The Big Ten came out of Week 2 looking a lot more fragile than it did going in.
A few teams are still cruising, sure. Indiana keeps stacking easy wins.
Southern Cal hasn’t tripped yet. But the weekend also delivered the kind of damage that forces a reset: Ohio State dropped a tight one at Texas, Oregon took the most alarming hit of the slate, and the conference’s middle tier took enough bruises to make the whole thing feel unstable.
That’s the backdrop for these rankings, where the top is still crowded with possibilities and the bottom is already getting uncomfortable. For now, though, the conversation starts with the teams that have managed to avoid the mess.
- Indiana (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 1
Result: 55-0 win vs.
Howard
Next: Western Kentucky, Sept.
19
You can roll your eyes at the nonconference schedule if you want. Curt Cignetti won’t.
Indiana is using these three weeks exactly the way a team should when its league rivals are busy stumbling around. The Hoosiers keep taking care of business while the rest of the top end gets wobbly.
- Southern Cal (3-0, 0-0)
Next: at Rutgers, Sept. 19
Louisiana may have poked at the defense a little, but the bigger picture is pretty simple: Lincoln Riley’s offense looks like it can carry this team all the way to Penn State on Oct. 10 without a loss.
- Ohio State (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 2
Result: 24-23 loss at Texas
Next: Kent State, Sept. 19
The frustration in Columbus is understandable. Another second-half fade is not exactly the kind of habit Buckeye fans want to see.
Still, there’s no need to go overboard on the punishment for losing a road game in Austin. What Ohio State does need is an offense that becomes more than Sayin-to-Smith.
- Iowa (2-0, 0-0)
The Cy-Hawk game didn’t exactly scream offense, but Iowa probably doesn’t mind that. In a Big Ten race that may lean heavily toward elite defenses, the Hawkeyes are sitting in a pretty comfortable spot.
- Penn State (2-0, 0-0)
Next: Buffalo, Sept. 19
Matt Campbell’s crew holds its place here largely because chaos hit other teams harder. Rocco Becht’s strong start to his Penn State career is enough to keep the optimism alive, or at least to give the Nittany Lions the benefit of the doubt for now.
- Washington (2-0, 0-0)
Next: Eastern Washington, Sept. 19
The Huskies move up because others slid back, but the concerns are real. For the second straight week, the offense looked productive in the numbers and underwhelming on the scoreboard.
That’s easy to shrug off once. Twice gets your attention.
- Oregon (1-1, 0-0)
No result in the league was more jarring than Oregon’s. The loss to Oklahoma State was bad enough on its face, but the way it happened is what makes it sting.
Oregon was nearly doubled up in total yards and held the ball for less than 24 minutes. That’s a rough afternoon any way you slice it.
- Nebraska (2-0, 0-0)
Next: North Dakota, Sept. 19
This looked much more like it than Week 1. Anthony Colandrea has thrown seven touchdown passes against just one interception, and Nebraska has a real chance to be 5-0 when Indiana arrives in Lincoln next month.
- Michigan (2-0, 0-0)
Next: UTEP, Sept. 19
The response after the Western Michigan mess was encouraging. Just as important, Michigan’s play calling looked far better aligned with its quarterback.
- UCLA (2-0, 0-0)
Next: Purdue, Sept. 19
The Bruins have a very healthy run game and plenty of momentum with conference play getting closer. That trip to Oregon on Oct. 10 suddenly looks a lot more interesting.
- Maryland (2-0, 0-0)
Last week: 15
Result: 38-14 win at UConn
Next: Virginia Tech, Sept. 19
This is the biggest jump in the rankings, and the reason is straightforward: Malik Washington looked great at UConn. The test gets sharper this weekend with Virginia Tech coming to town, and that should tell us more.
- Northwestern (1-0, 0-0)
Last week: 13
Result: idle
Next: Colorado, Sept. 19
The Wildcats move up without even playing. That’s not a bad way to spend a week. The Colorado game in Evanston feels like the kind that can shape a season, much like Virginia Tech’s visit to College Park.
- Illinois (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: 9
Result: 31-27 loss vs.
Duke
Next: Southern Illinois, Sept.
19
Katin Houser’s numbers - 271 yards and three touchdowns - look fine on the page. But Illinois managed just three second-half points, and that offensive stall is what sank it.
- Minnesota (1-1, 0-0)
Next: Akron, Sept. 19
The middle of the conference is being defined right now by teams like Minnesota and Illinois. The Gophers’ no-show was a bad one, especially with the game already at 28-6 by halftime.
- Wisconsin (1-1, 0-0)
Wisconsin didn’t exactly tumble so much as get nudged down. Even so, there was room to want more offense against an opponent that clearly wasn’t in the same class.
- Michigan State (2-0, 0-0)
This weekend should tell us a lot about Pat Fitzgerald’s team, one way or the other.
- Purdue (1-1, 0-0)
Next: at UCLA, Sept. 19
That double-overtime loss was a rough one for Purdue. Even so, Ryan Browne still leaves room to believe there’s something better ahead in West Lafayette.
- Rutgers (0-2, 0-0)
Next: USC, Sept. 19
At this point, Rutgers has to win next weekend against Howard or the season starts looking like a long one.
In Other News...
Indiana Defense Faces A Big Week 3 Boost Before Big Ten Play
Indianas defense looked the part in Week 2, smothering Howard for just 57 total yards while piling up five sacks and a pick-6. Even with both starting cornerbacks, Jamari Sharpe and AJ Harris, sidelined since Week 1, the back end held firm, and the Hoosiers have reason to feel better about their depth after backups Ryland Gandy and Jaylen Bell stepped in and handled the assignment.
The bigger development now is the possibility of getting healthier before the schedule tightens. Curt Cignetti has sounded optimistic about Sharpes chances of returning for Week 3 against Western Kentucky, and Indiana would like to get both corners some live reps before Big Ten play begins. How quickly that secondary gets back to full strength could matter just as much as the shutout-style performance it put on last week. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hoosier Kahlil Benson Just Landed A Massive Week 1 Test
Kahlil Bensons path from Indiana to the Chiefs just got a whole lot more interesting. The undrafted rookie offensive lineman, who signed a three-year deal in Kansas City, was moved into the mix at left tackle after an injury to starter Josh Simmons, and now he has been named to open the 2026 season at the position.
For Hoosier fans, it is a notable development because Benson is being asked to handle one of the most demanding jobs on the line after doing his college work at right tackle and right guard, not left tackle. He has started games at both spots, but this is a different level of responsibility, and it gives him an immediate chance to prove he can hold up in a premium role right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Has One Edge Ohio State Fans Suddenly Can't Ignore
The kicking game has become one of the quiet reasons this Indiana-Ohio State matchup deserves extra attention. When the Hoosiers and Buckeyes meet Oct. 17, Indiana will bring a weapon that could matter in a tight game: Nico Radicic has been steady and accurate, giving the Hoosiers a level of trust at the end of drives that can shape how an offense is called and how a defense is forced to react.
Ohio State, meanwhile, has had to live with some recent kicking frustrations in pressure moments, including a missed 45-yard try against Texas and other important misses in recent games. In a matchup that could be decided by field position and a single possession, that kind of contrast is hard for Buckeyes fans to overlook, and it gives Indiana a subtle but real edge heading into the showdown. [Read more 🡒]