The Big Ten regular season is in the books, and with the conference championship game looming - not to mention multiple playoff spots up for grabs - it's time to take one last look at how the teams stack up. Here's the final power ranking of the season, with postseason implications, quarterback showcases, and coaching legacies all coming into focus.
1. Ohio State (12-0, 9-0)
Last week: W 27-9 at Michigan
**Next: vs.
Indiana (Big Ten Championship Game)**
Ohio State finally got the monkey off its back. After four straight losses to Michigan, the Buckeyes flipped the script in Ann Arbor and did it convincingly. Head coach Ryan Day dialed up a game plan that leaned into his most dangerous weapons - receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate - and they delivered, each scoring on long touchdowns that broke the game open.
This win not only punched Ohio State’s ticket to the Big Ten title game for the first time since 2020, but it also gave quarterback Julian Sayin the kind of Heisman moment voters remember. With one more game to play - and a shot at a conference crown - Sayin has a real chance to put a bow on a perfect season and make his Heisman case undeniable.
2. Indiana (12-0, 9-0)
Last week: W 56-3 at Purdue
**Next: vs.
Ohio State (Big Ten Championship Game)**
What Curt Cignetti has done in Bloomington in just two years is nothing short of historic. Indiana just wrapped its first undefeated regular season since 1945 and is heading to its first-ever Big Ten Championship Game. Let that sink in.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been the engine behind the Hoosiers’ rise, and like Sayin, he’s firmly in the Heisman mix. If he outduels Ohio State’s star QB next week, he could very well take home college football’s most prestigious individual honor. Regardless, Indiana has already cemented itself as the Big Ten’s biggest surprise - and maybe its best story - of the season.
3. Oregon (11-1, 8-1)
Last week: W 26-14 at Washington
Next: Idle (awaiting playoff seeding)
Oregon took care of business in Seattle, knocking off Washington to cap an impressive regular season. With no conference championship game on the docket, the Ducks now wait to see where they land in the College Football Playoff seeding - likely somewhere between No. 6 and No. 8.
This team has the look of a legitimate national title threat. The defense has been stingy, the offense balanced, and the Ducks have shown they can win tough road games. Now, with a couple of weeks to rest and prepare, Oregon is quietly becoming a team no one wants to face in the postseason.
4. USC (9-3, 7-2)
Last week: W 29-10 vs. UCLA
Next: Idle (awaiting bowl selection)
Nine wins might look good on paper, but for a USC program with playoff aspirations, this season feels like a missed opportunity. Lincoln Riley was brought in to elevate the Trojans to the sport’s top tier, and while the offense - led by conference passing leader Jayden Maiava - was electric at times, it wasn’t enough to get USC over the hump.
Still, they’ll land in a marquee bowl game, and with Maiava under center, the Trojans can be dangerous. But make no mistake - expectations were higher than this, and the pressure will only build heading into next season.
5. Michigan (9-3, 7-2)
Last week: L 27-9 vs. Ohio State
Next: Idle (awaiting bowl selection)
Michigan had a shot at the playoff, and it slipped away on its home turf. Still, this was a step forward from last season, especially on the offensive side. The Wolverines finally found some rhythm in the passing game, thanks in part to true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood.
Underwood didn’t dominate, but he showed flashes - the kind that have Michigan fans excited about the future. If he and standout freshman receiver Andrew Marsh return next season, this offense could be something special. The pieces are there; now it’s about putting them together.
6. Iowa (8-4, 6-3)
Last week: W 40-16 at Nebraska
Next: Idle (awaiting bowl selection)
Another year, another solid season for Iowa under Kirk Ferentz, the winningest coach in Big Ten history. The Hawkeyes once again leaned on defense and discipline, and while a few close games didn’t go their way, they still managed to post eight wins.
This isn’t the flashiest team, but it’s one that knows how to grind out results. Ferentz continues to keep Iowa competitive year after year, and that consistency is something most programs would kill for.
7. Washington (8-4, 5-4)
Last week: L 26-14 vs. Oregon
Next: Idle (awaiting bowl selection)
In Year 2 under Jedd Fisch, Washington took a step forward. The Huskies weren’t able to get that signature win, but they showed enough progress to feel good about the direction of the program.
The big question now is whether quarterback Demond Williams Jr. sticks around. If he does, Fisch has a dynamic playmaker to build around - and potentially the cornerstone of a future contender.
8. Illinois (8-4, 5-4)
Last week: W 20-13 vs. Northwestern
Next: Idle (awaiting bowl selection)
Coming off a 10-win season and returning most of their starters, Illinois had eyes on a playoff push. But after a 53-point loss to Indiana, it became clear that the Fighting Illini weren’t quite ready to make that leap.
Even so, eight wins isn’t nothing. Bret Bielema has built a tough, physical team - now the challenge is getting them over the hump. With some retooling, Illinois could be right back in the mix next year.
9. Northwestern (6-6, 4-5)
Last week: L 20-13 at Illinois
Next: Idle (awaiting bowl selection)
For Northwestern, this season was a win in just about every way. Bowl eligibility?
Check. A victory at Wrigley Field?
Check. Ending the James Franklin era at Penn State?
That too.
Head coach David Braun has the Wildcats trending in the right direction. He’s restoring the identity that made Northwestern a consistent presence in the Big Ten under Pat Fitzgerald - who, fittingly, is now back in the league.
10. Minnesota (7-5, 5-4)
Last week: W 17-7 vs. Wisconsin
Next: Idle (awaiting bowl selection)
Minnesota had a favorable schedule this year but couldn’t fully capitalize. The Golden Gophers were perfect at home but struggled away from Minneapolis and against the conference’s top-tier teams.
Still, there’s optimism thanks to quarterback Drake Lindsey. The young signal-caller showed real promise in his first year as a starter, and if he continues to develop, the Gophers could take a step forward next season.
Head coach P.J. Fleck isn’t on the hot seat, but the pressure to elevate this program is starting to build.
Bottom Line:
The Big Ten is sending two undefeated teams to the conference title game - a rarity in itself - and both have quarterbacks eyeing the Heisman.
Behind them, Oregon waits to see where it lands in the playoff picture, while traditional powers like USC and Michigan are left wondering what could’ve been. As the postseason approaches, one thing is clear: the Big Ten is as deep, dramatic, and unpredictable as ever.