Big Ten Power Rankings, Week 9: Ohio State, UCLA lead way as uncertainty lingers

“Is anybody truly actually good in college football this season?”

This is the final query I get requested greater than some other when individuals discover out what I do for a residing, and after eight weeks of the season there are nonetheless only a few groups I really feel snug answering affirmatively about. In the Big Ten, that record seemingly grows shorter by the week as accidents pile up at key positions and groups who had been supposedly contenders proceed to lose in beautiful style.

It’s becoming for the convention’s long-time identification that I’m principally assured in a handful of defenses to be genuinely elite. Ohio State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan appear to suit the invoice, and UCLA’s protection is getting into that blend with a midseason turnaround that has stored the Bruins undefeated. 

The downside is, none of these groups have an offense I belief — with some worse than others. The Buckeyes and Hoosiers have elite expertise on the ability positions, however quarterback play is a significant query getting into the stretch run of the common season. Josh Hoover has confirmed to be a major downgrade for Indiana, and Ohio State now faces actual uncertainty with a backup quarterback. 

UCLA was dominant early within the season on the energy of the nation’s finest speeding assault and a high-powered offense. But with the quarterback run risk neutralized by Nico Iamaleava’s absence, they have been contained just lately and have began to lean on their protection and grind out video games like a superb Big Ten crew ought to. 

Iowa is identical Iowa they have been for many years, and Minnesota and Wisconsin are in that very same class. Michigan is the worst of the bunch offensively, and watching them attempt to rating touchdowns is a legitimately painful expertise. 

The one crew zigging when others zag is Northwestern, which has constructed one of the vital enjoyable offenses within the nation underneath Chip Kelly, however questions on their ceiling persist, as they’ve but to face the convention’s high groups (which is about to alter). 

The results of all that uncertainty is without doubt one of the most enjoyable and thrilling seasons of Big Ten soccer to look at. It feels like several crew is able to profitable or shedding on any given week, and for as a lot enjoyable as it’s from the skin to look at them cannibalize themselves, the league workplace needs to be pressured every Saturday watching groups get rid of themselves from College Football Playoff rivalry. 

Typically, by Week 9 now we have a superb really feel for which groups might be actual title contenders in January, however proper now there are extra questions than solutions on the high of the game — and that is very true within the Big Ten. 

1. Ohio State

Last week: 1

Ryan Day has stored his quarterback choice near the vest this week between Luke Fahey (who got here in as the backup in opposition to Indiana) and Tavien St. Clair. We’ll discover out Saturday who will get the beginning, whether or not Ohio State performs each QBs, and which QB can function the Buckeyes’ offense finest in opposition to a USC protection that has been very pleasant to opposing quarterbacks this season. The Ohio State protection can hold them within the combine for a title even with restricted quarterback play, however Saturday goes to be telling of simply how a lot this offense will slip in Julian Sayin’s absence. 

2. UCLA

Last week: 2

The Bruins’ offense has cooled off significantly since they had been piling up factors to start out the season, and there is actual purpose for concern concerning the speeding assault that has sputtered since Nico Iamaleava’s damage. That stated, the protection continues to impress and appears miles higher than they did initially of the season, and Ty Dieffenbach has been adequate by way of the air to get them two extra wins. Nevada this week ought to current alternatives for the offense to get again on monitor earlier than hitting the stretch run of the Big Ten season at 8-0 barring one thing unexpected on Saturday.  

3. Northwestern

Last week: 4

The Wildcats steamrolled Rutgers, which, on its face, does not imply a lot, however for a program that just lately sat beneath the Scarlet Knights on the Big Ten totem pole, caring for enterprise in opposition to dangerous groups with ease is a significant step. Northwestern begins a difficult closing stretch of the season with a visit out to Eugene for a less-spooky-than-usual Halloween recreation in opposition to Oregon this Saturday, the place we’ll study much more. The Wildcats are quick canine on the street, however a win in opposition to a Ducks crew limping in would additional show how excessive David Braun has raised the ground in Evanston. 

4. Indiana

Last week: 3

Indiana gained final week, however the offensive efficiency within the Big House laid naked the problems they’ve had with Josh Hoover throwing the ball. There are occasional large performs from Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, however Hoover’s incapacity to constantly full passes and transfer the chains has made this Indiana offense a chore to look at. The operating recreation is, as a byproduct, much less efficient as a result of opposing defenses can play downhill with much less concern of getting beat on the cross. The excellent news is the protection remains to be a hellacious bunch, and that offers them a shot in opposition to anybody. However, that is undoubtedly not final yr’s Indiana and matchups with Minnesota and USC the following two weeks will current two very completely different exams for Curt Cignetti’s bunch. 

