2024 Big Ten Football Week 9 Power Rankings: Showdowns Loom as Wisconsin and Illinois Aim to Shake Up the Rankings
Top Big Ten Teams Face Off: Wisconsin Targets Penn State, Illinois Takes on Oregon in Crucial Matchups
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The top five teams keep their spots, but Illinois gets a shot at Oregon and Wisconsin gets a shot at Penn State this weekend.
The Badgers look dangerous. They jump three spots after a convincing 56-7 blowout over Nebraska. Wisconsin has two losses to Alabama and USC and its defense has been one of the best with the 10th-best stop rate in the country — 75% of Wisconsin’s opponent’s drives end in a punt, turnover, or a turnover on downs. For comparison’s sake, Washington has a 65.1% stop rate and ranks No. 52 in the stat.
After the top six, it’s not an easy answer as to how the next six teams should be ranked. There are six teams with 2-2 Big Ten records. Rutgers beat Washington, but UCLA beat Rutgers. UCLA beat Minnesota, but Minnesota lost to Michigan, and Washington beat Michigan. And so on. I did my best.
Tier 1 - College Football Playoff Contenders
1. Oregon (7-0, 4-0)
Trend: -
AP Ranking: No. 1
Last week: 35-0 win at Purdue
This week: vs. No. 20 Illinois
The Ducks are rolling and are No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time since 2012. Illinois comes to Eugene this weekend with three AP Top 25 wins under its belt.
2. Penn State (6-0, 3-0)
Trend: -
AP Ranking: No. 3
Last week: BYE
This week: at Wisconsin
The Nittany Lions start a crucial stretch of three games against Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Washington. All three games are winnable, especially with Ohio State at Penn State.
3. Ohio State (5-1, 2-1)
Trend: -
AP Ranking: No. 4
Last week: BYE
This week: vs. Nebraska
Will the Buckeyes defense improve its ability to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks? Nick Saban thinks that’s an issue with Ohio State.
4. Indiana (7-0, 4-0)
Trend: -
AP Ranking: No. 16
Last week: 56-7 win vs. Nebraska
This week: vs. Washington
I’m moving the Hoosiers into CFP contention after their blowout win against Nebraska. College Gameday is coming to Bloomington. Can Indiana get past Washington with its backup quarterback Tayven Jackson?
Tier 2 - Outside, Looking In
5. Illinois (6-1, 3-1)
Trend: -
AP Ranking: No. 22
Last week: 21-7 win vs. No. 24 Michigan
This week: at No. 1 Oregon
Illinois’ at-large resume now includes three-ranked wins over Kansas, Nebraska, and Michigan. Can they create some chaos this weekend and score an upset in Eugene?
6. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1)
Trend: +3
Last week: 23-3 win at Northwestern
This week: vs. No. 3 Penn State
Wisconsin jumps three spots after taking care of business against Northwestern. No one is talking about how good the Badgers have been. Wisconsin’s defense has surrendered only 16 points in the team’s past three games.
Tier 3 - Bowl Bound
7. Nebraska (5-2, 2-2)
Trend: -
Last week: 56-7 loss at No. 16 Indiana
This week: at No. 4 Ohio State
Before last weekend’s loss to Indiana, Nebraska was the only team in the country whose defense had not surrendered a rushing touchdown. The Hoosiers figured something out and scored five rushing touchdowns on Nebraska’s defense en route to a blowout victory. Things don’t get easier for Nebraska as they take on No. 4 Ohio State this weekend.
8. Iowa (4-3, 2-2)
Trend: -
Last week: 32-20 loss at Michigan State
This week: vs. Northwestern
After a statement victory over Washington, the Hawkeyes fell to Michigan State. They only mustered 58 first-half yards of offense.
9. Michigan (4-3, 2-2)
Trend: -3
Last week: 21-7 loss to No. 22 Illinois
This week: Michigan’s battle for bowl eligibility begins after its loss to Illinois. The Wolverines will have to get at least two wins against the following opponents: vs. Michigan State, vs. No. 1 Oregon, vs. No. 13 Indiana, vs. Northwestern, at No. 4 Ohio State. Wins seem likely against Michigan State and Northwestern, but who knows?
10. Rutgers (4-3, 1-3)
Trend: -
Last week: 35-32 loss vs. UCLA
This week:
Rutgers is free-falling with three straight losses. Against UCLA, Rutgers offense woke up, but its defense fell asleep. They now have to deal with a cross-country road game against USC.
11. Washington (4-3, 2-2)
Trend: +1
Last week: BYE
This week: at No. 13 Indiana
Washington got two weeks to recuperate and reset after a humiliating loss to Iowa on the road. It will be interesting to see how Steve Belichick’s defense performs against a pass-heavy Indiana offense.
12. Minnesota (4-3, 2-2)
Trend: +1
Last week: BYE
This week: vs. Maryland
Now riding a two-game winning streak, it looks like the Golden Gophers have a decent shot at running the table. The toughest remaining challenge for Minnesota is its home game against No. 3 Penn State in the penultimate regular season week.
13. Michigan State (4-3, 2-2)
Trend: +1
Last week: 32-20 win vs. Iowa
This week: at Michigan
Credit Jonathan Smith for getting his team prepared against a respectable Iowa team. The Spartans now have to defend against a similar style of offense this week against rival Michigan.
Tier 4 - Bottom 5
14. Maryland (4-3, 1-3)
Trend: +2
Last week: 29-28 win vs. USC
This week: at Minnesota
The Terapins move up after putting together their largest fourth-quarter comeback since 2020 in their win against USC.
15. USC (3-4, 1-4)
Trend: -4
Last week: 29-28 loss at Maryland
This week: Is Lincoln Riley on the hot seat? USC’s athletic director, Jen Cohen fired Jimmy Lake at Washington after 13 games when Cohen was Washington’s athletic director. You have to wonder how much leeway Riley has at USC before Cohen (now USC’s athletic director) feels compelled to replace him.
16. Northwestern (3-4, 1-3)
Trend: -2
Last week: 23-3 loss vs. Wisconsin
This week: at Iowa
After hanging 37 points on Maryland, Northwestern managed only three against the Badgers. The era of Northwestern’s temporary lake stadium is over now too. The Wildcats will play their final home games against Ohio State and Illinois at Wrigley Field.
17. UCLA (2-5, 1-4)
Trend: +1
Last week: 35-32 win at Rutgers
This week: BYE
Credit to coach DeShaun Foster for getting his team to compete against a respectable Rutgers team. Are things turning around for the Bruins?
18. Purdue (1-6, 0-4)
Trend: -1
Last week: 35-0 loss vs. No. 2 Oregon
This week: BYE
The Boilermakers fall to last in the power rankings after UCLA climbs out of the gutter with the Bruins’ win over Rutgers.