Week 1 Big Ten Rankings 2024

The first week of Big Ten football has come and gone, which means it is time to start ranking the 18 teams in the conference. Sometimes it is difficult to judge based on week one. Some teams play a far inferior opponent, and sometimes it takes teams a week to grow into what they are going to be. Here is a look at the first Big Ten rankings of the year.

Big Ten Rankings Judgment

There are a couple of things that go into these rankings. Of course, did the team win? Well, the difficult part is the Big Ten teams went 17-1 this week. Which is great for the conference, but harder to rank for now. The ranking also takes into account the strength of their opponent, what was the score, and how they looked on the field. By week 11 this ranking could look pretty bad, but it’s a start. For now, this may be a “take it with a grain of salt” list, but here is the week one Big Ten rankings.

1: Ohio State

First up is the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes defeated the Akron Zips with a final score of 52-6. The first half started off slow for the Buckeyes, with the score being 17-3. They were still in the lead but needed a boost. That is just what happened in the second half. One thing about college football is that there is no preseason. This is their first true game action as a team, which could cause teams to start slow. Still, scoring 35 points in the second half leaves them first in the rankings.

2: USC

Early in the season, the USC Trojans had to show adversity. Facing a ranked opponent in week one is not an easy task. It was not the best game from USC. Quarterback Miller Moss was under pressure from the LSU defense pretty often. That will need to be fixed moving forward. Still, being able to score 14 points in the fourth quarter in a close game is what puts them in second this week. They will have to really show up against Utah State in week two to prove they are a dominant team.

3: Penn State

In third place is the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers with a final score of 34-12. This is another game that started off sloppy, including a fumble by the Penn State offense. On the third drive though, the Penn State offense got going. They showed signs of aggressiveness and are looking to score as many points as they can in games. Their defense let up a couple of runs and that will need to be cleaned up, but they are just as strong as they have been. Hopefully, for Penn State, this was not just a one-time showing of explosive play calls and they can keep it up. Their aggressiveness puts them third this week.

4: Washington

In fourth place is the Washington Huskies, who defeated the Weber State Wildcats with a score of 35-3. Heading into this season Washington was expected to be slightly lower in the Big Ten rankings. Yes, they were in the National Championship game, but they also lost their quarterback and top receiver in the NFL Draft. They still came in week one and showed dominance. This was a game against an inferior opponent, but that makes it even more important to make it a drastic score difference. It is time to see if the Huskies can keep this up, including when they face ranked opponents, and prove people wrong.

5: Oregon

In fifth is surprisingly Oregon. The Ducks defeated the Idaho Vandals with a final score of 24-14. For Oregon heading into the season ranked third on the AP Top 25 Poll, this should not have been as close of a game as it was. There was a moment in the second half where it looked as though Idaho could get away with a win. Oregon quarterback, Dillon Gabriel did pass for 380 yards and two touchdowns without any interceptions, according to ESPN. There is a sign of hope there, but their defense cannot let it get close. Oregon’s rankings moving forward will be interesting to monitor.

6: Michigan

At sixth in the Big Ten ranking for week one is the Michigan Wolverines. It is hard to believe that they could fall this low after winning a national championship last season. They did lose numerous positions to the NFL, and that includes their former head coach. Michigan defeated Fresno State 30-10, but it was close for a while. Their defense does pose a threat to their opponents once again this year. Luckily for the Wolverines, they pulled through in the end. If they play the way they did in the second half, they have a chance to move up in the rankings.

7: Iowa

The Iowa Hawkeyes did it. Not only did they defeat the Illinois State Redbirds and leave them scoreless, the Hawkeyes scored 40 points. Iowa has had a tough defense for years now. The issue has been that they could score points. Now, maybe they can. Quarterback Cade Macnamara sustained a season-ending injury in 2023, and returned this year passing for 251 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, according to ESPN. Now, it is time to watch for the consistency. If the Hawkeyes keep this up, they will be in the running for the College Football Playoffs.

8: Purdue

When it comes to the lower middle of the Big Ten rankings, it gets tough. But the Purdue Boilermakers are in eighth in the week one ranking. The Boilermakers defeated the Indiana State Sycamores, 49-0. Purdue was not a great football team in the 2023 season. They struggled and only won four games. Not only did they score 49 points, but they also kept their opponent scoreless, which is a big step up. The big test will be next weekend when Purdue faces the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This is a 1-0 ranked opponent coming off of a close game. How Purdue plays against a tougher opponent will be important to watch.

