The Big Ten officially opened conference play in Week 5, which gave fans old foes squaring off. That usually makes sense, since they’re all Big Ten football teams, but even former Pac-12 programs faced off.
Illinois vs Penn State was the marquee Big Ten game of the weekend, but it was the Jekyll & Hyde performances by Michigan and USC that drew the most buzz.
The Indiana Hoosiers and Rutgers Scarlet Knights continued their impressive starts to the 2024 season. Indiana is 5-0 and averaging the 8th-most points per game in the nation (48.8). Rutgers has won two consecutive one-score games, including at Virginia Tech. Both teams continue to be on the radar for bowl season, especially since Indiana is already one game away from being eligible.
The Big Ten enters Week 6 with 7 teams ranked in the US LBM Coaches and AP Top 25 polls. Four of those teams are ranked in the top ten.
On the opposite end, only two teams don’t have multiple wins. Purdue and UCLA are stuck on one victory, and it may be awhile before either gets another. Purdue could beat Northwestern in West Lafayette November 2nd. UCLA could win their season finale against Fresno St. if they don’t upset a team such as Minnesota or Iowa at home.
Let’s get into the power rankings.