Big Ten action is all buttoned up and put to bed for Week 2 of the season. And while the action was good throughout, it’s possible teams within the conference have more questions than answers heading into the middle of September.

Will Michigan find any stability at the quarterback position? Can Oregon snap out of its early-season funk of close games? Will Iowa ever be relevant offensively? And is it possible USC is the B1G’s 2nd-best team this season?

Okay, some of those questions already have answers. (Sorry Hawkeyes, your offense will never recover.) But for the rest of the league, the next few weeks in September are poised to shape the trajectory for the B1G Championship race and the outlook for the College Football Playoff.

For now, here is how Tradition’s full B1G Power Rankings looking after 2 weeks of the season:

18. Minnesota (1-1)

Last week: vs. Rhode Island, W 48-0

Minnesota registered its first win with Max Brosmer under center, though that win came against FCS-level Rhode Island. The Gophers looked good, but it’s not enough to elevate the program from the 18th spot after the way they looked against UNC and the other results in the conference.

17. UCLA (1-0)

Last week: BYE

16. Purdue (1-0)

Last week: BYE

15. Northwestern (1-1)

Last week: vs. Duke, L 26-20

Northwestern continues to struggle with turnovers, and this time it bit the Wildcats in a tough overtime loss to Duke. That’s one David Braun is going to want back late in the season.

14. Maryland (1-1)

Last week: vs. Michigan State, L 27-24

Billy Edwards Jr. is a bona fide playmaker for the Terrapins at QB, and Tai Felton is a playmaker at receiver. The problem? Maryland’s defense faltered down the stretch, though Mike Locksley succinctly admitted the game plan was to force Aidan Chiles to bet his team in Week 2. Chiles delivered. Maybe it’s that simple this week.

RELATED: Maryland’s odds of reaching another bowl game took a hit with that loss to MSU. Be sure to track all the odds related to the Terrapins with Tradition’s best MD sportsbooks.

13. Indiana (2-0)

Last week: vs. Western Illinois, W 77-3

Curt Cignetti is taking full advantage of a soft schedule early in the season. That’s the good news, but there’s not a lot to learn from the Hoosiers pummeling WIU. Can Indiana use the early season success to lay a foundation of confidence entering B1G play?

12. Wisconsin (2-0)

Last week: vs. South Dakota, W 27-13

Will the Air Raid offense ever fully arrive at Wisconsin? Luke Fickell is 2-0, but the results are scary considering the level of competition the Badgers have faced. We’ll learn a lot — good or bad — this Saturday when Kalen DeBoer brings Alabama to Madison.

11. Illinois (2-0)

Last week: vs. Kansas, W 23-17

Illinois registered its first win over a ranked opponent since 2019 with the upset of No. 19 Kansas Saturday night. Bret Bielema’s squad flipped the script from last season’s matchup, forcing Jayhawk QB Jalon Daniels into some costly mistakes. If Illiniois wants to get back to a bowl game, the Illini needed to win this one to have a shot.

10. Michigan State (2-0)

Last week: at Maryland, W 27-24

Jonathan Smith is 2-0 at Michigan State with both wins coming by a total of 9 points. However, the latest win carries some extra significance as a Big Ten victory — and one that came on the road. Aidan Chiles will continue to have some growing pains, but he is also a difference-maker the way he can push the ball down the field.

RELATED: Michigan State’s odds to eclipse the preseason win total received a major boost with the Week 2 win. Track the latest odds for the Spartans with our favorite Michigan sportsbook apps.

9. Iowa (1-1)

Last week: vs. Iowa, L 20-19

Oh, Iowa. Just when you want to believe in something positive about the Hawkeyes they go and do… that. “That” being a disastrous offensive showing against Iowa State as the Cyclones slowly worked their way back from a 13-0 deficit before eventually drilling a game-winning field goal. Kirk Ferentz must get his offense to play better.

8. Washington (2-0)

Last week: vs. Eastern Michigan, W 30-9

Washington has outscored opponents 65-12 in 2 games so far. That’s how the Huskies should look against that level of competition, but it’s encouraging Will Rogers is completing 78.8% of his passes without an interception to start the season.

7. Rutgers (2-0)

Last week: vs. Akron, W 49-17

Rutgers has played 2 games against lesser opponents, and the Scarlet Knights have rolled in a big way both times. Next up, Rutgers will get a bye to prepare for its first real test: A road trip to face Virginia Tech out of the ACC. It’s a winnable game, but we’ll learn a lot from the result.

6. Nebraska (2-0)

Last week: vs. Colorado, W 28-10

Nebraska finally looks like the team on the rise, now that the Cornhuskers have a QB who can make plays. Dylan Raiola will have some growing pains at some point, partly because he’s not afraid to take a few risks or shots down the field. But based on what we’ve seen, Nebraska will live with a few turnovers in exchange for his ability to make plays while improvising.

5. Michigan (1-1)

Last week: vs. Texas, L 31-12

Michigan only drops to No. 5 on this list, but that’s a mix of respect from last season and a belief that the defense can still wreck the plans of some good teams down the road. Because if it was purely based on the full product on the field, the Wolverines would be dropping heavily. And they might be well down this list by the end of September.

4. USC (2-0)

Last week: vs. Utah State, W 48-0

USC’s Week 1 win against LSU remains one of the best in the B1G so far. And all of a sudden, a road trip to face Michigan down the road looks far more intriguing. The Trojans need to stay focused and take everything in stride, but Lincoln Riley’s team looks good so far.

Tie-2. Penn State (2-0)

Last week: vs. Bowling Green, W 34-27

Penn State, what are we even doing right now? Getting lit up by Connor Bazelak is not going to instill any confidence. If not for that horrendous defense, the Nittany Lions could be in sole possession of 2nd place on this list. But Penn State is here because a couple of other top teams struggled.

Tie-2. Oregon (2-0)

Last week: vs. Boise State, W 37-34

Is Oregon going to wake up and play a complete game any time soon? Or better yet: Are the Ducks capable of playing a complete game? I don’t necessarily ding Oregon too much for this one being a close game because I currently have Boise State as the top Group of 5 team. But the Ducks need a big step forward to prove they can still compete at a very high level.

1. Ohio State (2-0)

Last week: vs. Western Michigan, W 56-0

Ohio State is the team I always expected to end the season in the No. 1 spot here, I just wasn’t sure when the Buckeyes would make their first appearance. Ohio State hasn’t been tested yet — that won’t change in Week 3 — but the Buckeyes look the part. Can they maintain this spot through the heart of the season?

RELATED: The Buckeyes are looking great in the latest Big Ten Championship odds produced by FanDuel. Use Tradition’s best OH sports betting apps to get in on the action.