The Ducks Reign Supreme….for now
We have reached the end of the regular season…and the end of the entire season for six of the teams on this list. Some may be frustrated by that—looking at you Wisconsin. Some are thanking every deity that know of…hi Purdue. But for two thirds of the Big Ten, the march to the post season remains. So here is our end of the regular season power rankings, with one more to come at the close of bowl season/ the playoff.
#1 Oregon Ducks (Previously #1 — Win 49-21 vs Washington)
Oregon got their final blowout and ran the table in their first season in the Big Ten going a perfect 12-0. They avoid a rematch of their toughest game of the season this week in Indy thanks to Michigan and will end up getting Penn State instead. A win and Oregon is the obvious #1 overall seed in the CFP and will host a quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl. A loss and the Ducks get a home game in Eugene in the opening round.
#2 Penn State Nittany Lions (Previously #4 — Win 44-7 vs Maryland)
The Nittany Lions get the jump up to the #2 spot after earning the second Big Ten Championship game spot against Oregon. Is Penn State better than Indiana? We may never know unless they somehow meet in a CFP semifinal. But we give the Nittany Lions the benefit of the boost here and see if they can earn a bye, or if they will be content hosting a CFP quarterfinal in Happy Valley.
#3 Indiana Hoosiers (Previous #3 Win 66-0 vs Purdue)
Indiana obviously lost the head t head to Ohio State, but after last week he Buckeyes need to take a dive. The Hoosiers can CRUSH bad teams, but we have seen them struggle against good ones—or even decent ones in the case of Michigan. They now await where they will head for their opening round playoff game, but it will easily be their second toughest if not toughest game of the year and they will need to show us they belong here and now slowly sinking back to the pack.
#4 Ohio State Buckeyes (Previously #2 Lose 13-10 vs Michigan)
Oh Ryan Day…not like that. A fourth straight loss to Michigan and this one is by far the most embarrassing and painful. Does Day need to lead the Buckeyes to a national title to keep his job? Will that even do it? They Buckeyes still will likely will get a home quarterfinal in Columbus when the pairings are announced on Sunday and if they end up in the right part of the bracket could have a fairly easy run to the semifinals.
#5 #Illinois Fighting Illini (Previously #6 Win 38-28 at Northwestern)
Illinois takes home the Land of Lincoln trophy and finishes the regular season with a 9-3 record. is it possible that Minnesota finally knocking off Brett Bielema is what keeps the Illini out of Playoff contention? Regardless Illinois is off to Florida for a New Years Eve bowl game against a SEC team in what should be an interesting matchup.
#6 Iowa Hawkeyes (Previously #5 — Win 13-10 vs Nebraska)
Iowa barely beats Nebraska in an ugly game and drops a spot because of it, but still will end the season at 8-4. Will the Hawkeyes end up in Florida as well, or will Michigan’s upset win send the Hawkeyes to Nashville instead?
#7 Michigan Wolverines (Previously #8 — Win 13-10 at Ohio State)
Well, looks like the Wolverines could go into Columbus after all. It wasn’t pretty, but they sucked less that Ohio State did and got a huge win for their program, and sets up a great looking run to next season. Will the Florida bowls think the Wolverines did enough and reward them a cush spot over Iowa ? Or will Michigan head to Nashville or NYC.
#8 Minnesota Golden Gophers (Previously #7 Win 24-7 at Wisconsin)
Even I feel really bad about the Gophers going to Madison and winning the axe and dropping a spot—but hey Michigan did something not many people saw coming so even Minnesota’s win slips to the back. But the Axe is coming home, the Gophers finish 7-5 and will hopefully cap off the season making PJ get doused in mayo.
#9 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Previously #10 Win 41-14 at Michigan State)
Rutgers picked off a really nice win to close out the regular season in East Lansing. Sparty needed a win to make a bowl game, but the Scarlet Knights never gave them a chance and dominated the Kirk Ciarocca vs Joe Rossi game. Rutgers is likely headed to Arizona for their bow unless the Big Ten decides to screw the Gophers, which obviously wouldn’t be the first time.
#10 Washington Huskies (Previously #9 — Loss 49-21 at Oregon)
Washington drops a spot after getting smoked by the Ducks but will head back to a bowl after finishing at 6-6. Looks like most projections have them in the Tony the Tiger (former Sun Bowl) against an ACC team. The Holiday Bowl also could be a possibility.
#11 USC Trojans (Previously #13 Lose 49-35 vs Notre Dame)
USC doesn’t deserve to move up two slots after their PIck 6 full loss to the Irish, but they did beat Nebraska and Wisconsin is a sinking ship so here we are. The Trojans make a bowl and look to potentially be headed to Las Vegas for a big name matchup against Texas A&M. The Aggies might win by 2 TDs, but hey, the glitz and glamour would be there.
#12 Nebraska Cornhuskers (Previously #11 Loss 13-10 at Iowa)
Nebraska is our final bowl eligible team slotting in at #12 after a loss to Iowa in painful fashion. Because they are Nebraska and going to a bowl for the first time since Obama was president, they will get sent to a much nicer place than they deserve. Or will they? New York City is nice for Christmas, but playing a bowl game in the Big City a few days after Christmas in a baseball stadium when it is maybe 35 and windy? Well that sounds just like what the Cornhuskers and their fans deserve.
#13 Wisconsin Badgers (Previously #12 Lose 24-7 to Minnesota)
The Badgers started the season 5-1. Then they lost six games in a row including the Axe game to the Gophers last weekend. They snapped a 22 year bowl streak. Then a ton of Badgers entered the portal this week. Things aren’t great in Madison, and might not get better fast with an absolutely brutal schedule in 2025.
#14 Michigan State Spartans (Previously #14 Lose 41-14 vs Rutgers)
One game at home to make a bowl game and you get your butts rocked. Not a great way to end the season, but lots of room for growth in East Lansing.
#15 UCLA Bruins (Previously #15 Win 20-13 vs Fresno State)
UCLA misses a bowl in their first year in the Big Ten but finishes with a win against Fresno State. Definite room for improvement but it won’t be easy especially with non-conference games against Utah and at UNLV.
#16 Northwestern Wildcats (Previously #16 Lose 38-28 vs Illinois)
Northwestern played respectfully down the stretch, but just wasn’t good enough to beat some of the Big Ten’s better teams. Better luck next year?
#17 Maryland Terrapins (Previously #17 Lose 44-7 at Penn State)
Maryland didn’t have a great season, but maybe there is hope? Mike Locksley still has a job and they added some nice pieces in recruiting but the portal will make or break them next year.
#18 Purdue Boilermakers (Previous #18 Lose 66-0 at Indiana)
The season is over. Purdue got beat so bad by Indiana in the finale that they had to fire Ryan Walters. Hudson Card left Texas for….this. The schedule for next year is brutal too, so enjoy those potential wins against Ball State and Southern Illinois, because the rest may be ugly again.