Big Ten Football Power Rankings: See how far Ohio State tumbles

Week 10 of the Big Ten football season was highlighted by the return of the Oregon Ducks. While Dan Lanning’s squad likely isn’t back in the CFP picture, they ended Ohio State’s chances in an incredibly satisfying manner. Michigan also lost again, but we don’t need to talk about that.

With just a few weeks left in the regular season, here are our latest Big Ten Power Rankings.

10. Minnesota Golden Gophers: 5-4, Lost to UCLA 20-34, LW: 9

Minnesota mostly bottled up UCLA’s offense, only giving up eight completed passes to Ty Dieffenbach. Unfortunately for the Golden Gophers, those eight passes went for 303 yards and three touchdowns. Minnesota has had an up-and-down year, and that looks likely to continue.

9. Illinois Fighting Illini: 6-3, Def. Nebraska 24-13, LW: 13

I had somewhat written off Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini when they started the season 2-3 with losses to Duke, Ohio State and Purdue. However, Illinois has rattled off four wins in a row over Michigan State, Oregon, Maryland and Nebraska. I don’t think this team is good necessarily, but they warrant top-10 consideration in these rankings given how they’ve played in recent weeks.

8. Northwestern Wildcats: 6-3, Lost to Iowa 10-24, LW: 6

Northwestern being in the top-four was fun while it lasted. It’s now back to reality for the Wildcats, having lost consecutive games against Oregon and Iowa. They now have to travel to Columbus, but that game looks winnable given the state of affairs with the Buckeyes.

7. Wisconsin Badgers: 6-3, Def. Rutgers 31-10, LW: 7

The Badgers got back into the win column by defeating lowly Rutgers. An incredibly easy finish to the Badger schedule (at Maryland, at Purdue, vs Minnesota) should set them up nicely for a quality bowl game.

6. Ohio State Buckeyes: 6-3, Lost to Oregon 41-28, LW: 3

Ohio State has some serious problems. Losing quarterback Julian Sayin to injury somehow caused the defense to fall apart. A three-loss Ohio State team is very likely out of the CFP, and I’m not entirely sure its done losing either. Will Michigan-Ohio State be the least anticipated version of The Game of all time?

5. USC Trojans: 7-2, On bye, LW: 5

USC was idle this week but has a monstrous matchup with Indiana coming up. With a win, the Trojans could vault themselves back into contention.

4. Oregon Ducks: 6-3, Def. Ohio State 41-28, LW: 8

In what has been a disastrous season for the Ducks, quarterback Dylan Raiola was able to get his team off the mat and defeat Northwestern thanks to an offensive barrage. There is no path to the CFP since Oregon already has three losses, but it says a lot about the character of this offense, as they haven’t given up just yet.

3. Iowa Hawkeyes: 7-2, Def. Northwestern 24-10, LW: 4

After a shocking loss at Minnesota, Iowa has rebounded very nicely with wins over Wisconsin and Northwestern. The Hawkeyes appear to be the best of the middle of the Big Ten. With an easy remaining schedule (Purdue, at Illinois, Nebraska), Iowa could be a dark horse CFP contender, but it would require the SEC to beat up on itself.

2. Indiana Hoosiers: 8-1, On bye, LW: 2

The Hoosiers didn’t play this week but are still set up nicely to make the CFP.

1. UCLA Bruins: 9-0, Def. Minnesota 34-20, Last Week: 1

The Bruins just keep winning. This time, they did it on the road in Minneapolis thanks to big play after big play after big play. UCLA is close to clinching a spot in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship. Who would have thought that was possible at the beginning of the season?

Everybody else:

• 11. Washington Huskies
• 12. Nebraska Cornhuskers
• 13. Michigan State Spartans
• 14. Michigan Wolverines
• 15. Penn State Nittany Lions
• 16. Purdue Boilermakers
• 17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
• 18. Maryland Terrapins