Wisconsin had a beautiful opportunity to sit back and watch the chaos unfold this week in the Big Ten and around college football. The good news for Wisconsin was seeing Minnesota lose in a game that made Purdue look like Alabama. The bad news is that all of Wisconsin's upcoming opponents look really good and won in convincing ways on Saturday. Though, depending on your optimism for this 2026 Luke Fickell team, maybe that's a good thing.
UCLA beat the Ducks, USC put down Penn State, and Iowa steamrolled the Washington Huskies. The next three opponents could all be ranked by the time Wisconsin gets to each and every one of them. Plenty of chances for the Badgers to prove they are for real this season.
Let's dive right into the Power Rankings for all the Big Ten teams after Week 6:
1. Indiana Hoosiers
No change at the top, as a comeback win over Nebraska secures another Big Ten victory and keeps the team No. 1 in these power rankings.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes also remain at No. 2 with an easy victory over Maryland. The matchup between Indiana and Ohio State this week is a huge one. And the Buckeyes are looking to be the king of the conference again.
3. UCLA Bruins
The Bruins keep rolling and are undefeated this season, and beating the Ducks feels like the statement win that proves they aren't imposters. Just as No. 1 and No. 2 in these rankings are playing this weekend, so are No. 3 and No. 4.
4. Wisconsin Badgers
This may feel like homerism to have Wisconsin at No. 4 when they've yet to really prove it. However, they haven't lost a Big Ten game this season, and every team under them has. The rest of the list has Big Ten losses.
5. Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern has found itself ranked this week even though it only played Ball State. The win over Colorado and Penn State has put them on the radar, but similar to Wisconsin, they will need to truly find a statement win to not feel like imposters.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa had a great bounce-back game against Washington this week, on short rest. While the Huskies look terrible, it's hard not to appreciate what the Hawkeyes did on Friday.
7. USC Trojans
The Trojans head into their bye week with some momentum after taking down the punching bag of the Big Ten this season, Penn State. Their next game is against Wisconsin at Camp Randall in a game that could be big if Wisconsin beats UCLA this week.
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska may be having nightmares about how they let Indiana get away. The Cornhuskers had the game won until they didn't.
9. Oregon Ducks
The Ducks may have the best roster on paper this season, full of 5-stars and key transfers, yet they stink. A loss against Oklahoma State and now UCLA ruins their College Football Playoff plans.
10. Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue rocking Minnesota was fun. Give them their flowers, for they've now beaten Illinois and Minnesota in back-to-back weeks.
11. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota was riding high on PJ Fleck's antics and three wins in a row, but Purdue showed the world the reality of the Golden Gophers.
12. Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois looks terrible this season; they lost to Duke, Ohio State, and Purdue now. Add in the fact that they barely escaped the Michigan State game; it's just not a good product right now over there.
13. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan can't find a win in the Big Ten. The Wolverines were off this week, like Wisconsin, and are hoping for a change in their season on Saturday against Penn State.
14. Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State needs a reset bad. It's looking more and more like Matt Campbell was a bad hire.
15. Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans do look better than last season but still haven't found a Big Ten win on the season.
16. Washington Huskies
Wow. The Huskies are bad aren't they? Does Jedd Fisch get on the hot seat?
17. Maryland Terrapins
Same as last week. Mike Locksley is on fire watch.
18. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers are terrible. Maybe the bye week helped them figure something out?
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