The latest Big Ten Power Rankings from On3, utilizing the On3 Massey Ratings, are in after Week 10 of the college football regular season.
The On3 Massey Ratings – which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated high school sports team rankings since 1995 – rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.
With a couple of interesting results and a myriad of wild games, the college football world as a whole was shaken up, including the Big Ten’s group of teams. Here’s where they all stand after Week 10, and ahead of what should be an awesome Week 11.
Oregon took their undefeated record on the road to Ann Arbor this past weekend, and they wiped the floor with the reining champions of the college football world. The Michigan Wolverines were no match for the Ducks, as they won 38-17 on Saturday afternoon.
Moving ahead to Week 11, Oregon will look to reach double-digit wins this coming weekend. They’ll return home to Eugene, and welcome the Maryland Terrapins to town.
Ohio State secured their biggest win of the season this past weekend. The Buckeyes waltzed into Happy Valley and once again crushed Penn State’s dreams, defeating the Nittany Lions by seven in Week 10.
After arguably their best performance of the year, Ryan Day’s squad will return home to Columbus in Week 11. The Purdue Boilermakers are on the docket, and the Buckeyes will look to continue sharpening their tools for a potential championship run in 2024.
Penn State continues to win almost all of their games, but falling just short against teams like Ohio State. Patience may be running thin with James Franklin after this one, as the Nittany Lions were expected by many to take the next step, and they couldn’t do it in Week 10.
Regardless of what transpired this past weekend, Penn State’s goals remain ahead of them. If they win out, starting with Washington in Week 11, the Nittany Lions will likely be College Football Playoff bound, even though Ohio State remains their bugaboo.
Indiana continued their undefeated season in Week 10, advancing to 9-0 with a drubbing of Michigan State. The Hoosiers walked into East Lansing and left victorious, to the tune of a 37-point win for Curt Cignetti’s squad.
Looking ahead, Indiana has dreams of making the College Football Playoff, but the schedule won’t lighten up for the Hoosiers. A date with Michigan is on the docket for Week 11, and a matchup with Ohio State is looming large, as well.
Michigan continued their uneven play throughout the 2024 campaign this past weekend. The Wolverines couldn’t make a dent in Oregon’s perfect record, as the Ducks defeated them by three touchdowns in Ann Arbor.
Moving ahead, Michigan will face another undefeated squad in Week 11 in the Indiana Hoosiers. Not many had that on their bingo cards for 2024, but a victory over a team they’ve dominated in the past would go a long way towards restoring some good feelings in Ann Arbor.
6. Iowa (6-3)
Many expected Wisconsin’s trip to play Iowa would be a low-scoring, hard-fought affair. Well, the hard-fought part was correct, at least for the Hawkeyes. They sent the Badgers back to Madison with a 32-point loss.
In Week 11, Iowa will take their show on the road to the West Coast, where they’ll meet a suddenly surging UCLA team. The Bruins have shown some fight over the past couple of weeks, and a Friday night matchup could be must-see.
Minnesota continues to be one of the best kept secrets in the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers won their sixth game of the season this past weekend, going on the road to douse Illinois’ fire with an eight-point win.
Another winnable game is on the schedule for Minnesota in Week 11. They’ll face Rutgers in a showdown between P.J. Fleck and Greg Schiano, the latter being the former’s former employer. How’s that for drama.
8. USC (4-5)
USC continues to be ranked within the top ten, but how much longer they’re here remains to be seen. The Trojans fell once again, for the fifth time on the season, against Washington this past weekend. It was a close one, as the Huskies only one by five, but Lincoln Riley is being paid to win, and win a lot, and that hasn’t been the case in the Big Ten yet.
Luckily for the reeling USC team, they’ll have a bye in Week 11. The Trojans will be back in action in Week 12, when they’ll be welcoming Nebraska to town on November 16.
Wisconsin felt some major disappointment this past weekend against Iowa. The Badgers had a chance to secure bowl-eligibility and defeated one of their Big Ten rivals, and they blew it, instead losing by 32 points to the Hawkeyes.
Luke Fickell’s team will have to look itself in the mirror during their bye week in Week 11. The Badgers are back in action in Week 12, but they’ll have a tall test, welcoming Oregon to Madison on November 16.
Jedd Fisch secured his biggest win as Washington’s leader yet in Week 10. The Huskies defeated USC by five this past weekend, moving to 5-4 on the season, and re-entering the top ten in On3’s rankings, which utilizes the On3 Massey Ratings.
Washington hasn’t been able to win back-to-back games since they started 2-0 on the season. It won’t be easy to do so this coming weekend, as they’re facing Penn State, but hey, it’s not impossible.
Big Ten Power Rankings: 11-16
11. Illinois (6-3)
12. UCLA (3-5)
13. Nebraska (5-4)
14. Michigan State (4-5)
15. Maryland (4-4)
16. Rutgers (4-4)
17. Northwestern (4-5)
18. Purdue (1-7)
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, UCLA and Northwestern won their showdowns with Nebraska and Purdue respectively, while a couple of teams enjoyed a week off, such as Rutgers and Maryland. They’ll be back on the horse in Week 11, while Purdue will be hoping to bounce back with a wins, as Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan State enjoy a bye week.