5. Wisconsin

Last week: 8

If there was any doubt left that Luke Fickell was going to stay the coach at Wisconsin, that was eliminated with the Badgers’ 24-7 win over USC on Saturday night time. That was Fickell’s most interesting hour in Madison, as the Badgers’ protection had the Trojans’ offense in hell all night time, and the offense did its job by taking part in complementary soccer and ending good drives off with touchdowns quite than area targets. I nonetheless do not know what to make of this crew’s ceiling, which feels pretty low with Colton Joseph at quarterback, a restricted passer. That stated, the ground has been raised significantly, and Wisconsin as soon as once more has an actual identification as a dominant defensive crew, which is de facto the way to the hearts of Badgers followers. Now they head off to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes in a recreation that would simply be gained if both crew can rating two touchdowns. 

6. Minnesota

Last week: T11

The Gophers gained the Floyd of Rosedale in the one way that large pig needs to be gained: a 13-10 masterpiece of particular groups and protection. It wasn’t fairly soccer, but it surely was traditional Big Ten soccer. With the win, P.J. Fleck collects one other rivalry win and is inching in direction of among the finest seasons in latest reminiscence for the Gophers. The upcoming schedule is difficult, but in addition presents alternatives for Minnesota to place collectively a genuinely implausible yr. First up, they journey to Indiana for an additional recreation that needs to be a defensive wrestle, given what the Hoosiers confirmed this previous week.

7. Iowa

Last week: 5

After Iowa beat Michigan, there was quite a lot of speak about how straightforward their remaining schedule was, which appeared to depart out a essential piece of the puzzle: that is Iowa soccer. This isn’t a crew that simply goes out and beats up on dangerous groups. Every recreation, in opposition to an amazing or mediocre opponent, feels about the identical. That makes the Hawkeyes a risk to upset anybody at any time, as a result of if they will grind the sport right down to a glacial tempo and make slightly magic occur on protection and particular groups, it flips of their favor. The downside is, there is no different gear to go to, so once they face a crew like Minnesota that additionally needs to play the very same recreation, it turns into a coin flip. On Saturday, Iowa misplaced that and needed to watch the Gophers carry that large, lovely bronze pig off the sphere. Now they have back-to-back video games with Wisconsin and Northwestern to cope with, which can really feel very related regardless of the end result. 

8. Nebraska

Last week: 9

The Huskers have had a bye week to determine what went incorrect within the fourth quarter in Eugene and to attempt to flip the web page after back-to-back heartbreaking losses. The Washington Huskies roll into city off a bye and feeling significantly better about themselves, however Nebraska desperately wants this win to get to 6-2 and settle issues down. Another second-half collapse would not sit properly with the Huskers trustworthy, and with three winnable video games earlier than a tricky remaining two, Matt Rhule actually wants his crew to get proper and rip off one other profitable streak. 

9. USC

Last week: 7

Lincoln Riley’s Trojans simply can not assist however step on just a few rakes through the Big Ten season. This time it was a street journey to Madison the place Jayden Maiava struggled, the run recreation actually went backward, and the USC protection could not hold Wisconsin out of the top zone within the pink zone. It’s an all-too-familiar sight for USC followers, and whereas, at 6-2, the season’s not over, the upcoming schedule is totally brutal. They get Ohio State at dwelling this week, which is possibly the perfect time to get the Buckeyes of their first recreation with out Julian Sayin, however they’ve two extra top-10 groups in Indiana and UCLA left — with a free house for the Maryland recreation in between. Riley desperately must go 9-3 to keep away from actual sizzling seat speak selecting up this winter, and that is going to be an uphill climb with this protection. 

10. Washington

Last week: T11

Minnesota breaking out of the center pack means Washington strikes one spot forward of Purdue off its win two weeks in the past. The Huskies are in Lincoln on Saturday night time to face a Nebraska squad limping in off back-to-back losses, and this might be a essential recreation for each groups this season. A win for the Huskies will get them to 5-3 and inching in direction of a .500 document in convention play after a woeful begin to the Big Ten slate. A loss, nonetheless, drops them deeper into the underside half of the convention standings and makes the ultimate 4 video games a anxious battle for bowl eligibility. 

