Big Ten power rankings after Week 9: More changes at the League's top

We're now past the halfway point of the college football season, and the clear separation we thought we were seeing in the Big Ten has been thrown into upheaval. Ohio State got knocked off by USC, Indiana survived yet another scare, and teams like Oregon and Michigan just haven't lived up to any of the preseason hype.

UCLA remains the lone undefeated team in the conference, but Ohio State and Indiana are still there just one loss back, but will need to play much, much better if they want to remain there. Meanwhile, teams like USC, Wisconsin, and Iowa hope to finish strong and also be in the conversation.

It's our weekly Big Ten football power rankings, and what we think we know now will likely change drastically as teams figure out their identities and improve, or continue to spiral further.

Here's a look at our Week 9 Big Ten football power rankings. We start from No. 18 and make our way down to No. 1.

No. 18 - Maryland Terrapins (2-6, 0-5) | No. 18 last week ⇔

LastGame Result: Lost vs. Illinois 20-17

Next Game: at Purdue

Maryland thought about winning against Illinois but still found a way to not finish the deal. The Terps are without a head coach and also without a Big Ten win -- not a good combination. Sometimes it's the offense, and sometimes it's the defense, but still, no luck in doing anything in conference. There's a chance to notch a win next week in West Lafayette, but who really wants to put money on that?

No. 17 - Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-6, 1-4) | No. 17 last week ⇔

LastGame Result: Lost 28-21 vs. Michigan

Next Game: at Wisconsin

Why the ranking

Rutgers has been really competitive at times and was again against the Wolverines, but when the Scarlet Knights aren't, it's an ugly affair. This team just can't stack up against the better teams in the League, and you have to wonder how the program turns things around.

No. 16 - Michigan State Spartans (2-6, 0-5) | No. 16 last week ⇔

LastGame Result: Off

Next Game: at Michigan

What goes into the ranking

Michigan State was off this week, so there wasn't an opportunity to make much more of an impression from where the Spartans are, which is one of two teams in the Big Ten that still don't have a conference win. A win in Ann Arbor would feel really good and might be a momentum builder.

No. 15 - Purdue Boilermakers (3-5, 2-3) | No. 15 last week ⇩

LastGame Result: Lost 31-17 at Penn State

Next Game: vs. Maryland

What goes into the ranking

The Boilermakers have been able to score points against most teams this year, but that didn't go so well in Happy Valley, and once again the defense didn't do nearly enough to pull its weight. At least Purdue has two wins in the Big Ten, which is the first in two years, but it might not get another one.

No. 14 - Penn State Nittany Lions (4-4, 1-4) | No. 14 last week ⇩

LastGame Result: Won 31-17 vs. Purdue

Next Game: at Washington

What goes into the ranking

Penn State finally got a Big Ten win, and it looked pretty good doing it. The offense came alive, and the defense held down a pretty good Purdue offense. This team is probably better than the record says, but we'll get more on board with that notion if Penn State can go out to Seattle and get a win next week.

No. 13 - Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-3, 2-3) | No. 5 last week ⇔

LastGame Result: Lost 17-10 vs. Washington

Next Game: at Illinois

It's not often that we drop a team so far after one week, but Nebraska has now lost three games in a row after starting the year 5-0. We saw this same collapse last season, and you have to start wondering why. This is probably Matt Rhule's most talented team in Lincoln, but the ability to finish games and a season is a concern.

No. 12 - Washington Huskies (5-3, 2-3) | No. 13 last week ⇩

LastGame Result: Won 17-10 at Nebraska

Next Game: vs. Penn State

Going to Lincoln and winning a pretty physical and defensive-minded game is a positive step for Washington. Quarterback Demond Williams made some electric plays, and when he's at his best, this Huskies team is dangerous. When he's the main option to cure things on offense, and the defense isn't playing well, that's when problems arise.

No. 11 - Illinois Fighting Illini (5-3, 3-2) | No. 12 last week ⇧

LastGame Result: Won 20-17 at Maryland

Next Game: vs. Nebraska

What goes into the ranking

Illinois really had to struggle to beat a pretty bad Maryland team just one week after a shocking victory over Oregon. The Illini are all over the place this year, and it's hard to tell what version is going to show up from week to week. The middle of the pack is about where Bret Bielma's crew belongs for now.

No. 10 - Michigan Wolverines (5-3, 2-3)* | No. 11 last week ⇔

LastGame Result: Won 28-21 at Rutgers

Next Game: vs. Michigan State

What goes into the ranking

It wasn't pretty, but Michigan outlasted Rutgers to get back in the win column. As a positive sign, the offense played a little better. On the flip side, the defense allowed the Scarlet Knights to gobble up more yards and score more points than you would have thought. Only beating Greg Schiano's team by a touchdown doesn't exactly build confidence going forward.

