Big Ten Power Rankings updated after Week 6 of college football

On3 has updated their Big Ten Power Rankings following some gripping action during Week 6 of the college football season.

An undefeated Big Ten showdown came to pass, and the Ohio State Buckeyes came out on top against the Maryland Terrapins to keep their College Football Playoff dreams alive. Elsewhere, the Michigan Wolverines continued their winning ways, while the Penn State Nittany Lions enjoyed a bye week.

There’s a myriad of tremendous matchups on the horizon, including some in Week 6. Until then, here’s where On3 has each squad at the moment, following their performances from last weekend. 

1) Michigan Wolverines (6-0)

The Wolverines quelled any upset effort from Minnesota in ferocious fashion on Saturday. Michigan held the Golden Gophers to ten points on the afternoon, defeating PJ Fleck’s team by 42 points.

After advancing to 6-0 on the season, Michigan will continue their trek against Indiana in Week 7. The Hoosiers have certainly been disappointing in 2023, and a tip to Ann Arbor is not what the doctor would’ve prescribed for them.

2) Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0)

The Nittany Lions entered their bye week undefeated, and took a much needed rest in Week 6. Now, they’re looking forward to getting back on the bandwagon in Week 7.

A matchup against Massachusetts befalls them, which will serve as a nice tune-up for the stretch run. Penn State has big dreams for 2023, and they’ll be hoping to realize them in the coming weeks.

3) Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0)

Ohio State enjoyed a nice week off and got back to business in Week 6. A date with undefeated Maryland was on their plate, and the Buckeyes left no crumbs.

It was a slow start for their offense, but Kyle McCord got going to the tune of 320 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes will be looking for another win in Week 7 when the travel to face the Purdue Boilermakers.

4) Wisconsin Badgers (4-1)

It wasn’t always pretty, but Wisconsin found a way to defeat Rutgers by 11 points in Week 6. The Badgers have rebounded nicely after an early season loss, and sit at 4-1 on the season.

However, their toughest Big Ten showdown to date is about to take place, as they’ll welcome Iowa to town. It could end up deciding who gets to the Big Ten title game, so the Badgers will have to be on their best come Week 7.

5) Iowa Hawkeyes (5-1) (+1)

The Hawkeyes may not be impressing many with their offense, but Iowa got the job done against Purdue in Week 6. The Boilermakers made it a close, six-point game, but the Hawkeyes got a much needed win in the end.

An aforementioned showdown with Wisconsin now awaits Iowa. The Hawkeyes offense will need to be much better in Week 7 if they’re to defeat the Badgers in a game where the stakes are higher than ever.

6) Maryland Terrapins (5-1) (-1)

Maryland’s undefeated season came to an end on Saturday at the hands of Ohio State. The Terrapins had an upset bid brewing for much of the game, but it all fell apart in the second half.

Now, Maryland will be looking to get back to their winning ways in Week 7. A date with Illinois is on the docket, so they’ll certainly have a solid shot at doing so.

7) Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-2)

The Scarlet Knights have been one of the pleasant surprises in the Big Ten, and some believed they could knock off Wisconsin in Week 6. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, as the Rutgers offense couldn’t help their defense pull off an upset.

4-2 is a nice place to be for Rutgers, and they have a great shot at a bowl game. They’ll welcome Michigan State to Piscataway this weekend, another game they’ll have a solid shot at winning in the Big Ten.

8) Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-3)

The Golden Gophers have faltered in 2023, as it hasn’t been the season many expected for Minnesota. That was never more clear than seeing their uncompetitiveness against Michigan in Week 6.

Thankfully, Minnesota will enjoy a bye week in Week 7, looking to right their wrongs. They’ll be back on the field against Iowa in Week 8.

9) Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-3)

After a slow start, Nebraska is back even at 3-3 on the season. The Cornhuskers went into Illinois and defeated the Fighting Illini by 13 in Week 6.

It was a nice rebound for Nebraska, who will enjoy a bye week in Week 7. They’ll be back in Week 8 with another winnable game for the Cornhuskers, and they’ll welcome Northwestern to town.

10) Indiana Hoosiers (2-3)

It hasn’t been the most fun start to the season for the Hoosiers, but they got a reprieve with a bye week in Week 6. However, the journey will ramp back up again in big fashion this weekend, as they’ll take on the Michigan Wolverines.

They’re currently 34-point underdogs, and that number could end up growing. Nevertheless, Indiana will be looking for some positives, if there are any this weekend.

11) Purdue Boilermakers (2-4)

Another week, another hard fought loss for Purdue, as it seems like that’s been the story of the Boilermakers’ season. They fell to Iowa by only six points over the weekend, a game Purdue certainly could’ve won.

It won’t get much easier, as the Boilermakers will welcome Ohio State to town in Week 7. Stranger things have happened, but we’re not betting on an upset.

12) Illinois Fighting Illini (2-4)

The Illini suffered their fourth loss on the season, as they lost to Nebraska in Week 6. However, they’ll have no time to lick their wounds, as Illinois will travel to face off against Maryland in Week 7.

ESPN Analytics is giving the Terrapins a 85.5% chance of winning that game, which would sink Illinois to 2-5. It’s been a lousy season thus far, and it’s not showing any signs of improving for the Fighting Illini.

13) Michigan State Spartans (2-3)

Perhaps no team in the Big Ten needed a bye week more than Michigan State. That’s exactly what the Spartans got in Week 6, as they were able to recoup after a whirlwind start to 2023.

Now, they’ll look to even their record up against Rutgers in Week 7. The Scarlet Knights are currently favored, so as crazy as it sounds, Michigan State will be looking to pull the upset in New Jersey.

14) Northwestern Wildcats (3-3)

The Wildcats remain in the cellar of the Big Ten, even after a win. Northwestern struggled with Howard, only defeating their opponents by a field goal, but at least they found a way to get another victory and even their record at 3-3.

Now, Northwestern will enjoy a week off, but they’ll be back on the wagon in Week 8. They’ll travel to Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers, which would be a huge win for either program when it’s all said and done.

As you can see, the Big Ten continues to be one of the more fascinating conferences top-to-bottom in all of college football. They’re littered with interesting teams throughout, from College Football Playoff contenders to teams simply looking to break through their perceived expectations in 2023, and it’ll continue into Week 7.

On3’s Steve Samra contributed to this article.