Ducks Take Top Spot in Week 8 Big Ten Power Rankings

© Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Week 7 had all eyes focused on a showdown in Eugine, Ore. as No. 3 Ohio State (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten Conference) took on No. 2 Oregon (6-0, 3-0). More than 10 million people turned in to watch the Ducks squeak out a narrow 32-31 win. The game came down to the final seconds but ended on a Will Howard slide as the clock hit triple zeros.

If a primetime top-3 matchup wasn’t enough, the 3:30 p.m. EST television time slot pitted No. 3 Penn State (6-0, 3-0 against USC (3-3, 1-3). Penn State travelled to the West Coast—a trip that hasn’t been kind to the B1G teams—but they were able to get the win in overtime 33-30.  USC had the lead early but let Penn State back into the game. After two questionable pass interference no-calls USC was forced to kick a long field goal and missed giving Penn State the ball and ultimately the game.   

In the surprise game of the week, Washington (4-2, 2-1), coming off a big win over Michigan (4-2, 2-1), the Huskies took on Iowa (4-2, 2-1) who were coming off a loss to Ohio State, but the Hawkeyes proved everyone wrong by winning in blow-out fashion. Iowa has scored 30 or more points four times this season, two more times than the previous two seasons.

The B1G has six teams in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll following Week 7. This marks the first time this season that Ohio State is not the top ranked B1G team as Oregon now moves into that spot after their win.  Like the previous week, the B1G holds three of the top five spots in the AP Top 25 with Oregon in the two-spot followed by Penn State at No. 3 and Ohio State at No. 4.

Here are the post-Week 7 power rankings as voted on by College Football Dawgs' Big Ten writers. 

1. No. 2 Oregon (6-0, 3-0)

32-31 win over Ohio State (5-1, 2-1)

Previous ranking: 2

Oregon started off slow this season, but the Ducks are taking flight now after taking down Ohio State 32-31. The game lived up to the hype with several lead changes but in the end, Oregon got the win. With the win, the Ducks put themselves in the driver's seat to play in Indianapolis for the B1G championship. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel was great in the game going 22-of-34 for 341 yards and 2 touchdowns, he also added a touchdown on the ground.

Upcoming game: at Purdue (1-5, 0-3)

2. No. 3 Penn State (6-0, 3-0)

33-30 win over USC

Previous ranking: 3

Penn State Traveled to the West Coast for a showdown with USC.  Penn State didn’t look good early as USC pulled out to a 22-6 halftime lead. In the second half, Penn State looked more like the No. 3 team in the country and outscored the Trojans 24-10 to get the game to overtime. USC had the ball first in overtime but after three plays had to kick a 45-yard field goal and missed. Penn State got the ball and made it to the USC 19 and on fourth-and-4, Ryan Barker hit the 36-yard FG for the win. 

Upcoming game: Bye

3. No. 4 Ohio State (5-1, 2-1)

Loss 32-31 to No. 2 Oregon

Previous ranking: 1

Ohio State is coming off yet another top 5 loss under coach Ryan Day. It was another game when the Buckeyes couldn't get a stop just when they needed it the most. Day is 4-5 in the top 25 matchups since 2021, and this loss just added to the narrative that he can’t win big games. There was some controversy in the game after Dan Lanning exploited a loophole in the rules late during the game and gained an unfair advantage. The play caused the NCAA to change the rule but unfortunately, it's too late for the Buckeyes. At the end of the day, if Ohio State made more plays in the first 49 minutes they wouldn’t have to worry about a play like that happening.

Upcoming game: Bye

4. No.18 Indiana (6-0, 3-0)

Bye

Previous ranking: 4

Indiana held their spot at four and had a bye in Week 7. First-year coach Curt Cignetti has Indiana off their best start since 1967. A large part of that has been the play of Ohio Bobcat transfer Kurtis Rourke. Rourke this season has completed 118 passes for 1,752 yards and 14 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions. 

Upcoming game: Nebraska (5-1, 2-1)

5. Nebraska (5-1, 2-1)

Bye

Previous ranking: 6

Nebraska, like Indiana, sat idle the past weekend but still moved up one spot after No. 22 Illinois (5-1, 2-1) just beat a bad Purdue team (1-5, 0-3) 50-49. Nebraska's only loss this season was a 31-24 game against Illinois in overtime. The bye week gave the Cornhuskers time to prepare for their second top-25 matchup against No. 18 Indiana. Nebraska heads into the game as a 6.5-point underdog to the Hoosiers.

Upcoming Game: at No. 16 Indiana (6-0, 3-0)

B1G Power Rankings: Nos. 6-18

6. No. 22 Illinois  (5-1, 2-1)

50-49 win over Purdue

Previous ranking: 5

Upcoming game: No. 24 Michigan (4-2, 2-1 )

7. No. 24 Michigan (4-2, 2-1)

Bye

Previous ranking: 8

Upcoming game: at No. 22 Illinois (5-1, 2-1)

8. Iowa (4-2, 2-1)

40-16 win over Washington

Previous ranking: 11

Upcoming game: at Michigan State (3-3, 1-2)

9. USC (3-3, 1-3)

Lost to No. 3 Penn State 33-30

Previous ranking: 9

Upcoming game: at Maryland (3-3, 0-3)

10. Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1)

42-7 win over Rutgers

Previous ranking: 13

Upcoming game: at Northwestern (3-3, 1-2)

11. Washington (4-3, 2-2)

Lost to Iowa 40-16

Previous ranking: 7

Upcoming game: Bye

12. Minnesota (4-3, 2-2)

21-17 win over UCLA

Previous ranking: 12

Upcoming game: Bye

13. Rutgers (4-2, 1-2)

Lost to Wisconsin 42-7

Previous ranking: 10

Upcoming game: UCLA (1-5, 0-4)

14. Michigan State (3-3, 1-2)

Bye

Previous ranking: 15

Upcoming game: Iowa (4-2, 2-1)

15. Northwestern (3-3, 1-2)

37-10 win over Maryland

Previous ranking: 17

Upcoming game: Wisconsin (4-2,2-1)

16. Maryland (3-3, 0-3)

Lost to Northwestern 37-10

Previous ranking: 14

Upcoming game: USC (3-3, 1-3)

17. UCLA (1-5, 0-4)

Lost to Minnesota 21-17

Previous ranking: 16

Upcoming game: At Rutgers (4-2, 1-2)

18. Purdue (1-5, 0-3)

Lost to 22 Illinois 50-49

Previous ranking: 18

Upcoming game: No. 2 Oregon (6-0, 3-0)