Big Ten football power rankings shift after week two results
Week two upsets and close games prompted a reshuffle of the Big Ten power rankings ahead of week three, with Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon moving in the standings.
Michigan’s victory over Oklahoma at home and Ohio State’s loss after surrendering a 20-point lead to Texas have driven a notable reshuffle of the conference’s power rankings as the season moves into week three. The latest rankings place Indiana at the top, citing its high-scoring performances, while Michigan is listed second after its win against the Sooners. Ohio State falls to fifth following the narrow defeat in Austin, and Oregon drops to eighth after a 31-39 loss at Oklahoma State.
UCLA, under new head coach Bob Chesney, earned consecutive wins against California and San Diego State, earning a modest rise in the rankings. Washington remains unbeaten at 2-0 but its victories have been described as unconvincing, leaving the Huskies’ position tentative. Nebraska’s offense has accumulated 105 points in two games, maintaining its place in the upper tier despite a relatively weak schedule.
Iowa secured a rivalry win over Iowa State with a late field goal, keeping its defense highly regarded and its ranking stable at sixth. Penn State, with wins over Marshall and Temple, stays in the middle of the pack, though its strength of schedule has yet to be tested. USC’s offense continues to perform as expected, preserving its unbeaten non-conference record while defensive concerns linger.
"Michigan has the best win in the conference so far with a win over the Oklahoma Sooners," a commentator noted, highlighting the team's defensive strength despite an evolving offense.
The rankings reflect the early-season volatility, emphasizing on-field results rather than preseason expectations.