Gophers

Big Ten power rankings: Pecking order remains uncertain after ‘Big 3′

Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon are the clear top of the Big Ten, but next seven teams all have six or seven wins and are officially bowl eligible.

By Randy Johnson

The Minnesota Star Tribune

November 3, 2025 at 3:00PM

Following their 23-20 OT victory over Michigan State, the Gophers are now one of 10 Big Ten teams officially bowl eligible with four weeks left in the regular season. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

1. Ohio State (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten): Julian Sayin (316 passing yards, four TDs) and Jeremiah Smith (six catches, 123 yards, two TDs) lead second-half surge as Buckeyes overpower Penn State 38-14.

2. Indiana (9-0, 6-0): Hoosiers hammer Maryland 55-10 and have outscored their past three opponents by a combined 120 points.

3. Oregon (7-1, 4-1): Ducks had bye week ahead of key game at Iowa.

4. USC (6-2, 4-1): Second-half rally propels Trojans to 21-17 win at Nebraska and keeps alive USC’s playoff hopes.

5. Iowa (6-2, 4-1): Idle Hawkeyes prep for visit from Oregon. Iowa’s only losses are to Iowa State and Indiana by a combined eight points.

6. Michigan (7-2, 5-1): Backup RB Jordan Marshall rushes for 185 yards and three TDs in a 21-16 win over Purdue.

7. Washington (6-2, 3-2): Idle last weekend, Huskies visit Wisconsin for the first time since 1968.

8. Illinois (6-3, 3-3): Luke Altmyer passes for four TDs, runs for one in 35-13 win over Rutgers. Fighting Illini are bowl eligible in consecutive years for the first time since 2010-11.

9. Gophers (6-3, 4-2): After a great escape to beat Michigan State 23-20 in overtime, Gophers have a bye before traveling to Oregon.

10. Nebraska (6-3, 3-3): Cornhuskers fall 21-17 to USC, dropping their 29th consecutive game against Top 25 teams. And they lost QB Dylan Raiola for the season because of a broken leg.

11. Northwestern (5-3, 3-2): Coming off a bye, Wildcats travel to USC before Wrigley Field games against Michigan and the Gophers the following two weeks.

Related Coverage

12. UCLA (3-5, 3-2): After bye week, Bruins prepare for visit from Nebraska.

13. Maryland (4-4, 1-4): After 55-10 loss to Indiana, Terrapins need two wins in final four weeks to gain bowl eligibility. That starts Saturday at Rutgers.

14. Rutgers (4-5, 1-5): Scarlet Knights fall 35-13 to Illinois for fifth loss in the past six games.

15. Penn State (3-5, 0-5): Nittany Lions hung with Ohio State for one half, but offense goes AWOL after halftime in fifth consecutive loss.

16. Michigan State (3-6, 0-6): Spartans roll to 467 yards of offense, but 10 penalties for 96 yards doom MSU in 23-20 overtime loss to Gophers.

17. Purdue (2-7, 0-6): Missed opportunities haunt Boilermakers in 21-16 loss to Michigan.

18. Wisconsin (2-6, 0-5): After bye week, Badgers begin closing stretch with visit from Washington, followed by trip to Indiana, home game vs. Illinois and finale at Minnesota.