One week of college football is enough to give us information. It isn’t enough to give us all the answers.

That’s an important distinction when putting together the first in-season Hoosier Tailgate Big Ten Power Rankings.

These rankings aren’t designed to duplicate the AP Top 25. They answer a different question: Who are the best teams in the Big Ten right now?

Our evaluation combines résumé, quality of opponent, how a team actually looked on film, roster strength and injuries. As the season progresses, résumé will carry increasingly more weight.

After the opening weekend, Ohio State remains the team to beat. Indiana stays right behind the Buckeyes, while USC makes the biggest early move.

Tier 1 — National Championship Level

1. Ohio State

The Buckeyes remain No. 1 until somebody gives us a compelling reason to move them.

A 56-3 opening victory was exactly what you’d expect from a championship-caliber program. Ohio State possesses elite personnel and didn’t give us anything in Week 1 that should change its position atop the conference.

2. Indiana

Indiana’s 52-16 victory over North Texas produced both encouragement and teaching material.

Quarterback Josh Hoover was extremely efficient in his Hoosier debut, completing 13 of 16 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns. Indiana’s special teams created explosive field-position advantages, and the offense turned opportunities into points.

Defensively, however, North Texas moved the football more consistently than Indiana would have wanted.

That keeps the Hoosiers behind Ohio State this week, but Indiana remains firmly in the conference’s championship tier.

3. USC

Biggest Riser

USC deserves the early jump.

The Trojans are already 2-0 and followed their season-opening victory with an impressive 39-0 shutout of Fresno State.

We’re not moving USC up simply because it has played an additional game. We’re moving the Trojans because the performance is beginning to match the talent.

USC has earned a place in the top tier.

4. Oregon

There is too much talent in Eugene to overreact to one game, but Oregon’s 34-27 victory over Boise State wasn’t dominant enough to keep the Ducks ahead of USC this week.

Oregon remains a legitimate national contender.

Tier 2 — CFP / Big Ten Contenders

5. Penn State

Coach Griff’s Team to Watch

A 45-0 victory over Marshall was exactly the type of opening statement Penn State needed.

The Nittany Lions still have plenty to prove, but Week 1 provided a strong starting point. If this continues, Penn State won’t remain outside the top four for long.

6. Washington

Washington opened with a solid 24-10 Apple Cup victory.

Nothing spectacular is required here. The Huskies handled their business and remain one of the teams capable of making life difficult for anyone in this conference.

7. Iowa

Iowa’s 40-0 victory over Northern Illinois gets my attention.

When Iowa combines its traditional defensive identity with enough offensive production to control games, the Hawkeyes become dangerous.

Tier 3 — Dangerous, But Prove It

8. Michigan

Biggest Faller

Michigan’s 13-12 escape against Western Michigan raises legitimate questions.

A program with Michigan’s personnel shouldn’t need that type of finish against Western Michigan.

It’s one game, so we’re not burying the Wolverines. But based strictly on what we’ve seen, Michigan has work to do.

9. Minnesota

A solid beginning keeps Minnesota in the upper half of the conference.

Now we need to see whether the Gophers can consistently produce enough offense to move into the contender group.

10. Illinois

Illinois remains a team I want to evaluate further before making a major move in either direction.

The talent is there. Now the résumé needs to develop.

11. Nebraska

Scoring 49 points is encouraging.

Nebraska has generated preseason optimism before, however, so we’re going to make the Cornhuskers earn their climb.

Tier 4 — Moving Up, Questions Remain

12. UCLA

A 45-24 victory over Cal is enough to move UCLA upward.

The Bruins aren’t ready for the contender tier, but that’s a positive opening performance.

13. Northwestern

Northwestern’s 34-18 win over South Dakota State shouldn’t be dismissed.

South Dakota State is accustomed to winning football games. Northwestern handled the challenge and deserves credit.

14. Maryland

Maryland put 62 points on the scoreboard.

The opponent means we shouldn’t overreact, but scoring 62 is still better than struggling against an opponent you’re expected to dominate.

15. Michigan State

Michigan State got the win.

For now, that’s enough to keep the Spartans ahead of the bottom group, but we need considerably more information.

Tier 5 — Bottom of the League for Now

16. Purdue

There were encouraging signs in Purdue’s 44-19 victory.

Given where this program has been, simply handling an opening opponent comfortably represents progress.

Purdue can move quickly if that performance proves sustainable.

17. Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s 41-13 loss to Notre Dame creates immediate concern.

Losing to Notre Dame isn’t automatically damaging. Getting handled by four touchdowns is different.

The Badgers have plenty to correct.

18. Rutgers

Someone has to occupy the bottom spot, and right now it’s Rutgers.

A 37-21 loss to UMass leaves no reasonable argument for placing the Scarlet Knights anywhere else this week.

Coach Griff’s Final Word

The most interesting development isn’t necessarily Ohio State remaining No. 1 or Indiana sitting No. 2.

It’s the movement immediately behind them.

USC has put itself into the championship conversation. Penn State made an impressive opening statement. Iowa looked like Iowa — except with 40 points attached to the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, Michigan and Wisconsin have immediate questions to answer.

That’s why these rankings will change.

We’re not ranking helmets, preseason expectations or historical reputation.

We’re evaluating what teams have done, what the film tells us and who we believe would win if they played right now.

Week 1 gave us our starting point.

Now they have to prove it.