Coach Griff’s Big Ten Power Rankings: The Film Forces a Shakeup at the Top

By Coach Griff | HoosierTailgate.com

Four weeks into the season, it’s time for the Big Ten Power Rankings to become more demanding.

We have enough football on tape now that preseason expectations should matter less and actual performance should matter more.

And remember what these rankings are—and what they aren’t.

These are power rankings, not standings and not another version of the AP Poll.

Every week I’m balancing résumé, opponent quality, game control, roster strength, injuries, analytics and, above all else, what I see on film.

That distinction creates some significant movement this week.

Ohio State takes over the No. 1 position. Indiana slips one spot despite remaining undefeated. Iowa makes a major move after winning at Michigan. Oregon goes into Los Angeles and beats USC. Minnesota earns one of the weekend’s more impressive road victories at Washington.

This conference looks considerably different than it did a week ago.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes — 3–1, 1–0 Big Ten

Ohio State moves into the top spot after dismantling Illinois 42–19.

The Buckeyes didn’t merely win. They produced the kind of offensive performance that changes a power ranking. Julian Sayin threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns, while Jeremiah Smith caught 12 passes for 217 yards and four scores.

There is also analytical support for the move.

In the data we’ve been examining, Ohio State is No. 2 in SP+ at 28.8, compared with Indiana at No. 4 and 26.9. FPI also has Ohio State higher: No. 3 at 27.8, compared with Indiana at No. 7 and 24.4.

The analytics don’t make the decision for me. They support what the film is showing.

Last week: No. 2

2. Indiana Hoosiers — 4–0, 1–0

Indiana dropping one position should not be interpreted as a condemnation of the Hoosiers.

They’re undefeated.

They also learned something about themselves against Northwestern that may ultimately be more valuable than another blowout victory.

Indiana had problems tackling. The Hoosiers didn’t consistently finish the pass rush. Aidan Chiles extended plays and forced Indiana’s secondary to cover considerably longer than the structure of the defense intended.

But Indiana also responded when the game became uncomfortable.

That’s important.

The difference this week is that Ohio State’s performance against Illinois, combined with the Buckeyes’ advantage in both SP+ and FPI, provides enough evidence to move Ohio State ahead.

Indiana remains one of the most complete teams I’ve evaluated in the conference. Now the Hoosiers have to clean up what Northwestern exposed.

Last week: No. 1

3. Iowa Hawkeyes — 4–0, 1–0

This is the biggest résumé-building victory of the weekend.

Iowa went into the Big House and beat Michigan 20–19, winning on Hank Brown’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Reece Vander Zee on the final play.

Michigan actually outgained Iowa 429–285.

That makes what Iowa accomplished even more interesting.

The Hawkeyes survived the difficult stretches, produced a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, intercepted Bryce Underwood near the goal line and then drove 91 yards in the final 1:46 to win the game.

That’s toughness. That’s situational football. And winning at Michigan carries weight in these rankings.

Iowa is 4–0 and has earned its place near the top.

4. Nebraska Cornhuskers — 4–0, 1–0

Nebraska keeps moving upward because the Cornhuskers remain unbeaten and continue to build their résumé.

This is also where being disciplined with power rankings matters.

Nebraska doesn’t jump into the top four simply because it is 4–0. The Cornhuskers move because the overall body of work is beginning to justify it.

They now have an opportunity to prove whether this is merely a good start or the beginning of something considerably more significant.

5. UCLA Bruins — 4–0, 2–0

Don’t overlook UCLA.

The Bruins are the only Big Ten team already sitting at 2–0 in conference play, and they’re one of four remaining undefeated teams in the league.

At some point, winning has to matter.

UCLA has done enough to move into the top five, and the Bruins now have an opportunity to demonstrate whether their undefeated September translates into staying power as the conference schedule becomes more difficult.

6. Oregon Ducks — 3–1, 1–0

One of the biggest movers of the week.

Oregon went into the Coliseum and beat USC 41–27.

And the Ducks had to deal with significant adversity after quarterback Dante Moore left the game in the second quarter following a targeting hit. Dylan Raiola took over and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns as Oregon finished the job.

