Big Ten Rankings: OSU #1, USC Surges, Nebraska Tumbles

**Michael Cohen’s Latest Big Ten Power Rankings Reveal Familiar Tops, Seismic Shifts Below**

College football analyst Michael Cohen has unveiled his newest Big Ten Power Rankings, with the top two spots maintaining a familiar look while significant movement, including a new powerhouse entry and a dramatic tumble, shakes up the rest of the conference landscape. The rankings, released following a weekend of key matchups, offer an early gauge of strength as teams head towards conference play.

Holding strong at the coveted number one position are the Ohio State Buckeyes. No surprise to most, the Buckeyes (3-0) reaffirmed their dominance with a commanding 63-17 victory over Western Kentucky. Quarterback Kyle McCord appeared to find his rhythm, delivering a stellar performance with 318 passing yards and three touchdowns. Ohio State now faces their biggest test of the young season this Saturday, September 23, with a highly anticipated road game against No. 9 Notre Dame.

Perhaps the biggest surprise at the top, the Indiana Hoosiers (3-0) surprisingly retain their number two spot. While their 28-7 win over UAlbany wasn’t a performance to strike fear into opponents, it was enough to keep their undefeated record intact. The Hoosiers will look to prove their high ranking is deserved as the schedule stiffens.

Making a splashy entrance into Cohen’s top three is the USC Trojans, debuting at number three. This inclusion acknowledges USC’s impending move to the Big Ten Conference in 2024. The Trojans (3-0) made a powerful statement by absolutely crushing Stanford 56-10. Heisman Trophy frontrunner Caleb Williams once again showcased his elite talent, throwing for 281 yards and three touchdowns.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Nebraska Cornhuskers experienced a significant freefall, dropping two spots to number 17 overall in Cohen’s expanded rankings. This came after a surprising 35-31 home loss to Northern Illinois on Saturday, September 16. The defeat marks an early stumble for head coach Matt Rhule’s rebuilding efforts, leaving Nebraska (0-3) searching for answers.

Looking at the rest of the current Big Ten conference, the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0) hold steady at number four. The Michigan Wolverines (3-0) climbed a spot to number five after a solid 31-6 win against UNLV. The Wisconsin Badgers (2-1), however, slid down a spot to sixth following their 31-22 loss to No. 20 Washington State.

Rounding out Cohen’s top nine are the Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1) at seven, the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-1) at eight, and the Maryland Terrapins (3-0) at nine.

The middle tier of the conference sees the Illinois Fighting Illini (1-2) occupying spot ten, followed by the Purdue Boilermakers (1-2) at eleven, and the Michigan State Spartans (2-1) at twelve. The Northwestern Wildcats (1-2) and Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-1) complete the current Big Ten rankings at thirteen and fourteen, respectively.

As the season progresses and conference play intensifies, these rankings are sure to see further shifts as teams jockey for position and contend for a spot in the Big Ten Championship.