9: Maryland

In ninth is the Maryland Terrapins. They defeated the UConn Huskies with a final score of 50-7. This is a game against an inferior opponent, but as said with the other teams, that makes it more important to score as many points as possible. This was an overall team performance, with the defense forcing turnovers and the offense putting up the points. Maryland is lower because there is still a lot unknown, but they have a chance to rise on this ranking as the season progresses. Next week Maryland faces a Big Ten opponent, Michigan State, which will be an important matchup for the Terrapins.

10: Illinois

In tenth is the Illinois Fighting Illini who defeated the Eastern Illinois Panthers. The final score was 45-0. This is another all-around team win. Quarterback, Luke Altmyer passed for 213 yards and four touchdowns, according to ESPN. This is a great confidence boost heading into the season. The defense also forced two interceptions. Illinois is a team that can stay competitive in games but needs to finish. Next week, the Illini will face Kansas. This will be a game to watch for Illinois, as they face a tougher opponent.

11: Nebraska

In 11th place are the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska defeated the UTEP Miners with a final score of 40-7. It seemed as though it would be a close game in the first quarter, then Nebraska scored 23 unanswered points in the second quarter. There is a lot of excitement towards quarterback, Dylan Raiola. That excitement may be warranted. Raiola was completing some difficult passes, leading his team to a win. Next up, Nebraska will face the Colorado Buffalos, which will be an interesting watch. If the Cornhuskers can stop Travis Hunter, they may win the game.

12: Rutgers

In 12th is the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Rutgers defeated the Howard Bison 44-7. Heading into the game, it was known not to count Howard out. They had a strong run game, and their quarterback, Ja’Shawn Scroggins did very well using his legs. It took some time to adjust, but then the Scarlet Knights got rolling. They have a quarterback that can make easy passes and a strong run game. There is still a lot to fix, but it is a promising start. Next week, Rutgers will face the Akron Zips, in what is expected to be a windy and rainy game. How the Scarlet Knights play in rough weather will show what kind of team they are this year.

13: Indiana

The Indiana Hoosiers are sitting at 13th this week. The Hoosiers defeated the FIU Panthers with a final score of 31-7. This is a good start for the Hoosiers, but the offense could have been better. The defense did put in the work, limiting the Panthers to just seven points, which came in the second quarter. This is just the first game of the season and progress can happen. If Indiana’s offense steps up more against Western Illinois next week, they could move up in the Big Ten rankings.

14: Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Badgers are at 14th, closer to the bottom of the Big Ten rankings following week one. They did defeat the Western Michigan Broncos, with the final score being 28-14, but it could have been a better win. The Badgers’ defense struggled with completing tackles, which led to scoring drives by the Broncos. There were still some impressive plays by the Badgers that can be built upon moving forward. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke did well avoiding the sack at times, turning what could have been a loss of yards into a first down. Wisconsin has the pieces, they just need to get into the endzone more.

15: UCLA

The UCLA Bruins had a close one against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. They did get the win though with a final score of 16-13. UCLA, like the other former Pac-12 teams entering the Big Ten, will have a lot of traveling to endure this year. Heading to Hawaii in week one does not make this any easier. UCLA is starting the season in 15th on this Big Ten rankings. This was a close game and quarterback Ethan Garbers threw two interceptions. They will have a lot to clean up moving forward in the season.

16: Michigan State

In 16th is the Michigan State Spartans. They defeated the Florida Atlantic Owls, 16-10. The Spartans did not have the greatest season last year, and it is already starting slow. Luckily, they are starting the season off with a win. Getting a safety in the first quarter of the season is always fun. The offense did not score any points in the second half though, which is dangerous. They have to clean up the turnovers and get into the end zone moving forward.

17: Northwestern

In 17th is the Northwestern Wildcats who defeated the Miami RedHawks. The final score of the game was 13-6. This was not a great game altogether, very low scoring on both ends. The Northwestern defense did do well forcing two interceptions. The offense did turnover the ball twice due to interceptions but quarterback Mike Wright did rush the ball in for a touchdown. There is a lot to work on for the Wildcats moving forward.

18: Minnesota

In 18th is the only Big Ten team to lose over the weekend. The Minnesota Golden Gophers lost 17-19 against the North Carolina Tar Heels. This was a close game, but the Gophers could not get it done. They almost had a game-winning field goal, but it was missed. UNC quarterback, Max Johnson sustained a serious injury which is devastating. Hopefully, all goes well as he heals up. As for Minnesota, they have some work to do this year.