ESPN ranks Big Ten Football teams from first to last after Week 10

ESPN ranked all 18 Big Ten football teams from first to last after Week 10 of the college football season. There wasn’t too much movement, but there is a clear gap between the top teams the next couple of tiers.

Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana are considered the best three teams in the Big Ten. However, you rank them is up to you!

We’ll dive in ESPN’s rankings using their FPI metrics and ratings. We’ll start at the top as we get to the final four weeks of the regular season!

1. Ohio State

The Buckeyes top the Big Ten once again and are No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Julian Sayin leads the way with absurd numbers at QB and has a great chance to win the Heisman Trophy.

They’ll have to avoid a trap game against Purdue (it’s happened before), but it seems like Ohio State is on cruise control for now. Of course, until it’s all up for grabs against Michigan in the finale.

2. Indiana

The Hoosiers are a wagon. At this rate, Indiana and Ohio State are bound to meet in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis.

Fernando Mendoza is playing nearly at the same level as Sayin under center. Curt Cignetti has this team in the national title picture as well.

3. Oregon

Oregon, well, don’t forget about Oregon! They have the head to head loss to Indiana, but they’re not totally out of the Big Ten title race.

They’ll need some help to get there, but they’re at least in the CFP race right now. The Ducks have a solid QB in Dante Moore, a ferocious defense and a tenacious head coach.

4. USC

USC will host Northwestern Friday night to try and keep their Big Ten and CFP hopes alive. They have Iowa next week and Oregon after that, so the schedule doesn’t get any easier. They also have rival UCLA to conclude the season.

Lincoln Riley quietly has this team humming and they already have a win over Michigan. Don’t sleep on Jayden Maiava carrying this team in the end.

5. Michigan

Speaking of Michigan, they are 7-2 and could certainly shake up the Big Ten race if they win out as well. Their lone conference loss is to USC, but having Northwestern on November 15th, Maryland the next week and then Ohio State, there’s opportunity.

Imagine they beat Ohio State the final week? They’ll certainly rise the rankings and if they’re 10-2, the College Football Playoff is a reality. Heck, maybe even the Big Ten Championship.

6. Iowa

Now we get to the ever consistent Iowa Hawkeyes, a Big Ten standard. Kirk Ferentz actually has this team in the College Football Playoff mix!

They’re coming off a bye week and can shake things up if they upset Oregon at home this week. Iowa ends with USC, Michigan State and Nebraska.

7. Penn State

Penn State is still in the top 10 of the Big Ten rankings, per ESPN’s FPI. But this team has lost five in a row and the two games without James Franklin as their head coach.

With no Drew Allar and  a bad losing streak, Penn State has to rally to make a bowl game at this point. They host No. 2 Indiana this week, so that’ll be quite the challenge.

8. Washington

Washington knocked off Illinois before a bye week to improve to 6-2. The Huskies should actually be favored in their next three games and if they’re 9-2 going into the finale against Oregon, things could be very interesting.

Making the Big Ten Championship? Probably not due to losses to Ohio State and Michigan. But making the CFP? Let’s not rule it out if they win out.

9. Illinois

Illinois got back on the winning end of things with a dominant win over Rutgers last week. But at 6-3, the Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff are probably out of reach.

Still, the Fighting Illini can make some noise for a solid bowl game. They should be favored in their final three games against Maryland, Wisconsin and Northwestern.

10. Nebraska

And now we get to Nebraska, which rounds out the Big Ten top 10. The Huskers lost Dylan Raiola for the season due to injury and now have to rally with a backup QB.

At 6-3, the preseason hype about being a playoff dark horse is pretty much done. But it’s a manageable schedule the rest of the way with UCLA, Penn State and Iowa.

ESPN updates Big Ten Rankings after Week 10

11. Northwestern
12. Maryland
13. Wisconsin
14. Minnesota
15. Rutgers
16. Michigan State
17. UCLA
18. Purdue