Big Ten football came out of Week 1 with the top of the league looking familiar and a few teams making early noise below it. Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon still look like the programs to beat, but USC has already pushed its way into the conversation, and there are a few others in the league that appear ready to make things interesting as the season unfolds.
At the very top, Ohio State stays put at No. 1 after what was described as a routine opener. Julian Sayin opened the season hot, and the rest of the Buckeyes’ cast looked every bit as strong as it did a year ago. That’s the kind of start that keeps Ryan Day’s team squarely in title-contender territory.
Indiana holds the No. 2 spot after a statement win that wiped away any talk of a step back. Josh Hoover’s debut had the look of a star quarterback performance, and the Hoosiers appear loaded around him.
The defense, as expected, is still giving them a reliable floor. By the end of Week 1, Indiana was still being treated like a legitimate threat to finish as the Big Ten’s best team.
USC jumps in at No. 3, and the buzz around the Trojans is real. This is being called Lincoln Riley’s best USC team since the move into the Big Ten, and the addition of Gary Patterson is part of the reason for that optimism. The Trojans have looked more impressive than Oregon through the first two weeks in this view, and they’ve clearly entered the upper tier.
Oregon comes in at No. 4 after a start that didn’t quite match the talent level. Boise State is a solid opponent, but the Ducks were expected to handle them more comfortably than they did.
Dante Moore settled in during the second half, and nobody is questioning the talent. Still, the sluggish opening and the sense that the defense is more vulnerable than expected leave some room for concern.
Penn State sits fifth after looking strong in its opener. The Nittany Lions made a good first impression, and Matt Campbell is being viewed as the right coach to guide the program back toward its glory days.
Rocco Becht also looked like a quarterback who belongs in the Big Ten spotlight. With an easy schedule, Penn State is expected to be right near the top of the standings.
The next stretch of the rankings brings a few teams with real intrigue. UCLA is up to No. 6 after the Chesney era started with a notable win over California.
The Bruins established a new identity and controlled the run game, leaving California with no answer. Washington checks in at No. 7, even after a win that wasn’t especially flashy against a rival.
Demond Williams remains the centerpiece there, and the defense looked strong enough to support the Huskies’ goals this season.
Iowa lands at No. 8 after a game where the offense didn’t need to do much. The Hawkeyes suffocated the NIU Huskies, but the defense is still being described as the less impressive part of the team.
Minnesota is next at No. 9, and the early signs are encouraging on both sides of the ball. The defense looks elite, while Drake Lindsey and Darius Taylor give the offense something to build around.
If the Gophers keep running it well and stay dominant defensively, they could surprise people.
Illinois comes in at No. 10 after Week 1 answered a few questions, though tougher competition will expose a talent gap later on. Bret Bielema is still expected to keep them in games they probably shouldn’t be in.
Nebraska is No. 11 after a win that didn’t feel all that satisfying. The Cornhuskers didn’t do much to suggest they can push toward the top of the league, and the season for Matt Rhule is projected to end with things getting hot.
Michigan is No. 12, and even though the Wolverines won, it came with a heavy dose of nerves. They were seconds from disaster, and the game revealed a few telling things. Bryce Underwood did enough to get the job done, but the performance didn’t exactly leave people convinced he is the answer.
Wisconsin slots in at No. 13 after showing more fight than expected against Notre Dame. The Badgers hung around in the first half, which is a positive sign, even if the better team eventually pulled away.
Maryland is No. 14 after Malik Washington didn’t steal the show, but the run game did. The Terrapins handled an inferior opponent the way they were supposed to, though a similar kind of season to last year still seems likely.
Northwestern checks in at No. 15 with some new energy and a better feel around the program. The new stadium helps, and Chip Kelly’s hire is being praised for the offense.
Michigan State is No. 16 after the Pat Fitzgerald era opened with a win. It may take time for his identity to fully settle in, but Week 1 was a positive beginning.
Purdue is No. 17, and while the Boilermakers are still projected near the bottom of the conference, they at least took care of business against an inferior opponent. Rutgers rounds out the rankings at No. 18 after the roughest Week 1 of anyone in the league.
The Scarlet Knights lost to a team that didn’t win a single game, and they were beaten convincingly. With no margin for error in non-conference play, this already looks like a season slipping away.
In Other News...
Maiava Just Gave USC Fans A Real Heisman Conversation
Week 1 gave USC exactly the kind of early jolt it needed, and Jayden Maiava was right in the middle of it. Among a slate of eye-catching opening performances around college football, his showing for the Trojans stood out enough to push his name into a much bigger conversation than just a strong start for one quarterback.
For USC fans, that matters because the Heisman race can feel like it starts before most seasons really settle in, and Maiava has at least put himself on the board. There is a long way to go, of course, and plenty of other early stars to compare him against, but after opening weekend he is no longer just part of the backdrop of the national conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Maiava Is Raising USCs Ceiling Faster Than Anyone Expected
Jayden Maiava has barely had time to settle into USCs offense, and already he looks like the kind of quarterback who can change the math around the Trojans season. Through the first two games, he has been sharp and decisive, and his performance against Fresno State was especially eye-opening, with 23 completions on 25 attempts for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Lincoln Riley has noticed, too, praising Maiavas understanding of the offense and the arm talent that makes the whole system look like it has another gear.
For USC, the encouraging part is not just the production, but how quickly it has arrived. FanDuel Sportsbook now lists Maiava with the 10th-best Heisman Trophy odds, a reflection of how fast his name has moved into the national conversation. The Trojans still have a long season ahead, but if this is the baseline, the bigger question is no longer whether Maiava can manage the job. It is how high he might push USC if this level keeps up. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Enters A Season That Could Change Everything At USC
Lincoln Riley is heading into a season at USC with the kind of pressure that comes with expectations, especially after the move into the Big Ten raised the stakes around every game. Analyst Paul Finebaum recently pointed to Riley as one of the coaches who could do a lot for his standing this fall, and much of that hinges on the same formula that has long defined his best teams: a quarterback who can tilt games and an offense that keeps USC in the conversation.
Jayden Maiava has become part of that discussion after arriving from UNLV and showing well enough to give the Trojans real hope at the most important position. Even so, USCs path is about more than offense. The Big Ten has no shortage of physical tests, and Rileys team will need its defense to hold up if this season is going to look less like another reset and more like the one that changes the tenor of his tenure. [Read more 🡒]