Big Ten Power Rankings Finalized Before College Football Playoff

Conference championship weekend has come to a close, and the College Football Playoff bracket is now set. From the Big Ten, No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers, No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, and No. 5 Oregon Ducks made the field.

Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks the sideline Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The college football season has now shifted to "bowl season" as conference title weekend came to a close. The Big Ten ended up getting three teams in the College Football Playoff: the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers, No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, and No. 5 Oregon Ducks.

How does the final edition of the Big Ten Power Rankings before the playoff shake out?

Big Ten Top 10 Power Rankings

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day yells for his players to stop while leaving the field following the Big Ten Conference championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025. Ohio State lost 13-10. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

1. Indiana Hoosiers: 13-0 (Last Week: 2)

The Indiana Hoosiers stunned the college football world in the Big Ten championship game by beating the reigning national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. A tip of the cap to Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who has his team as the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff and now atop the Big Ten power rankings. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks like he will be taking home the Heisman trophy.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes: 12-1 (Last Week: 1)

For the first time all season, Ohio State finds themselves out of the top spot in the Big Ten power rankings. Just like last season, the Buckeyes will enter the playoff off a loss. That ended up working out last season.

3. Oregon Ducks: 11-1 (Last Week: 3)

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, right, walks the field during warmups as the Oregon Ducks take on the Washington Huskies on Nov. 29, 2025, at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon locked up a spot in the College Football Playoff and will be the No. 5 seed. They will host the No. 12 James Madison Dukes at Autzen Stadium. There is a clear gap in the Big Ten between the top three teams and the rest. This is Oregon's second straight playoff appearance.

4. USC Trojans: 9-3 (Last Week: 4)

USC will face the TCU Horned Frogs in the Valero Alamo Bowl. The Trojans have a chance to win 10 games for the first time since Lincoln Riley's first season coaching USC back in 2022.

5. Michigan Wolverines: 9-3 (Last Week: 5)

Michigan fans have to be happy with the Big Ten title result. Next up they will play the Texas Longhorns in the Citrus Bowl, where they have the opportunity to win 10 games for the first time since Jim Harbaugh was coach.

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6. Iowa Hawkeyes: 8-4 (Last Week: 6)

Nov 28, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Kaden Wetjen (21) runs against Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Deshon Singleton (8) during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Iowa will take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The Hawkeyes came close to beating conference opponents like Oregon and USC, but instead Iowa finishes the year with four losses.

7. Illinois Fighting Illini : 8-4 (Last Week: 7)

Illinois and the Tennessee Volunteers meet in the Music City Bowl in a stadium that will be full of the color orange.

8. Washington Huskies: 8-4 (Last Week: 8)

Nov 15, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The Huskies will have an early bowl game on Dec. 13 against the Boise State Broncos, winners of the Mountain West, in the LA Bowl.

9. Penn State Nittany Lions: 6-6 (Last Week: 9)

Penn State will play Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. It's stunning that this is a bowl game and not a playoff matchup, based on preseason rankings.

10. Northwestern Wildcats: 6-6 (Last Week: 10)

Northwestern will aim to finish the year with a winning record when they play Central Michigan in the Sports Bowl.