The calendar has changed over to October, the weather is starting to change, and the Big Ten season is well underway. Before Week 5, there were six undefeated Big Ten teams. Now that Illinois fell, there are five.
In addition to the five undefeated Big Ten teams, five teams are sitting with one loss, and five have two losses. Purdue and UCLA, unfortunately, are sitting at 1-3 as the only Big Ten programs with losing records through five weeks.
Power Rankings the Undefeated Big Ten Teams Before Week 6
1. Ohio State (4-0) (1-0 Big Ten)
Wins over Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall, Michigan State
Ohio State has been the favorite to take the Big Ten from the jump and after another dominant victory over Michigan State, that has not changed.
The Buckeye starters played in the first three quarters against the Spartans. While the offense started slow with a field goal, touchdown, and ugly interception in the first three drives, the Buckeyes rattled off 28 unanswered en route to a 38-7 win. Early on, the Ohio State defense was gashed and was bailed out with a goal-line stand and two fumbles in the first four drives. Even the touchdown that was allowed was on a short field. The defense forced a fumble after a long drive then the offense gave it right back. After that touchdown, however, the defense stiffened up and did not allow a single point.
The duo of TreVyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins were held out of the endzone for the first time this year. Wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith picked up the offense. The pair hauled in 12 passes for 179 yards and two scores.
Next up, the Buckeyes break out the all-gray look as Iowa comes to town.
2. Penn State (4-0) (1-0 Big Ten)
Wins over West Virginia, Bowling Green, Kent State, Illinois
There was a battle of the undefeated Big Ten programs last week at Beaver Stadium and the Nittany Lions prevailed. Illinois gave Penn State all it could in this defensive battle.
Nicholas Singleton is off to a great start this year and has amassed 408 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. His running mate Kaytron Allen led the way in this one with 102 yards and a score. Through four games, both Allen and Singleton have run the ball 53 times. Drew Allar keeps developing and still leads the Big Ten in yards per attempt, yards per completion, and rating.
As expected, the Penn State defense has been one of the best and has rebounded after being exposed a bit in the win over Bowling Green. Stud edge rusher Abdul Carter racked up all kinds of national honors after seven tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, and he even broke up a pass.
This week, Penn State welcomes UCLA to central Pennsylvania and looks to keep the train rolling.
3. Oregon (4-0) (1-0 Big Ten)
Wins over Idaho (FCS), Boise State, Oregon State, UCLA
Oregon looks to be back on track after a few uninspiring wins over the first few weeks. Last week, Oregon took down UCLA, 34-14, in a battle of former Pac-12 programs.
The top Big Ten player with relevant Heisman odds is Dillon Gabriel and he had another efficient day for the Ducks. After another good day with 278 yards and three scores, he’s sitting at 1,192 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. Gabriel also leads the nation while completing 81.5 percent of his passes.
His favorite target on the day was Tez Johnson, the Big Ten’s Week 5 co-offensive player of the week. With 11 catches, Johnson accounted for 121 yards and two touchdowns. One of those scores was off a 52-yard reception to put the Ducks up 25-3.
Defensively, Oregon kept UCLA out of the endzone. The only touchdown by the Bruins on the day was a 96-interception return.
This week, Oregon hosts Michigan State.
4. Indiana (5-0) (2-0 Big Ten)
Wins over FIU, Western Illinois (FCS), UCLA, Charlotte, Maryland
Don’t adjust your screen. The Indiana Hoosiers are 5-0, the most surprising undefeated Big Ten team.
Few teams have been as prolific at scoring than the Hoosiers. Indiana ranks as the third-best scoring offense and former MAC MVP Kurtis Rourke leads the conference in passing touchdowns with 11. He has two receivers with over 300 yards already this year and a pair of solid running backs next to him in the backfield.
Defensively, Indiana is 13th in the country in scoring thanks to Mikail Kamara, among others. Kamara is one of those James Madison defectors who followed Curt Cignetti to Indiana and has registered at least one tackle for loss in four of the team’s five games.
With a win over Northwestern, the Hoosiers will be bowl-eligible for the first time since 2020. If Indiana got to 6-0, it would be the second time in program history, joining the 1967 team.
5. Rutgers (4-0) (1-0 Big Ten)
Wins over Howard (FCS), Akron, Virginia Tech, Washington
After four weeks, the Greg Schiano-led Rutgers Scarlet Knights are 4-0. The last time Rutgers started 4-0 was in 2012, the first season after Schiano left for the NFL, and finished as one of the four Big East champions in its final season.
Last week, Rutgers was pushed to the bring at home against Washington. In the end, the Scarlet Knights won, 21-18. The score is a bit closer than the game was, of course. It took a touchdown and two-point conversion with just over a minute left to make it a three-point game. Kyle Monangai put the team on his back and led Rutgers to a Friday night win over the National Championship runner-up from a year ago.
Rutgers’ secondary was fantastic in the first three games and limited opponents to just 134.7 yards per game. They were tested by the Huskies and were admittedly gashed.
Next up, a trip to Nebraska awaits.
