterback change in Week 3, benching Mike Wright in favor of sophomore Jack Lausch. Lausch kept a clean sheet, completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 227 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. While it was an encouraging debut, Lausch will have to prove his mettle on the road next week against Washington.

15: Maryland Terrapins (2-1) | Previous: 16

Maryland picked up a quality win in Week 3, downing Virginia 27-13. Still, the loss to Michigan State looms over the program, leaving them toward the bottom of the conference. Wide receiver Tai Felton has been outstanding in 2024, tallying 27 catches for 447 yards and four scores through three games.

14. Michigan State Spartans (3-0) | Previous: 15

Michigan State dominated Prairie View in Week 3 and is one of nine undefeated teams in the Big 10. They have plenty of young talent, but I haven't seen enough out of the Spartans to place them above some of the more proven programs of the conference. They'll have a chance to prove me wrong with a road win over Boston College next week.

13. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-1) | Previous: 13

After dropping their season opener, Minnesota has pitched back-to-back shutouts, including a Week 3 rout of Nevada 27-0. Darius Taylor accounted for 161 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns. The victory on its own wasn't enough to push Minnesota up in the power rankings, but they'll have an opportunity to rise in the rankings with a win over Iowa next week.

12. Washington Huskies (2-1) | Previous: 9

The Huskies came out on the wrong side of the first non-conference Apple Cup game in over 60 years. Washington did outgain Washington State and also won the turnover battle (1-0), but the team couldn't punch the ball in on 4th and Goal from the 1 for the game-winning score. The Huskies will play Rutgers next week for their first Big 10 conference game.

11. Wisconsin Badgers (2-1) | Previous: 10

From the words of Luke Fickell, Wisconsin's 42-10 loss to Alabama was "a good old fashioned ass whooping." To make things worse, starting QB Tyler Van Dyke went down with what appears to be a severe leg injury. Replacement signal caller Braedyn Locke looked shaky and the Badgers were outclassed as a whole. However, the Crimson Tide got 14 points off turnovers and Wisconsin endured a 10-point swing late in the second half, missing a field goal and yielding a two-play, 73-yard touchdown drive to make the score 21-3 at the half instead of 14-6.

10. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-0) | Previous: 11

Not playing a game in Week 3 worked in favor of the Scarlet Knights, with the two teams directly ahead of them in the power rankings last week losing. Rutgers won't face a ranked opponent until Nebraska on Oct. 5.

9. Michigan Wolverines (2-1) | Previous: 7

Michigan was in control for the entirety of their 28-18 victory over Arkansas State in Week 3. Still, they didn't show anything to inspire confidence. Davis Warren went 11-for-14 with three interceptions as the Wolverines relied upon their superiority up front and racked up 300 rushing yards. While that playstyle will get the job done against lesser opponents, it's not a recipe for success in the Big 10.

8. Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1) | Previous: 8

Iowa rebounded from a Week 2 loss to Iowa State with a 17-point victory over Troy. While the Trojans covered the 23.5-point spread and led the Hawkeyes 14-10 at halftime, Iowa dominated the second half. All three Troy touchdowns came from at least 60 yards out, an uncharacteristic performance from a typically stout Iowa defense.

7. Indiana Hoosiers (3-0) | Previous: 12

Indiana was the team I was most intrigued about in Week 3, and they delivered a monster performance. Entering a road game against UCLA as 3.5-point favorites, the Hoosiers stomped UCLA 42-13, passing their first test of the Curt Cignetti era. This offense looks like one of the best units in the Big 10, and Indiana has earned every bit of this five-spot rise.

6. Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0) | Previous: 6

The Illini have been taking care of business this season. They've forced nine turnovers and Luke Altmyer has completed 69.2 percent of his passes with a 6:0 TD:INT. While their clean brand of football should keep them in games, four of the Fighting Illini's next five games come against ranked opponents.

5. Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0) | Previous: 5

Nebraska's margin of victory through three weeks is 27.3 points. Freshman QB Dylan Raiola has been as good as advertised, and he'll need to put up another strong performance in Week 4 against No. 24 Illinois.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0) | Previous: 4

Penn State had Week 3 off, and I don't feel confident enough in the teams behind them to alter the Nittany Lions ranking. PSU will take on Kent State at home before starting conference play Sept. 28 against Illinois.

3. Oregon Ducks (3-0) | Previous: 3

The Ducks finally looked the part of a Top 10 team in Week 3. They stomped Oregon State in a rivalry game, outscoring the Beavers 26-0 in the second half en route to a 49-14 win. It hasn't always been pretty for Oregon this season, but there's a strong chance they enter a Oct. 12 date with Ohio State 5-0.

2. USC Trojans (2-0) | Previous: 2

USC will be tested once again in Week 4, making a trip to the Big House to face Michigan. Miller Moss has been outstanding through two games and a win over the Wolverines would confirm USC's position as a National Title contender.

1. Ohio State (2-0) | Previous: 1

Despite having a bye in Week 3, the Buckeyes remain the clear top team in the Big 10. They'll likely remained unchallenged, with should-be wins against Marshall and Michigan State upcoming.