The power rankings are feeling good this week. The leaves are turning, the weather is autumnal and the football is good. Mostly.

So, we're going to keep it positive here, across the board. This week's ranking will attempt to find the silver lining in every cloud, even the stormy ones, for all 18 Big Ten teams.

What is, for you, The Fan Of A Big Ten Football Team, the best-case scenario, as we approach the last month of the regular season? Well ...

1. Ohio State (6-1, 4-0)

Last week (1): Bye

This week: at USC, Oct. 31

What to know: These first few are pretty straightforward. Ohio State's best case is that the bye prepared Luke Fahey to spam the life out of Jeremiah Smith, and with their most difficult games in the rear view, the Buckeyes win out and return to Indianapolis.

2. Indiana (7-1, 4-1)

Last week (2): 13-6 win (OT) at Michigan

This week: Minnesota, Oct. 31

What to know: The defense remains dominant, Josh Hoover gets healthy and gets his offense back on track. Indiana wins out and returns to Indianapolis.

3. UCLA (7-0, 5-0)

Last week (4): 28-10 win vs. Michigan State

This week: Nevada, Oct. 31

What to know: Ty Dieffenbach continues to settle in behind center, the rushing attack remains dominant and the Bruins, facing a wholly manageable last month, win out and make the trip to the Circle City.

4. Northwestern (6-1, 3-1)

Last week (5): 42-14 win vs. Rutgers

This week: at Oregon, Oct. 31

What to know: Aidan Chiles uses this weekend's trip to Oregon to announce his dark-horse Heisman candidacy, and despite a loss in Columbus in November, the Wildcats finish 10-2 and make the College Football Playoff.

5. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1)

Last week (8): 24-7 win vs. Southern Cal

This week: at Iowa, Oct. 31

What to know: Luke Fickell's defense does enough to win in Iowa City. The Badgers use Rutgers, Maryland and Purdue to get right for Minnesota, win their rivalry game and grab the CFP's last at-large bid.

6. Iowa (5-2, 2-2)

Last week (3): 13-10 loss at Minnesota

This week: Wisconsin, Oct. 31

What to know: The Hawkeyes split their next two games, home to Wisconsin and at Northwestern, before winning out and landing another sunny spot bowl berth. Iowa beats a disinterested SEC team to finish Kirk Ferentz's first 10-win season in five years.

7. Minnesota (5-2, 3-1)

Last week (10): 13-10 win vs. Iowa

This week: at Indiana, Oct. 31

What to know: The Gophers fight one out in Bloomington and come up just short of beating top-five Indiana, then return home to upset UCLA and end the Bruins' dream run. Wins over Penn State and Wisconsin land P.J. Fleck's team in the ReliaQuest Bowl, which it wins, because that's what Fleck does in bowl games.

8. Nebraska (5-2, 2-2)

Last week (9): Bye

This week: Washington, Oct. 31

What to know: The Cornhuskers run behind the impressive synergy between their offensive coordinator and quarterback. They win three in a row, then upset Ohio State in Lincoln for Matt Rhule's signature win before doing the same in Iowa City a week later. At 10-2, they're living on the playoff bubble and watching Selection Sunday with interest.

9. Oregon (4-3, 2-2)

Last week (6): 21-10 loss at Illinois

This week: Northwestern, Oct. 31

What to know: The change at coordinator relieves enough pressure to beat Northwestern. Dan Lanning rescues the back end of his season by picking and sticking with next season's starting quarterback, planting the seeds of 2027 in 2026.

10. Southern Cal (6-2, 3-2)

Last week (7): 24-7 loss at Wisconsin

This week: Ohio State, Oct. 31

What to know: Lincoln Riley gets the scalp he needs this weekend, beating the Buckeyes, before repeating the feat against offensively challenged Indiana in Bloomington. A rivalry weekend win over UCLA gets the Trojans into the back end of the 12-team field.

11. Illinois (4-3, 2-2)

Last week (14): 21-10 win vs. Oregon

This week: at Maryland, Oct. 31

What to know: Freshman QB Michael Clayton II builds on two encouraging performances. Illinois beats Maryland and Nebraska, before playing spoiler with a win at UCLA. Bret Bielema's team does the same at Northwestern to cap the season, winning eight games and keeping the rival Wildcats out of the playoff.

12. Washington (4-3, 1-3)

Last week (11): Bye

This week: at Nebraska, Oct. 31

What to know: The quarterback carousel settles on Elijah Brown for the rest of the season, and he gives the Huskies hope for the future by winning four of his last five. Freshmen and sophomores at the skill positions give Washington a way forward out of this season.

13. Michigan (4-3, 1-3)

Last week (13): 13-6 loss (OT) vs. Indiana

This week: at Rutgers, Oct. 31

What to know: A big win at Rutgers boosts Tommy Carr's confidence, as the offense grows around him. Michigan gets bowl eligible with wins over the Scarlet Knights and rival Michigan State, before putting an almighty scare into UCLA in the Big House. That sets up a fascinating matchup of true freshman quarterbacks in Columbus.

14. Purdue (3-4, 2-2)

Last week (12): Bye

This week: at Penn State, Oct. 31

What to know: Ryan Browne leads Purdue to wins over Penn State and Maryland, then throws three touchdown passes in a senior day upset of Wisconsin. The Boilermakers go bowling.

Must read: Faith, family, football: How Purdue running back became one of toughest in country to tackle

15. Penn State (3-4, 0-4)

Last week (15): Bye

This week: Purdue, Oct. 31

What to know: Beating Purdue steadies the ship. Penn State loses at Washington before winning out from there, beating Minnesota, Rutgers and Maryland to get to seven wins.

16. Michigan State (2-6, 0-5)

Last week (17): 28-10 loss at UCLA

This week: Bye

What to know: The bye week gets Alessio Milivojevic healthy, and the Spartans deepen Michigan's woes with an upset win in Ann Arbor that recasts Pat Fitzgerald's first season in East Lansing. A last-week win over Rutgers gives Fitzgerald some momentum into the offseason.

17. Rutgers (2-5, 1-3)

Last week (16): 42-14 loss at Northwestern

This week: Michigan, Oct. 31

What to know: Rutgers plays spoiler late, beating Michigan and Michigan State at home. Antwan Raymond and KJ Duff announce they're coming back to Piscataway in 2027.

18. Maryland (2-5, 0-4)

Last week (18): Bye

This week: Illinois, Oct. 31

What to know: Using its head start, Maryland finds a coach that can secure commitment from Malik Washington and a handful of promising underclassmen to return for 2027, then generates enough momentum to let Maryland play more seriously in turning over the roster in January.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Big Ten football power rankings look at best-case scenarios for each time

Source: Yahoo Sports