2024 Big Ten Football Week 3 Power Rankings: Nebraska Surges, Illinois Climbs, and Michigan Stumbles After Week 2

Breaking Down Week 3 Performances: Nebraska emerges as a Big Ten dark horse, Illinois shocks with a big upset, and Michigan suffers its first loss.

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After two weeks of action, the Big Ten tiers of teams are taking shape. Nebraska looks like a dark horse after an impressive victory against rival Colorado. Michigan is the first top team to fall after getting smacked by Texas. Meanwhile, Illinois jumps ten spots after upsetting No. 19 Kansas.

Photo Courtesy of Monte Murray

Tier 1 - College Football Playoff Contenders

1. Ohio State (2-0)

Trend: -

AP Ranking: No. 3

Last week: 56-0 win vs. Western Michigan

This week: BYE

Through two games, Buckeye quarterback Will Howard has thrown for 520 yards with a 64.8 completion rate. Ohio State is the class of the Big Ten through two weeks.

2. Penn State (2-0)

Trend: -

AP Ranking: No. 8

Last week: 34-27 win vs. Bowling Green

This week: BYE

The Nittany Lions escaped a potential hangover loss against Bowling Green. Penn State trailed 24-20 at the half.

3. USC (2-0)

Trend: -

AP Ranking: No. 11

Last week: 48-0 win vs. Utah State

This week: BYE

Granted, it’s Utah State, but Trojan fans must be satisfied with its defense pitching a shutout. Let the USC hype CFP hype begin.

4. Oregon (2-0)

Trend: +1

AP Ranking: No. 9

Last week: 37-34 win vs. Boise State

This week: at Oregon State

Oregon moves up a spot after Michigan’s loss. For the second week in a row, the Ducks squeaked out another victory, this time against a strong Boise State squad led by running back Ashton Jeanty. Now, the Ducks, like the Huskies, take on their former-Pac-12 in-state rival in September.

Tier 2 - Outside, Looking In

5. Michigan (1-1)

Trend: -1

AP Ranking: No. 17

Last week: 31-12 loss to No. 3 Texas

This week: Arkansas State

Does Michigan have an offense?After dropping 30 on Fresno State, the Wolverines managed to only score 12 points at home against a good Texas team. Michigan will look to course correct in a soft game against Arkansas State this week.

6. Nebraska (2-0)

Trend: +2

Last week: 28-10 win vs. Colorado

This week: Northern Iowa

Nebraska took care of rival Colorado, and may be a dark horse in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers’ schedule lines up nicely with Northern Iowa, Illinois, at Purdue, Rutgers, and at Indiana all coming before a road game against Ohio State. Nebraska could potentially be 7-0 heading into that October game against the Buckeyes.

7. Illinois (2-0)

Trend: +10

Last week: 23-17 win vs. No. 19 Kansas

This week: Central Michigan

Illinois makes the biggest jump in these power rankings after upsetting a ranked Kansas. Cornerback Xavier Scott was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. He jumped a screen pass for a pick-six to give his team the lead heading into halftime.

8. Iowa (1-1)

Trend: -2

Last week: 20-19 loss to Iowa State

This week: Troy

The Hawkeyes blew a double-digit halftime lead to lose against rival Iowa State. Iowa failed to get touchdowns within Iowa State’s five-yard line at two different times.

Tier 3 - Bowl Bound

9. Washington (2-0)

Trend: -2

Last week: 30-9 win vs Eastern Michigan

Huskies 2-0, But Still Scratching the Surface: Explosive Plays Fuel 30-9 Win Over EMU

This week: Washington State (Seattle)

It’s still hard to know how good this Washington team is, in comparison with the next tier of teams. The Apple Cup will tell us much more about this team’s current state.

10. Wisconsin (2-0)

Trend: -1

Last week: 27-13 win vs. South Dakota

This week: Alabama

Wisconsin hosts Alabama for Kalen DeBoer’s first road game. Badgers head coach Luke Fickell last played Alabama when he was the coach of Cincinnati three years ago. His team, despite its NFL talent, lost 27-6 to Alabama. A story all too familiar for Alabama’s foes in the CFP.

11. Rutgers (2-0)

Trend: -1

Last week: 49-17 win vs. Akron

This week: BYE

Running back Kyle Monangai earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 208 yards and three touchdowns. Him and Jonah Coleman will be battling for Big Ten Beast Mode of the Year honors throughout this season.

Tier 4 - Bottom Half

12. Michigan State (2-0)

Trend: -

Last week: 27-24 win at Maryland

This week: Prairie View

The Spartans came away with another close victory last week against conference foe Maryland. The jury is still out on Aidan Chiles, who threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions in Michigan State’s win.

13. Maryland (1-1)

Trend: -2

Last week: 27-24 loss to Michigan State

This week: at Virginia

Despite its three interceptions, the Terapins could not take advantage of the turnover-prone Chiles.

14. UCLA (1-0)

Trend: -

Last week: BYE

This week: Indiana

UCLA opens up their Big Ten schedule with a home game matchup against Indiana. The Bruins will have to deal with a Hoosiers offense that put up 77 points last weekend.

15. Purdue (1-0)

Trend: +1

Last week: BYE

This week: No. 18 Notre Dame

Unfortunately, the Boilermakers draw an angry Notre Dame team this week, after the Irish suffered a monumental upset against Northern Illinois. This game is probably my lock of the week in the Big Ten.

16. Indiana (2-0)

Trend: +2

Last week: 77-3 win vs. Western Illinois

This week: at UCLA

77 points. Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti got two warmup victories under his belt before a game at the Rose Bowl against UCLA this weekend. The 74-point margin of victory was the second-highest margin in Indiana history.

17. Northwestern (1-1)

Trend: -4

Last week: 26-20 loss to Duke

This week: Eastern Illinois

Northwestern couldn’t beat a beatable Duke team. There could be a quarterback change on the horizon as Wildcats QB Mike Wright put up a dismal 158-yard, 20-for-36 performance.

18. Minnesota (1-1)

Trend: -3

Last week: 48-0 win vs. Rhode Island

This week: Nevada

The Golden Gophers bounced back with a shutout win against Rhode Island. The team has a gauntlet after hosting Nevada, with Iowa, Michigan, and USC looming.