Big Ten Power Rankings following Week 1

With Sunday’s primetime game featuring USC, Week 1 in the new-look Big Ten is officially in the books! And what a weekend it was.

Beginning on Thursday, the B1G saw 18 games spread across the first weekend with some new faces and familiar mainstays alike. It sets the stage for what shapes up to be a race to Indianapolis and the B1G Championship Game unlike any we’ve seen before.

The best games of the year are still to come, but Tradition’s B1G Power Rankings are getting updated with one game for every team in the books. Take a look:

18. Minnesota (0-1)

Last week: vs. UNC, L 19-17

Minnesota had a Power 4 opponent in UNC, so there’s no shame in being the only B1G team to lose in Week 1. However, the offense is incredibly worrisome, and missing a game-winning kick that could have changed the narrative adds salt in the wound.

17. UCLA (1-0)

Last week: vs. Hawaii, W 16-13

A win is a win. That should be DeShaun Foster’s approach to his inaugural head coaching season. But that doesn’t change the fact UCLA looked scary in the season opener. Things will only get tougher from here.

16. Purdue (1-0)

Last week: vs. Indiana State, W 49-0

Hudson Card was masterful, and the defense looked like it was supposed to against the FCS opponent. If the Boilermakers do anything close to this against better competition, it will be a pleasant season for Ryan Walters.

15. Michigan State (1-0)

Last week: vs. FAU, W 16-10

I warned you this one might be closer than expected. That’s what can happen when you have 2 veteran coaches squaring off and a QB making his first career start. Ultimately, the Spartans secured the win, and that’s all that matters for Jonathan Smith and company.

14. Indiana (1-0)

Last week: vs. FIU, W 31-7

Curt Cignetti has to be pleased with his team. The Hoosiers registered explosive plays on offense, secured a takeaway on defense and limited FIU’s run game. A textbook debut and season opener.

13. Northwestern (1-0)

Last week: vs. Miami (OH), W 13-6

Northwestern will live dangerously. The Wildcats had 2 turnovers and just 1 touchdown in their debut at the lakeside makeshift stadium. Northwestern will probably need to win some ugly games this season, and Saturday was the first.

12. Illinois (1-0)

Last week: vs. Eastern Illinois, W 45-0

The Luke Altmyer-to-Pat Bryant connection is in midseason form for Illinois. Kaden Feagin also delivered a 100-yard outing and has a chance to solidify his spot as the go-to RB. That would greatly help the Illini offense rebound into form this season.

11. Wisconsin (1-0)

Last week: vs. Western Michigan, W 28-14

Tyler Van Dyke did not “wow” in his Wisconsin debut, but he did enough to rally the Badgers with 18 points after halftime. Wisconsin did have 8 players register a reception in the opener. That’s a stat that will inspire some hope the unit can iron out the kinks.

10. Maryland (1-0)

Last week: vs. UConn, W 50-7

UConn’s football team is not on par with Dan Hurley’s basketball program. Still, Billy Edwards Jr. looked great in his first game since landing the starting QB job post-Taulia Tagovailoa. If he maintains some level of consistency, the Terrapins should be able to book a return trip to bowl season.

9. Washington (1-0)

Last week: vs. Weber State, W 35-3

Jedd Fisch’s Washington debut delivered the kind of balanced effort he wants to see. Will Rogers was 20-for-26 throwing the ball and Jonah Coleman rushed for 127 yards. One potential concern is a lack of defensive takeaways, but it’s a solid debut all things considered.

8. Nebraska (1-0)

Last week: vs. UTEP, W 40-7

All eyes were on Dylan Raiola, and he aced his first test for Nebraska. However, don’t sleep on the difference Nebraska has at wide receiver coming out of last season. Isaiah Neyor and Jahmal Banks looked like true impact players in the season opener.

7. Rutgers (1-0)

Last week: vs. Howard, W 44-7

Rutgers checked a number of key boxes for Greg Schiano in the opener. Kyle Monangai rushing for 140+ yards (165 overall), non-offensive points were scored (a pick-6), and the team got an efficient performance from the QB (3 touchdowns, no turnovers and 43 rushing yards from Athan Kaliakmanis). The Scarlet Knights looked just right in the opener.

6. Iowa (1-0)

Last week: vs. Illinois State, W 40-0

Iowa is the one program where hitting 40 points is noteworthy, regardless of the opponent. The last time the Hawkeyes hit 40 points came against Western Michigan last season, but that was their only game with 30+ points on the year. The good news? Cade McNamara looked healthy and mobile.

5. USC (1-0)

Last week: vs. LSU (in Las Vegas), W 27-20

Does USC have a functioning defense? It appeared that way in the season opener for the Trojans with an ability to get off the field in key moments of an instant classic victory over LSU. I won’t fault anyone who feels USC should be higher on this list, but it’s still early and there is a chance the Trojans climb higher in the near future.

4. Penn State (1-0)

Last week: at West Virginia, W 34-12

A case can be made Penn State’s win on the road was the best win by a B1G team in Week 1. That could deserve slotting the Nittany Lions higher on this list, but I still feel okay with the arrangement of the top 4. For now.

3. Oregon (1-0)

Last week: vs. Idaho, W 24-14

The good news: Dillon Gabriel looked like a Heisman contender, going 41-for-49 for 380 yards in the passing game. The bad news: Idaho genuinely made this one a game to the very end, and that’s hard to fathom for a team that was 2-for-12 on 3rd downs with 217 yards of offense. A fluke or cause for concern? We’ll find out as the season progresses, but if you were high on the Ducks last week, you should still be high on the Ducks for now. (And I am.)

2. Ohio State (1-0)

Last week: vs Akron, W 52-6

Ohio State fans who became accustomed to slow starts last season had to feel an uneasy pit in their stomachs on Saturday. But this one truly felt different. After shaking off the rust of his first Buckeye starter, Will Howard was efficient and accurate with the football. Jeremiah Smith looks like the real deal, and the defense is poised to be elite.

1. Michigan (1-0)

Last week: vs. Fresno State, W 30-10

Michigan did not look like the top team in the B1G this week. I get that. But the defending champs still managed to pull out a 20-point win by the time thew final whistle blew. If this week goes as I expect it, we’ll have a new No. 1 coming out of Week 2. For now, the Wolverines stay put.