2024 Big Ten Football Week 8 Power Rankings: Oregon Moves Into No. 1 spot, Penn State Survives, and Wisconsin Rises; Week 8 Picks
Latest Big Ten Power Rankings: Oregon, Penn State Stay Undefeated, Wisconsin Surges After Rutgers Dominance
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Three undefeated teams remain in the Big Ten: Oregon, Penn State, and Indiana. Last week, the Ducks passed their stiffest test at home against Ohio State, Penn State earned a win against USC in overtime, while Indiana enjoyed a well-deserved bye.
Wisconsin is the biggest riser in this week’s power rankings, jumping up three spots after dominating Rutgers, while USC fell three spots after failing to put away Penn State in Los Angeles.
Outside of Oregon, Penn State, and Ohio State, there are seven other teams in the Big Ten with two or fewer losses.
Tier 1 - College Football Playoff Contenders
1. Oregon (6-0, 3-0)
Trend: +2
AP Ranking: No. 2
Last week: 32-31 win vs. No. 2 Ohio State
This week: at Purdue
Ducks head coach Dan Lanning finally collected his first signature victory, taking down Ohio State in a thriller at Autzen Stadium. We may see a rematch between the two schools in the Big Ten championship.
2. Penn State (6-0, 3-0)
Trend: -
AP Ranking: No. 3
Last week: 33-30 win at USC
This week: BYE
Penn State escaped Los Angeles with an overtime win over USC. Tight end Tyler Warren had a monster game for the Nittany Lions, hauling in 17 catches for 224 yards and a touchdown.
3. Ohio State (5-1, 2-1)
Trend: -2
AP Ranking: No. 4
Last week: 32-31 loss at No. 3 Oregon
This week: BYE
The Buckeyes got their first taste of Big Ten west coast football in Eugene. Can they play their way into a Big Ten championship rematch against Oregon? Their schedule gets tougher, with ranked games against Penn State, Indiana, and Michigan remaining.
Tier 2 - Outside, Looking In
4. Indiana (6-0, 3-0)
Trend: -
AP Ranking: No. 16
Last week: BYE
This week: vs. Nebraska
Indiana opens up as four-point favorites in a home matchup against Nebraska. Crazy to think that Indiana could be 7-0 after this week. Incredible coaching job from Curt Cignetti.
5. Illinois (5-1, 2-1)
Trend: -
AP Ranking: No. 22
Last week: 50-49 vs. Purdue
This week: vs. No. 24 Michigan
Illinois escaped with a win last Saturday against Purdue, despite holding a 24-3 lead at halftime. After that second-half collapse, I’m doubting that they will beat a well-rested Michigan team.
6. Michigan (3-2, 1-1)
Trend: -
AP Ranking: No. 24
Last week: BYE
This week: at No. 22 Illinois
Can Michigan regain its mojo? The Wolverines have two winnable games ahead against Illinois and Northwestern before hosting Oregon at The Big House.
7. Nebraska (5-1, 2-1)
Trend: +1
Last week: BYE
This week: at No. 16 Indiana
Heading into week 8, the Cornhuskers have yet to surrender a rushing touchdown. The only other team to achieve such a feat during the College Football Playoff era? Georgia. In 2019, Georgia finished with a 12-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory.
8. Iowa (4-2, 2-1)
Trend: +2
Last week: 40-16 win vs. Washington
This week: at Michigan State
Iowa regained its edge, completely dominating Washington at home last Saturday. None of the team’s six remaining games are against a ranked opponent. If they run the table and get some help, Iowa could sneak into the Big Ten championship game.
9. Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1)
Trend: +3
Last week: 42-7 win at Rutgers
This week: at Northwestern
Here come the Badgers. Their smackdown of Rutgers on the road earns them a jump in these power rankings. They have now won two straight games by 35 points or more. Northwestern will likely be their next victim.
10. Rutgers (4-2, 1-2)
Trend: -1
Last week: 42-7 loss vs. Wisconsin
This week: vs. UCLA
Rutgers has managed 14 points in the past two games. Can their offense wake up against UCLA this week?
Tier 3 - Bowl Bound
11. USC (3-3, 1-3)
Trend: -4
Last week: 33-30 vs. No. 4 Penn State
This week: at Maryland
USC was on the cusp of toppling Penn State, with a 20-6 halftime lead. The Trojans’ second-half collapse is perhaps the story of the season. After once being CFP contenders, USC is headed toward another season of mediocrity under head coach Lincoln Riley.