11. Purdue

Last week: T11

Purdue had a bye week to lick their wounds from the Washington recreation and now look to get again on monitor with a street journey to Penn State. The offense has been rolling and can see the Nittany Lions protection as a possibility to get proper after some struggles in opposition to the Huskies. The protection has been spotty for Purdue this season, however Rocco Becht has been vulnerable to turnovers. If they will apply some strain and be prepared to leap on errors, they will decide up one other high quality street win in convention play. 

12. Illinois

Last week: 14

Big win for the Illini final week to calm some nerves among the many fan base. The most encouraging a part of the win was the way the protection appeared, and even with Oregon’s offense putrid because the USC recreation, that wasn’t a efficiency Illinois had appeared able to in opposition to any crew, no matter type or expertise, previous to the bye week. Now the Illini look to show that right into a profitable streak as they journey to College Park to tackle Maryland this weekend. A win there and the vibes may be all of the way again, whereas a surprising loss to the Terps with an interim coach would undo all of the goodwill the Oregon win supplied. 

13. Oregon

Last week: 6

I’ve received to take some accountability with the Ducks and put my hand up and admit I used to be nonetheless letting preseason expectations cloud my judgment on Oregon up by way of this previous week. That’s not the case anymore after a whole no-show in Champaign in opposition to Illinois. This crew is mainly Michigan with a bunch of various jersey mixtures at this level. We’ll see what a coordinator change does for them, however with Dante Moore formally out for the season as he works again from his concussion, this offense hasn’t proven any life underneath both Dylan Raiola or Brock Thomas (other than the USC recreation in opposition to a protection that is without doubt one of the worst within the convention). This is now a misplaced season for the Ducks, and the strain shifts to Dan Lanning to determine his coordinator state of affairs going into 2027. 

14. Michigan

Last week: 10

The good vibes round Tommy Carr lasted precisely one week earlier than Indiana’s protection introduced a chilly dose of actuality. In spite of a tough outing from Carr, the Wolverines nonetheless had an opportunity late to beat the Hoosiers, and if it weren’t for a catastrophic play-action name on the objective line (and a subsequent missed area objective), we may be speaking about how Michigan’s protection carried them to a shocking upset. That protection proved it is legitimately elite and may hold them within the recreation with most anybody. The downside is that Carr hasn’t mounted the offense’s issues, which clearly prolong past Bryce Underwood. 

15. Rutgers

Last week: 15

Rutgers received a dose of actuality on Saturday as they received blown out by Northwestern in Evanston, however the Scarlet Knights have an amazing alternative to get a second Big Ten win this week once they host Michigan State. A win over Pat Fitzgerald and firm would settle down Greg Schiano’s seat — though the cash makes it almost unattainable for him to get fired this yr anyway — and affirm that Rutgers is genuinely bettering as this season wears on. 

16. Penn State

Last week: 16

Matt Campbell could have spent the bye week attempting to get the Nittany Lions’ protection ready for a high-powered Purdue assault, whereas additionally priming Rocco Becht and the offense for a possibility in opposition to a Boilermakers protection that may be gettable. In a yr with a really pleasant schedule, Campbell has to get just a few wins coming dwelling. A loss at dwelling to Purdue would solely add to his stress in Year 1 and would make it extremely unlikely the Nittany Lions see a bowl recreation this winter. 

17. Michigan State

Last week: 17

The script drive at UCLA could not have gone higher for the Spartans and freshman quarterback Kayd Coffman. Unfortunately, that landing drive was the one time they scored, watching as UCLA slowly pulled away for a 28-10 win. This week the Spartans head to the opposite coast to face Rutgers in probably the most winnable recreation left on Michigan State’s schedule. A win would give Pat Fitzgerald no less than one thing to construct off of, however a loss could be demoralizing for a program determined to point out indicators of progress. 

18. Maryland

Last week: 18

Misery loves firm, and Maryland is no less than now not the one Power Four program to fireside their coach after NC State and Baylor adopted their lead this previous weekend. That’s about all of the Terps have going for them in the mean time, however coming off the bye week, they are going to welcome Illinois to city on Halloween to see if they will discover slightly interim coach bounce within the second half of the season.