Big Ten power rankings after Week 4: Michigan bullies USC

Heading into the season there was a clear top three in the Big Ten, Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State. Sure, the Buckeyes are likely in a tier all to themselves, but that’s how the conference was expected to shake out. 

Then, USC knocked off LSU in Week 1, and in Week 2, Oregon needed a game-winning field goal to beat Boise State just a few hours after Penn State narrowly escaped its home opener against Bowling Green. Now, after Week 4, things are starting to make sense again. 

Ohio State has cruised to 3-0 and has been at No. 1 in the Big Ten power rankings all year, Oregon rolled past Oregon State in Week 3 and sat out Week 4 on a bye, and Penn State coming off its Week 3 bye, pounded Kent State 56-0 with the best offensive performance in program history racking up 718 yards. 

Meanwhile in Ann Arbor, Lincoln Riley and the Trojans got their official welcome to the Big Ten. Michigan quarterback Alex Orji threw the ball just 12 times and completed just seven passes for 32 yards, yet the Wolverines beat USC 27-24 and executed a 10-play 89-yard game-winning touchdown drive. Kalel Mullings followed fullback Max Bredeson into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal to send Riley back to LA wondering if new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn fixed his defense or not. 

USC tumbles down from No. 2 to No. 5, one spot behind Michigan and just ahead of Nebraska and Illinois, two teams that met in Lincoln on Friday night. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola played exceptionally well in that one, even his one interception had more to do with his receiver not making a play on the ball than anything about the throw. However, once the game got to overtime, the Cornhuskers fell apart, backing up from the 25-yard line to their own side of the fifty before a fourth-down sack merciful ended the abysmal effort. 

Now, Illinois is heading to Happy Valley for a ranked matchup in Week 5 with a chance to enter the top group of Big Ten contenders. Aside from the Illini, the other team to keep an eye on in the conference is Indiana. The Hoosiers are still No. 9 here but could start climbing up the rankings if they continue their strong performances against more Big Ten opponents. 

Curt Cignetti’s team is fifth in the country in points per game (50.5), eighth in yards per play (7.8), 11th in total offense (513.8), and fifth in first downs (27.5). They took care of Charlotte 52-14 in Week 4 and with Maryland, Northwestern, Nebraska, Washington, and Michigan State as the next five opponents, the Hoosiers have a path to 9-0 before facing Michigan and Ohio State in mid-November.