Wisconsin surges, USC tumbles in our Big Ten football power rankings for Week 9

The Oregon Ducks took care of business on the road at lowly Purdue, capturing a No. 1 ranking in both the AP and Coaches’ polls in the process. With No. 4 Ohio State and No. 3 Penn State sitting idle, No. 13 Indiana remained undefeated with a convincing blowout win over Nebraska.

The Hoosiers are for real, and the top third of the Big Ten is beginning to solidify itself. With five games to go, it’s anyone’s guess who will make it to Indianapolis when the dust settles.

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Here are the Big Ten power rankings for Week 9 from The Oregonian/OregonLive sports staff.

(Voting panel: Ryan Clarke, James Crepea, Aaron Fentress, Sean Meagher, Joel Odom, Bill Oram)

1. NO. 1 OREGON DUCKS (7-0, 4-0)

Poll points: 108 (All six first-place votes)

Last week (1): Beat Purdue 35-0.

This week: vs. No. 20 Illinois, 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday on CBS.

2. NO. 4 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (5-1, 2-1)

Poll points: 100

Last week (2): Idle.

This week: vs. Nebraska, 9 a.m. PT Saturday on Fox.

3. NO. 3 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (6-0, 3-0)

Poll points: 97

Last week (3): Idle.

This week: at Wisconsin, 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday on NBC.

4. NO. 13 INDIANA HOOSIERS (7-0, 4-0)

Poll points: 91

Last week (4): Beat Nebraska 56-7.

This week: vs. Washington, 9 a.m. PT Saturday on Big Ten Network.

5. NO. 20 ILLINOIS (6-1, 3-1)

Poll points: 84

Last week (5): Beat Michigan 21-7.

This week: at No. 1 Oregon, 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday on CBS.

6. WISCONSIN BADGERS (5-2, 3-1)

Poll points: 72

Last week (9): Beat Northwestern 23-3.

This week: vs. No. 3 Penn State, 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday on NBC.

7. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (5-2, 2-2)

Poll points: 70

Last week (6): Lost to Indiana 56-7.

This week: at No. 4 Ohio State, 9 a.m. PT Saturday on Fox.

8. IOWA HAWKEYES (4-3, 2-2)

Poll points: 61

Last week (8): Lost to Michigan State 32-20.

This week: vs. Northwestern, 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday on Big Ten Network.

9. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (4-3, 2-2)

Poll points: 58

Last week (7): Lost to Illinois 21-7.

This week: vs. Michigan State, 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday on Big Ten Network.

10. WASHINGTON HUSKIES (4-3, 2-2)

Poll points: 49

Last week (13): Idle.

This week: at No. 13 Indiana, 9 a.m. PT Saturday on Big Ten Network.

11. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (4-3, 2-2)

Poll points: 45

Last week (14): Beat Iowa 32-20.

This week: at Michigan, 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday on Big Ten Network.

12. MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (4-3, 2-2)

Poll points: 44

Last week (12): Idle.

This week: vs. Maryland, 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday on FS1.

T13. RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (4-3, 1-3)

Poll points: 40

Last week (11): Lost to UCLA 35-32.

This week: at USC, 8 p.m. PT Friday on Fox.

T13. USC TROJANS (3-4, 1-4)

Poll points: 40

Last week (10): Lost to Maryland 29-28.

This week: vs. Rutgers, 8 p.m. PT Friday on Fox.

15. MARYLAND TERRAPINS (4-3, 1-3)

Poll points: 29

Last week (16): Beat USC 29-28.

This week: at Minnesota, 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday on FS1.