Ohio State has tumbled from No. 2 to No. 8 in the latest Big Ten football power rankings, one of the steepest drops of the season for a program long considered a conference juggernaut. The Buckeyes, now 6-3, were described in the rankings as showing up “next to the definition of ‘surrender.'”
The fall comes in a week where unbeaten UCLA (9-0) holds steady at No. 1, with Indiana (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) right behind at No. 2 ahead of a marquee matchup against No. 20 USC (7-2 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PST on CBS.
That Indiana-USC game carries major stakes for both sides. A USC win would keep Lincoln Riley’s Trojans in position to make the College Football Playoff if they finish the regular season with victories over Maryland and UCLA. The rankings framed the contest as a potential turning point for Riley, calling it a game that could determine “whether Trojans coach Lincoln Riley is on his way out or on the verge of becoming one of the biggest comeback stories in years.”
Indiana, coached by Curt Cignetti, sits at No. 2 in the rankings and remains in strong position after an 8-1 start.
Movement Elsewhere in the Rankings
Several other teams shifted positions alongside Ohio State’s slide. Iowa (7-2) climbed to No. 3, while Wisconsin (6-3) moved to No. 4. Oregon (6-3), described as an “up-and-down team,” rose to No. 5, and USC itself climbed from No. 8 to No. 6 ahead of its trip to Indiana.
Minnesota (5-4) dropped from No. 6 to No. 7 after giving up back-to-back 75-yard touchdowns in a recent setback.
Further down the board, Nebraska (5-4) is dealing with coaching turmoil: offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen is out, and head coach Matt Rhule’s job status was described as uncertain. Michigan State (3-6), under Pat Fitzgerald, was credited with what the rankings called its “first signature win” of the season, moving up to No. 14. Maryland (3-6) fell to No. 16 following a setback against Purdue, and Rutgers (2-7) remains at the bottom of the rankings at No. 18, with the writeup noting that “playing out the string has never had such a depressing feel.”
