Big Ten football power rankings after Week 2

The new and, can we say, approved — Big Ten conference is now two full weeks into the 2024 season, and we now have two games to judge teams instead of all of the knee-jerk judgements formed in our minds after seeing the seal break on the season last week.

We’ve been doing this for a few years now. We let all of the Big Ten football games play out each week then do our level best to make sense of what the pecking order is in the conference. With the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, we now have more to take into consideration, including later nights and more teams to try and sift through.

But hey, that’s OK, we get paid to try and figure this all out, so we’re here for it. So, how did conference favorites Ohio State and Oregon look this week? What about Michigan after being bludgeoned by Texas, having to replace so much lost talent and coaching personnel? And Penn State? Did the Nittany Lions look just as good in Week 2 as it did in Week 1? What are the surprise teams in the league so far? Can Wisconsin, Nebraska, or USC make a serious run at this thing?

Here’s a look at how we see the power rankings of the Big Ten after two weeks of action. Don’t sling mud at us just yet because we’re sure this thing will change a hundred different ways from now until the end of the season when we get even juicier matchups.

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week (No. 18 – no change)

Lost to Duke, 26-20

Why the Ranking

After barely getting by a MAC opponent in Week 1, the Wildcats fell to fellow protractor and calculator football club, Duke. The offense looks significantly challenged, but at least the intimate environment on Lake Michigan is worth taking in.

Next Up … vs. Eastern Illinois

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Last Week (No. 17 – no change)

Idle

Why the Ranking

UCLA barely got by Hawaii in paradise and had a week off to reflect on an offense that needs a spark of some sort. Unless there is…