Week 3 gave the Big Ten a much cleaner look, with several teams doing exactly what they were supposed to do and a few others making real noise. Northwestern turned in the week’s loudest statement, USC and UCLA both got conference wins, and Minnesota finally answered after a rough trip to Mississippi State. With league play starting to tighten up, the pecking order is getting a little clearer.
Indiana still sits alone at the top. The Hoosiers blanked Western Kentucky 38-0 and have now outscored their last two opponents 93-0. The defending national champions haven’t given anyone a reason to look elsewhere, and they remain the standard for now.
Penn State stays right behind Indiana after a 55-13 win over Buffalo. The Nittany Lions haven’t been tested much, but they’ve handled every assignment cleanly. That kind of steady work keeps them near the top.
Michigan climbed a spot after beating UTEP 52-17. The Wolverines are starting to push that controversial Week 1 game further into the background, and the win over Oklahoma still stands out. The defense, in particular, looks real.
USC slipped one place after surviving Rutgers 42-35 in its Big Ten opener. The Trojans are still putting up points in bunches, but giving up 35 to an 0-2 Rutgers team was enough to cost them a spot. They’re undefeated, but the margin for error is already getting thinner.
Ohio State answered its loss at Texas with a 59-3 blowout of Kent State. The Buckeyes remain loaded, but they’ll need better wins to start moving back up.
Iowa made one of the biggest statistical jolts of the week, rolling to a 55-0 win over Northern Iowa. Yes, that Iowa scored 55 points. The defense is already a known commodity, and if the offense keeps improving, this team could become a problem.
Nebraska moved up after a 34-7 win over North Dakota. The Huskers haven’t faced elite competition, but they’ve taken care of business every time out.
Oregon took out its frustration on Portland State with an 84-0 rout. That was dominant, no question, but it doesn’t erase the loss to Oklahoma State.
UCLA moved into the top 10 after opening Big Ten play with a 52-38 win over Purdue. The defense still has issues, but the Bruins keep finding a way to win.
Washington stayed unbeaten with a 48-16 win over Eastern Washington. The Huskies haven’t been spectacular every week, but they’re 3-0 and heading into their Big Ten opener against Minnesota.
The week’s biggest leap belonged to Northwestern, which jumped all the way to No. 11 after hammering Colorado 41-7. That result suddenly looks like one of the most impressive wins in the middle tier of the conference.
Illinois bounced back from its loss to Duke with a 48-10 win over Southern Illinois. That was the response the Illini needed, though bigger tests are still ahead.
Minnesota climbed after a 41-7 win over Akron, and TJ Thomas led the way with 122 rushing yards. The Gophers badly needed that kind of bounce-back after the Mississippi State loss, and they finally looked more like themselves. The next challenge is a major one at Washington.
Wisconsin handled Eastern Michigan 54-10 and has won two straight since its opening loss. The Badgers are moving in the right direction, but the schedule will start revealing more soon.
Michigan State dropped after falling 27-10 at No. 3 Notre Dame. Losing in South Bend isn’t a disaster, but the Spartans didn’t generate enough offense to make it competitive for long.
Maryland’s September momentum took a hit in a 35-26 home loss to Virginia Tech. The Terrapins had a chance to show this start was different, but old concerns are back on the table.
Purdue is still searching for its first Big Ten win after a 52-38 loss at UCLA. The Boilermakers have improved, especially at running back, but improvement has to turn into results.
Rutgers remains winless after a 42-35 loss to USC, though it was easily the Scarlet Knights’ best showing so far. Even so, 0-3 is 0-3.
In Other News...
Former Gopher Tyler Johnson Just Landed In A Familiar NFL Spot
Tyler Johnson is back in a familiar NFL spot, joining the New York Jets practice squad after injuries thinned out their wide receiver group. For the former Gopher, it is a return to a team he already knows from last season, and it gives him another chance to stay close to an active roster as the NFL calendar moves deeper into the year.
For Minnesota fans, Johnsons move is another reminder of how many former Gophers are carving out roles on Sundays, with several others turning in noteworthy week two performances across the league. From snaps to specific assignments to production in game action, the second weekend offered another snapshot of just how wide that alumni footprint has become. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Enter Big Ten Opener With One Huge Question Still Looming
Minnesota heads into its Big Ten opener at Washington at 2-1, and the Gophers are carrying a little momentum after a 41-7 win over Akron. Coach P.J. Fleck said the team has handled the longer buildup well, with the late kickoff giving Minnesota extra time to prepare for a cross-country conference trip that already feels like an early test of where this group stands.
The biggest lingering question, though, is the status of running back Darius Taylor. He sat out against Akron because of an injury, and the next injury report should offer a clearer picture of whether Minnesota will have one of its most important offensive pieces available when league play begins. After bouncing back strongly from a previous loss, the Gophers now have to wait on Taylors availability before their opener becomes fully defined. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesotas 2026 Commits Are Making Serious Noise On Friday Nights
Friday nights have started looking like a recruiting update for Minnesota, with the Gophers 2026 commitments turning in a string of eye-catching performances across multiple states on Sept. 18. The latest roundup tracked 29 pledged high school players, and the list was heavy on the kind of production college staffs like to see this early: catches, yards, touchdowns, tackles and wins that keep programs rolling deep into the fall.
David Mack, Roy Price and Greg Hargrow were among the prospects who stood out, each making meaningful impact in his own way while the rest of the class showed similar signs of progress. For Minnesota, the appeal is obvious - these are not just future names on a commitment board, but teenagers already showing they can affect games on both sides of the ball, which makes every Friday night a little more worth watching from a distance. [Read more 🡒]