Big Ten Power Rankings updated after Week 3 of college football
The latest Big Ten Power Rankings from On3, utilizing the On3 Massey Ratings, are in after Week 3 of the college football regular season.
The On3 Massey Ratings – which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated high school sports team rankings since 1995 – rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.
The Big Ten had an uneven weekend throughout their conference, with some programs celebrating huge victories, others going back to the drawing board following demonizing losses, and a whole lot of in between, including some bye weeks. Check out the full rankings below following Week 3’s action.
1. Ohio State (2-0)
Ohio State enjoyed a bye week during Week 3, following their massive victory over Western Michigan in Week 2. The Buckeyes have yet to be tested in 2024, but they’re looking like a true contender prior to the start of conference play.
Ryan Day’s squad will have one more reprieve before it all comes to a head, as they’ll take on Marshall in Week 4. The Thundering Herd are 1-1 on the season, falling to Virginia Tech in Week 2, and also taking this past weekend off.
2. Oregon (3-0)
Remember all of those questions about Oregon after the first two weeks? Those were answered in Week 3, as the Ducks dismantled one of their biggest rivals, defeating Oregon State on the road by a score of 49-14.
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Dillon Gabriel was near perfect, completion 20-of-24 pass attempts for 291 yards and two touchdowns, rushing four times for 64 yards and a touchdown, as well. Now, Oregon will take Week 4 off, before finishing out the month with a clash on the road against UCLA.
3. Penn State (2-0)
Penn State impressed in Week 1 against West Virginia, but their return home to take on Bowling Green wasn’t exactly a stellar afternoon. Still, the Nittany Lions sit at 2-0, after they utilized a bye week to rest up in Week 3.
When Penn State returns to play in Week 4, they’ll be back in Happy Valley, with Kent State coming to town. The Golden Flashes are 0-3, so it should be a nice get-right game for James Franklin’s bunch, prior to conference play getting underway.
4. Michigan (2-1)
After a drubbing at the hands of Texas in Week 2, no team needed a big win more than the Wolverines in Week 3. Well, they got the victory over Arkansans State, but the jury is out regarding their performance against the Red Wolves.
The quarterback play was shoddy at best, and Michigan was only able to win by ten points at home against an inferior opponent. Quite simply, they’ll have to be much better in Week 4, or Sherrone Moore’s team will find it hard to defeat USC in The Big House.
5. USC (2-0)
Speaking of USC, the Trojans are off to a blazing start in 2024. Lincoln Riley’s team enjoyed an impressive victory in Week 1 over LSU, and then their offense and defense came alive for a shutout of Utah State back in Southern California during Week 2.
Over the weekend, USC rested up, as they had a bye week during Week 3, with the action resuming on the road against Michigan in Week 4. What a way to begin Big Ten play for the Trojans, as they’ll look to deliver the reigning champions their second loss of 2024.
6. Washington (2-1)
Washington started the Jedd Fisch era hot, winning their first two games of the season, but that came to a screeching halt in Week 3. The Huskies suffered a demoralizing loss in this year’s iteration of the Apple Cup, falling to Washington State by five.
Making matters worse, the game was played on Washington’s own turf, so the Huskies will be looking to rebound in Week 4. A clash with Northwestern is on the docket for Washington this weekend.
7. Indiana (3-0)
Indiana perhaps had the most impressive win of Week 3 inside the Big Ten. The Hoosiers went on the road and defeated UCLA by 29 inside the Rose Bowl, lending credence to the idea that Curt Cignetti will turn the program into a force to be reckoned with.
Everything was working for the Hoosiers, but quarterback Kurtis Rourke was the star of the show, passing for four touchdowns. Indiana will be looking to keep the good times rolling, as they face Charlotte in Week 4.
8. Illinois (3-0)
Illinois followed their huge win against Kansas by taking care of business in Week 3, defeating Central Michigan by 21 points. Quarterback Luke Altmyer was efficient as ever, throwing two touchdowns in the win.
The Fighting Illini are 3-0, but it certainly doesn’t get any easier for them moving forward. Next up is a trip to Nebraska in Week 4, followed by a journey to Happy Valley to face Penn State. If they can win both of those games, who knows how far Illinois can climb in 2024.
9. Nebraska (3-0)
After shutting down Deion Sanders and Colorado, Nebraska continued their success in Week 3, defeating Northern Iowa by 31 points. Dylan Raiola was solid enough, passing for two touchdowns at home.
This weekend, Matt Rhule’s bunch will enjoy their biggest test of the season, as Big Ten foe Illinois will come into Lincoln with the idea of pulling off an upset. Both teams could use the win to remain undefeated, but only one will emerge victorious in Week 4.
10. Iowa (2-1)
It wasn’t always pretty, but Iowa got back to their winning ways in Week 3. The Hawkeyes were able to follow up their loss to Iowa State with a win over Troy, defeating the Trojans by a score of 38-21.
Cade McNamara wasn’t able to throw a touchdown, but he led Iowa offense to a successful afternoon. The Hawkeyes will travel to face Minnesota in Week 4, hoping to secure a big conference win on Saturday afternoon.
Big Ten Power Rankings: 11-16
11. Michigan State (3-0)
12. Wisconsin (2-1)
13. Maryland (2-1)
14. Minnesota (2-1)
15. Rutgers (2-0)
16. UCLA (1-1)
17. Purdue (1-1)
18. Northwestern (2-1)
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, a couple of teams were dismantled by their opponents, as Notre Dame ravaged Purdue, and Alabama defeated Wisconsin by 32 points. Moving forward, others like Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern will be hoping to continue their winning ways, after they were on full display in Week 3.