Winning on the road against a previously unbeaten USC team deserves substantial weight.

Oregon is moving back toward where many expected the Ducks to be.

7. USC Trojans — 4–1, 1–1

USC takes its first loss, but I don’t believe one defeat to Oregon suddenly makes the Trojans a bad football team.

The concern is how the game finished.

Oregon scored 28 second-half points and pulled away for the 41–27 victory.

USC remains talented enough to beat a lot of teams in this conference. Now we find out how the Trojans respond to adversity.

8. Michigan Wolverines — 3–1, 0–1

Michigan is probably the most interesting team to evaluate this week.

The Wolverines lost at home, which matters.

But the box score also tells us Michigan wasn’t physically overwhelmed by Iowa. The Wolverines outgained the Hawkeyes 429–285 and controlled large portions of the game before Iowa produced the final drive.

That’s why Michigan doesn’t completely collapse in these rankings.

But finishing games is part of being a good football team, and Iowa finished.

Michigan didn’t.

9. Wisconsin Badgers — 3–1, 1–0

Wisconsin sits just outside the top eight.

The Badgers have already secured a conference victory, and their overall body of work keeps them in the upper half of these rankings.

But this is becoming a very crowded portion of the Big Ten.

Wisconsin now needs the kind of quality victory that separates it from the teams immediately around it.

10. Minnesota Golden Gophers — 3–1, 1–0

Minnesota deserves one of the biggest upward adjustments this week.

Going to Seattle and beating Washington 27–24 is significant.

The Gophers held Washington to only 40 rushing yards, produced seven sacks and two interceptions, and controlled possession for more than 36 minutes. Drake Lindsey threw three touchdown passes.

That’s exactly the kind of road performance I value in these rankings.

Minnesota didn’t simply survive Washington. The Gophers demonstrated a formula that can travel: defense, quarterback efficiency, pressure and physicality.

11–18: The Rest of the Conference

11. Penn State — 3–1, 0–1
There is still plenty of talent here, but other teams have accumulated stronger evidence through four weeks. Penn State needs a conference response.

12. Washington — 3–1, 0–1
The home loss to Minnesota hurts. Washington was held to 279 total yards and 40 rushing yards while allowing seven sacks.

13. Northwestern — 2–1, 0–1
The Wildcats lost at Indiana, but I came away with more respect for Northwestern than I had going into the game. They challenged Indiana physically and forced the Hoosiers to play four quarters.

14. Maryland — 2–2, 0–1
There have been positive stretches, but consistency and conference results have to begin carrying more weight.

15. Michigan State — 2–2, 0–1
Another team that needs to establish an identity as conference play takes over the schedule.

16. Illinois — 2–2, 0–1
The 42–19 loss at Ohio State sends Illinois down the board. The Illini moved the football at times, but Ohio State’s explosiveness created separation.

17. Rutgers — 1–3, 0–1
The record puts Rutgers near the bottom, but Indiana can’t approach its first road trip as though the Scarlet Knights’ ranking guarantees anything. Road conference football has a way of exposing teams that aren’t prepared.

18. Purdue — 1–3, 0–1
Until Purdue produces evidence to move higher, the Boilermakers remain at the bottom.

Coach Griff’s Final Word

This is why I enjoy doing power rankings more than simply copying a Top 25 poll.

The rankings have to move when the evidence changes.

Ohio State provided new evidence against Illinois.

Iowa provided it at Michigan.

Oregon provided it at USC.

Minnesota provided it at Washington.

And Indiana provided some evidence of its own—not all of it negative. The Hoosiers showed they could be challenged, make mistakes, lose an important player and still find a way to finish a football game.

But being 4–0 doesn’t automatically make Indiana No. 1 in a power ranking.

If I’m going to evaluate this conference from a coaching perspective rather than through an Indiana lens, the same standards have to apply to everybody: résumé, opponent quality, game control, roster strength, injuries, analytics and film.

This week, applying those standards reshuffles the Big Ten.

And that’s exactly what a power ranking is supposed to do.