The latest Big Ten Power Rankings from On3, utilizing the On3 Massey Ratings, are in after Week 8 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 upsets and a ton of fascinating results, 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 8, and ahead of what should be an awesome Week 9.
Oregon followed up their huge win over Ohio State with a win this past Friday against Purdue in West Lafayette. Jordan James found the end zone twice during the contest with the Boilermakers, rushing for 50 yards.
The Ducks’ matchup with Illinois wasn’t originally expected to be a high profile showdown, but it’s one of the better games in Week 9. Oregon can continue adding to their impeccable resume with a win against the 6-1 Fighting Illini.
Ohio State enjoyed a much needed bye week after falling to Oregon in Eugene in Week 7. The Buckeyes were able to watch from afar and regroup in Week 8, and prepare for a stretch run where they have designs on being the last team standing.
They’ll return to Columbus this weekend, where Ohio State will welcome Nebraska to town. The Cornhuskers are coming off a 56-7 drubbing at the hands of Indiana, so the game doesn’t have as much juice as originally thought.
Penn State advanced to 6-0 following their overtime victory against USC in Week 7, and they enjoyed a bye week in Week 8. The Nittany Lions watched as some of the top teams in college football fell, strengthening their standing while not even playing a game.
In Week 9, Penn State has a massive showdown with Wisconsin on the docket. The Badgers have looked strong over the past couple of weeks, and at 5-2, they won’t be an easy task to overcome for the Nittany Lions.
Indiana continues to be one of the best stories in all of college football. The Hoosiers continued their undefeated season in Week 8, defeated Nebraska by 49 points, putting the hurt on the Cornhuskers.
They’re starting to get the respect they deserve. Indiana continues to move up the rankings, and ESPN will bring College GameDay to Bloomington ahead of their clash with Washington in Week 9.
Michigan fans are still enamored with the fact that they won last season’s championship, and hopefully that’s distracting them from what we’ve witnessed in 2024. It hasn’t been smooth sailing at all for the Wolverines under Sherrone Moore.
The team fell to 4-3 after an emphatic performance by Illinois over the weekend, as the Fighting Illini stifled the Michigan offense to the tune of a 21-7 win. The Wolverines will hope to get back on track in Week 9 against Michigan State.
Illinois advanced to 6-1 on the season in Week 8 by virtue of one of their biggest wins in recent memory. The Fighting Illini took care of business against Michigan, sending the Wolverines packing with a 14-point loss.
Now, if Illinois can follow it up with a win in Week 9 in Eugene against Oregon, the hype will really begin to reach insane levels. The Ducks are the best team in college football at the moment, and a win would be a seminal moment for the Fighting Illini.
Wisconsin only scored 23 points in Week 8, but it was in a dominating win against Northwestern. The Badgers completely stifled the Wildcats, and the game was never truly in doubt for Luke Fickell’s team.
They’ll return home to Camp Randall in Week 9. The Penn State Nittany Lions will be coming to town, and if Wisconsin can pull the upset against one of the best teams in the country, the sky is the limit for the Badgers.
8. USC (3-4)
USC continues to be one of the more disappointing teams in the nation. The Trojans started off their campaign with a win over LSU, but it’s been far from smooth sailing ever since.
The team suffered their fourth loss of the season in College Park against Maryland in Week 8. USC will be looking to get back on track against a reeling Rutgers team in Week 9.
9. Iowa (4-3)
Iowa was riding high after their Week 7 drubbing of Washington inside Kinnick Stadium. Their bubble was bursted by Michigan State in Week 8, as the Spartans defeated the Hawkeyes by 12.
At 4-3, Iowa will return home in Week 9. Northwestern will be their opponent, so it’s a winnable game, and one the Hawkeyes must have if they want to get their season back on track.
Washington finally got a break from their rollercoaster season in Week 8. The Huskies enjoyed their bye week, as they gear up for the stretch run in the Big Ten.
A huge game is on the docket for Washington in Week 9. They’ll travel to Bloomington, as the Huskies are taking on undefeated Indiana with a chance to upend the Hoosiers’ miraculous start to 2024.
Big Ten Power Rankings: 11-16
11. Minnesota (4-3)
12. Nebraska (5-2)
13. Michigan State (4-3)
14. Maryland (4-3)
15. Rutgers (4-3)
16. UCLA (2-5)
17. Northwestern (3-4)
18. Purdue (1-6)
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, Michigan State, Maryland and UCLA captured huge victories, with the Bruins getting their first conference win since making their move from the Pac-12. It wasn’t as fruitful as a weekend for Nebraska, Rutgers, Northwestern and Purdue, as they’ll hope to get back on the horse and rebound in Week 9 after a disappointing Week 8.