No. 9 - Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-3, 3-2) | No. 8 last week ⇧

LastGame Result: Lost 23-16 at Indiana (OT)

Next Game: vs. UCLA

What goes into the ranking

The Golden Gophers were an eyelash away from pulling off a pretty big upset over Indiana on Saturday. Minnesota is starting to look like it's going to be a problem down the stretch of the regular season. An intriguing matchup awaits when the undefeated Bruins come to Huntington Bank Stadium next week.

No. 8 - Wisconsin Badgers (4-3, 3-2) | No. 6 last week ⇧

LastGame Result: Lost 30-0 at Iowa

Next Game: vs. Rutgers

What goes into the ranking

Wisconsin just couldn't back up the dominating win over USC the week prior, losing pretty badly against Iowa. The offense forgot to get off the bus, and the defense let an Iowa team not known for lighting up the scoreboard get too many explosive plays. This team plays so much better at home than away, so don't be surprised if the Badgers make Rutgers look pretty bad Saturday.

No. 7 - Northwestern Wildcats (6-2, 3-2) | No. 4 last week ⇧

LastGame Result: Lost 34-26 at Oregon

Next Game: vs. Iowa

What goes into the ranking

Northwestern looked like it was going to take care of business in Eugene after racing out to a three-score lead, but then things got difficult on both sides of the ball. The Wildcats are really well coached and solid across the board, but it has to win in a certain way, and when the margins don't go their way, there are issues completing the deal.

No. 6 - Oregon Ducks (5-3, 3-2) | No. 10 last week ⇩

LastGame Result: Won 34-26 vs. Northwestern

Next Game: at Ohio State

What goes into the ranking

Oregon has underperformed so far this year, but there's not a team out there that doesn't think the Ducks have enough talent to make life difficult against any team. Case in point, we saw Oregon put things together against Northwestern, and now we'll see how that momentum travels to Columbus next week against Ohio State.

No. 5 - Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2, 3-2) | No. 9 last week ⇩

LastGame Result: Won 30-0 vs. Wisconsin

Next Game: at Northwestern

Like most years, we're not sure which Iowa team is going to show up each week, but as long as the Hawkeyes don't beat themselves by turning the ball over, they are a tough out. That's exactly what Wisconsin found out, and the next team to try out that theory will be Northwestern. The Hawkeyes have an outside shot of still getting to Indy and into the College Football Playoff if they can win out.

No. 4 - Ohio State Buckeyes (6-2, 4-1) | No. 1 last week ⇔

LastGame Result: Lost 30-18 at USC

Next Game: vs. Oregon

What went into the ranking

A team that seemed like a lock to get into the Big Ten Championship game and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff is now searching for answers after an embarrassing loss to USC. The Buckeyes have to find a way to limit all the mistakes and penalties we saw in L.A., or it won't matter who is playing quarterback. Can Ohio State nurse a freshman quarterback through a difficult finishing kick of the regular season?

No. 3 - USC Trojans (7-2, 4-2) | No. 7 last week ⇔

LastGame Result: Won 30-18 vs. Ohio State

Next Game: Off

What goes into the ranking

USC got up off the mat to shock No. 2 Ohio State this past weekend, mainly because the Trojans were solid in the red zone on defense and balanced on offense. All of a sudden, with the win, USC is right there for a shot at Indy and perhaps a College Football Playoff appearance if it can win the rest of the way.

No. 2 - Indiana Hoosiers (8-1, 5-1) | No. 2 last week ⇔

LastGame Result: Won 23-16 vs. Minnesota

Next Game: Off

What went into the ranking

Indiana is finding out what it means to be the hunted. Almost every week has been a drag-out fight, and a lot of it has to do with the Hoosiers' lack of explosiveness on offense. Now, all of a sudden, there is a quarterback controversy in Bloomington, so we'll see how that all plays out. At least there's an off week to try and figure some things out, and Indiana remains in the hunt for everything with these narrow escapes.

No. 1 - UCLA Bruins (8-0, 5-0) | No. 3 last week ⇔

LastGame Result: Won 27-0 vs. Nevada

Next Game: at Minnesota

What goes into the ranking

I'm still not sure this is the best team in the Big Ten, but with everyone falling around them, the Bruins just keep winning. Going to Minnesota won't be easy next week with the way the Golden Gophers are playing, but if UCLA can win that one, the stakes continue to rise, and the doubters get more and more quiet.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten power rankings after Week 9: More changes at the League's top