2025 B1G Power Rankings - Week 3

The Big Ten went 12-5 in week 3, with two conference losses.  Minnesota fell to Cal, UCLA was bludgeoned by New Mexico, and Wisconsin lost at Alabama.   

The big matchups this week feature Michigan at Nebraska and Illinois at Indiana, two games that will help determine the upper middle of the B1G.  

1. Ohio State (3-0) - The Bucks were good enough against Ohio and may have found a new RB1, with Bo Jackson going for 100+ again. They're off this week, before heading to Washington in week 5.  

2. Penn State (3-0) - The Lions beat another NOBODY and have their fourth straight bye this week.  Their season starts next week, as Oregon comes to town for a proper whiteout.  

3. Oregon (3-0) - The Ducks won the sleepy 11 am game in Evanston in front of a raucous Big Noon Kickoff crowd.  They host a really bad Oregon State team this week in the Civil War before the big whiteout ahead.

4. Illinois (3-0) - The Illini shutout Western Michigan and travel to Indiana on Saturday night as underdogs.  They've looked great through three games.  

5. USC (3-0) - The Trojans beat Purdue and host Michigan State on Saturday night.  The offense has been on fire through three games.  Are the Trojans back?  

6. Washington (2-0) - The Huskies were off  and travel to Pullman to face off against Washington State in the Apple Cup.  The Cougars are coming off a 49-point loss to North Texas after starting 2-0.  

7. Indiana (3-0) - The Hoosiers shut out Indiana State and host Illinois on Saturday night in a "which team is for real" game.  

8. Michigan State (3-0) - The Spartans beat Youngstown State and travel to USC this weekend for an 11 pm east coast start.  The big question is, when will Ohio State have the pleasure of playing an 11 pm game?  Sometime down the road against a bad UCLA team would be my guess.  All for the TV networks... 

9. Nebraska (3-0) - The Huskers beat FCS Houston Christian and host Michigan this week.  This game will go a long way in determining if "Nebraska is back".  

10. Rutgers (3-0) - The Scarlet Knights moved to 3-0 against Norfolk State and open B1G play next Friday against Iowa.  

11. Michigan (2-1) - The Wolverines won 63-3 against Central Michigan, with Biff Poggi at the helm.  They travel to Nebraska this week.

12. Wisconsin (2-1) - The Badgers lost soundly to Alabama.  They were unable to get anything going offensively and let Ty Simpson throw for 382 yards.  They host Maryland this week in B1G play.  It will be an important game to determine whether the Badgers get to six wins.  

13. Iowa (2-1) - The Hawkeyes had no issues with UMass and travel to Rutgers on Friday night.  

14. Minnesota (2-1) - The Gophers lost at Cal on Saturday night.  They struggled without star running back Darius Taylor, who they are hoping to have back as they travel to Rutgers after their off week.  

15. Maryland (3-0) - The Terps beat FCS Towson and travel Wisconsin this week to start B1G play.  

16. Purdue (2-1) - The Boilermakers lost to USC to open B1G play.  They travel to winless Notre Dame this Saturday in the Battle for the Shillelagh Trophy.  The Irish won big last year in West Lafayette.  

17. Northwestern (1-2) - The Wildcats hung with Oregon for a while, before falling 34-14 on Big Noon Kickoff.  They are off this week, before hosting UCLA in week 5. 

18. UCLA (0-3) - Things have gotten very bad in Westwood.  After losing to New Mexico by 25 on Friday night, the Bruins parted ways with DeShaun Foster after only 15 games.  He probably didn't a fair shot, but this season was a lost cause and UCLA decided to get a jump start on their next coaching search.  The Bruins are off this week, before traveling to Northwestern in week 5.