2026 Big Ten Football Power Rankings – Week Two
Pete Pistone and the rest of the SiriusXM Big Ten Radio team will unveil “Power Rankings” each week of the college football season. Check out their Week 2 “Power Rankings” below, and start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. … Continued
USC is climbing up the rankings in the early going of 2026.
Pete Pistone and the rest of the SiriusXM Big Ten Radio team will unveil “Power Rankings” each week of the college football season. Check out their Week 2 “Power Rankings” below, and start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 257) on car radios and the SiriusXM app now.
The first weekend of the Big Ten Football season is in the books and here is how the conference stacks up heading into the third week of play
- OHIO STATE
A second half collapse let Texas back in the game and the Longhorns come back to be the Buckeyes 24-23, but Ohio State still leads the rankings.
NEXT: Home versus Kent State on Saturday.
- INDIANA
The Hoosiers rolling long through their non-conference schedule as expected.
NEXT: Home versus Western Kentucky on Saturday.
- USC
The Trojans have climbed to No. 12 in the national rankings and have an excellent shot at going 4-0 Saturday against Rutgers.
NEXT: At Rutgers on Saturday.
4. OREGON
Maybe not a devastating loss at the hands of Oklahoma State but it certainly turned up the pressure on the Ducks going forward.
NEXT: Home versus Portland State on Friday.
- UCLA
Have to hand it to the Bruins for taking care of business early and doing it in impressive fashion.
NEXT: Home versus Purdue on Saturday.
- PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions are No. 16 in the country with a decisive victory over Temple last weekend.
NEXT: Home versus Buffalo on Saturday.
- MICHIGAN
The victory over Oklahoma quieted the critics over Michigan’s sketchy opening night win against Western Michigan and was a very solid performance all the way around.
NEXT: Home versus UTEP on Saturday
- IOWA
A very Iowa-like performance on Saturday brought the Cy-Hawk Trophy over Iowa State back to Iowa City.
NEXT: Home Saturday versus Northern Iowa.
- NEBRASKA
A steady start for the Huskers after a 56-7 trouncing of Bowling Green.
NEXT: Home versus North Dakota on Saturday
- WASHINGTON
This 2-0 Huskies team has looked shaky at times but is still putting W’s on the board.
NEXT: Home versus Eastern Washington on Saturday.
- ILLINOIS
Losing to Duke at home is an early season hurdle the Fighting Illini are going to have to recover from in a hurry.
NEXT: Home versus Southern Illinois on Saturday.
- MINNESOTA
Mississippi State at home looked like it would be in the Gophers’ favor on paper but it sure didn’t turn out that way.
NEXT: Home versus Akron on Saturday
- MICHIGAN STATE
It’s a 2-0 start for the Pat Fitzgerald regime in East Lansing but the Spratana face a huge task this weekend.
NEXT: Home versus Notre Dame on Saturday.
- WISCONSIN
The Badgers as expected squared up their record with a win over Western Illinois is easy fashion.
NEXT: Home versus Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
- MARYLAND
It’s been pretty easy for the Terps on their way to a 2-0 start but things get tougher this weekend.
NEXT: Home versus Virginia Tech on Saturday
16. NORTHWESTERN
A second week bye for the Wildcats
NEXT: Home Saturday versus Colorado.
- PURDUE
After squaring up their record at 1-1 the Boilermakers now start conference play with a west coast trip to face UCLA.
NEXT: At UCLA on Saturday.
- RUTGERS
A tough season ahead has opened up with an 0-2 start.
NEXT: Home versus USC on Saturday.
