Big Ten Power Rankings updated after Week 4 of college football
The latest Big Ten Power Rankings from On3, utilizing the On3 Massey Ratings, are in after Week 4 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.
Some Big Ten teams enjoyed out-of-conference pushovers over the weekend, while a couple began their conference schedule in Week 4. Regardless, there were plenty of interesting results to examine within the Big Ten over the weekend, and some huge changes were made throughout the rankings with that in mind. Check them out below.
1. Ohio State (3-0)
The Buckeyes returned to action after a bye week in Week 3, defeating Marshall in Week 4. While the Thundering Herd made it interesting for a bit, starting off the clash with a 7-0 lead, Ohio State quickly set the record straight, ending up with a 49-14 victory.
Quinshon Judkins continues to showcase how valuable he is to Ohio State’s dreams of winning a national title. The Ole Miss transfer rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns against Marshall, enjoying Gus Johnson calling every minute of it.
2. Penn State (3-0)
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Just like Ohio State, Penn State enjoyed an out-of-conference tune-up following a bye week in Week 3. The Nittany Lions welcomed Kent State to town, and they sent the Golden Flashes home with a 56-0 loss over the weekend.
Drew Allar didn’t miss a beat, as he returned to action with a three-touchdown performance. Penn State looks great right now, but they’ll have their biggest test of the season in Week 5, as they’ll welcome an undefeated Illinois team to Happy Valley to begin conference play.
3. Oregon (3-0)
Oregon started the season slow, with two closer-than-expected victories over Idaho and Boise State. However, they returned to expected form in Week 3, when they defeated Oregon State by 35 on the road.
The Ducks rewarded their victory in Week 3 with a bye week in Week 4. Undefeated and looking to remain that way, they’ll start out Big Ten play with a familiar face, and Oregon will take on UCLA on the road in Week 5.
4. Michigan (3-1)
The biggest win of the weekend in the Big Ten wasn’t hard to discern, as Michigan welcomed USC to the conference with a loss. The Wolverines needed it, as they were at risk of losing two of their first four games, and Sherrone Moore’s team figured it out.
Alex Orji did enough with his legs to keep Michigan in it during his first start of 2024, but the real star was Kalel Mullings. The running back accumulated 159 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including a legendary game-winner in Week 4.
5. USC (2-1)
After their massive Week 1 win over LSU, USC seemed destined to make a name for themselves early and often in the Big Ten. The Trojans followed up their win over the Tigers with a win over Utah State, but they couldn’t defeat Michigan on the road following a bye week in Week 3.
While quarterback Miller Moss looked good, throwing three touchdowns, he also threw a rough pick-six that electrified The Big House. In Week 5, USC returns home, welcoming Wisconsin to Southern California in what should be an interesting contest.
6. Illinois (4-0)
Illinois got their work done on Friday, dousing some water on Nebraska’s fire with a win in Lincoln. The victory advanced the Fighting Illini to an impressive 4-0, and they’re proving they might be for-real in the Big Ten.
Quarterback Luke Altmyer looked more like Patrick Mahomes than Dylan Railoa, passing for four touchdown in Illinois’ win. The hype is growing for the Fighting Illini, and it’ll only continue to grow if they can upset Penn State in Happy Valley in Week 5.
7. Iowa (3-1)
Iowa has rebounded nicely after their one-point loss to Iowa State in Week 2. The Hawkeyes defeated Troy in Week 3, and followed that up with a win over Minnesota in Week 4, getting some revenge in the Golden Gophers after last season’s debacle.
Running back Kaleb Johnson had a monster showing, amassing 206 yards and three touchdowns over the weekend. The Hawkeyes will enjoy a bye week in Week 5, before getting back to business in Week 6 against Ohio State on the road.
8. Washington (3-1)
After a demoralizing loss at home to Washington State, Washington needed to rebound with a win over Northwestern in Week 4. That’s exactly what Jedd Fisch’s team pulled off, as the Huskies defeated the Wildcats by 19.
Quarterback Will Rogers was efficient, throwing two touchdowns. Next up is a showdown with Rutgers on this coming Friday, and it should be an awesome clash, with the Scarlet Knights looking to stay undefeated and deliver the Huskies loss No. 2.
9. Indiana (4-0)
Indiana has turned into an offensive juggernaut in 2024. That remained true over the weekend, as the Hoosiers defeated Charlotte by a score of 52-14, continuing an undefeated season for the program.
While Indiana already has a Big Ten win with their victory over UCLA in Week 3, their schedule truly begins to take shape over the next couple weeks. If they can continue to put up overwhelming performances like they have thus far, it’ll be hard to ignore their success moving forward.
10. Maryland (3-1)
Since losing to Michigan State in Week 2, Maryland has rebounded with consecutive wins. Granted, it wasn’t against world-beaters, as the Terrapins beat Virginia and Villanova, but the program is feeling like it’s back on track at 3-1.
Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has been solid, passing for 8 touchdowns and only two interceptions in 2024. He’ll have to be ready for a shootout in Week 5 though, as the Terrapins are headed for a road showdown with Indiana.
Big Ten Power Rankings: 11-16
11. Rutgers (3-0)
12. Wisconsin (2-1)
13. Michigan State (3-1)
14. Nebraska (3-1)
15. UCLA (1-2)
16. Minnesota (2-2)
17. Northwestern (2-2)
18. Purdue (1-2)
Elsewhere in the Big Ten, Rutgers enjoyed a huge win on the road against Virginia Tech, but it wasn’t a good weekend for the rest of the crowd, with Michigan State falling to Boston College, and Purdue losing to Oregon State. Time will tell how the conference’s top teams will fare in Week 5, as there’s bound to be a lot more movement with conference-play picking up over the next couple of weeks.