12. Washington (4-3, 2-2)
Trend: -1
Last week: 40-16 loss at Iowa
This week: BYE
It’s time to readjust expectations for this season if you haven’t already. My goal for this team is to extend their home win streak to 20 games with home games against USC and UCLA remaining. I’d also like them to get one more win against this trio: at Indiana, at Penn State, or at Oregon.
13. Minnesota (4-3, 2-2)
Trend: -
Last week: 21-17 at UCLA
This week: BYE
The Golden Gophers get a rest week after playing three consecutive games that ended with margins of victories of seven points or less.
Tier 4 - Bottom 5
14. Michigan State (3-3, 1-2)
Trend: -
Last week: BYE
This week: vs. Iowa
Can the Spartans stop the bleeding? They have dropped three straight games, including back-to-back games against Ohio State and Oregon.
15. Northwestern (3-3, 1-2)
Trend: +2
Last week: 37-10 win at Maryland
This week: vs. Wisconsin
This was the most surprising result of the week. I can’t believe the Wildcats’ offense put up 37 points in a game, but they did. Credit goes to Northwestern head coach David Braun who got his team juiced up for the conference road game.
16. Maryland (3-3, 0-3)
Trend: -1
Last week: 37-10 loss vs. Northwestern
This week: vs. USC
You won’t win many games with four turnovers as the Terapins found out in their blowout loss to Northwestern. Maryland hosts a dejected USC team this week.
17. Purdue (1-5, 0-3)
Trend: +1
Last week: 50-49 loss at No. 23 Illinois
This week: vs. Oregon
Purdue leapfrogs UCLA after narrowly losing to a ranked Illinois team on the road.
18. UCLA (1-5, 0-4)
Trend: -2
Last week: 21-17 loss vs. Minnesota
This week: at Rutgers
How bad can things get for the Bruins? Their lowest win total in the past 50 years has been three wins (1968, 1989, 2018, 2020 (shortened schedule)). Can this year’s team get to three wins?
Week 8 Picks
2024 Record vs. the spread: 16-18
2024 Record, straight up: 27-9
Week 7 Record vs. the spread: 3-2
Week 7, straight up: 3-21
Week 8 reader guest picker: Danny
No. 24 Michigan (4-2, 2-1) at No. 22 Illinois (5-1, 2-1) (Saturday at 12:30 p.m., CBS)
Illinois is ranked No. 9 in dropback EPA in the country. Michigan struggled to move the ball against Washington who ranks No. 11 in dropback EPA. I give Illinois the edge here.
The spread: Michigan is favored by 3 points
The pick: Illinois 28, Michigan 20
Danny’s pick: Illinois 21, Michigan 17
No. 12 Notre Dame (5-1) at Georgia Tech (5-2) (Saturday at 12:30 p.m., ESPN)
Notre Dame is rolling after its shocking loss to Northern Illinois. How will the Irish pass defense be without NFL prospect Benjamin Morrison? Morrison is out for the season after suffering a hip injury in the Stanford game last weekend. I think the Irish defense holds up.
The spread: Notre Dame is favored by 11 points
The pick: Notre Dame 30, Georgia Tech 22
Danny’s pick: Notre Dame 35, Georgia Tech 30
Colorado (4-2) at Arizona (3-3) (Saturday at 1 p.m., FOX)
Three potential first-round NFL draft picks are starring in this game, Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, and Arizona’s Tetaiora McMillan. I like Colorado’s weapons more than Arizona’s in this matchup.
The spread: Arizona is favored by 4 points.
The pick: Colorado 38, Arizona 25
Danny’s pick: Arizona 27, Colorado 24
No. 5 Georgia (5-1) at No. 1 Texas (6-0) (Saturday at 4:30 p.m., ABC)
We had Georgia-Alabama, then we had Oregon-Ohio State, and now we get a heavyweight battle between Georgia and Texas. This won’t be an easy victory for Texas, but Georgia has not been as sharp as the Longhorns this season. And this is a home game for Texas.
The spread: Texas is favored by 3.5 points.
The pick: Texas 35, Georgia 30
Danny’s pick: Texas 31, Georgia 30
USC (3-3, 1-3) at Maryland (3-3, 0-3) (Saturday at 1 p.m., FS1)
Up and down, up and down. Can USC stay focused and shed its disappointment after blowing its chance at upsetting Penn State? I still can’t believe Maryland got beat down by Northwestern.
The spread: USC is favored by 7 points.
The pick: USC 31, Maryland 18
Danny’s pick: USC 28, Maryland 20
Last week, guest picker Anthony went 2-3 against the spread, and 5-0 straight up.