2026 Big Ten Power Rankings After Nine Weeks of Volleyball Play

The Big Ten Tournament in Fishers, Ind., is less than a month away and only 15 of the 18 Big Ten teams will make it into the inaugural postseason tournament.

Four will receive double-byes and four more will get a single-bye. The winner of the tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.

Last week, I said I didn't expect to see any team make any major jumps in the conference and while the door was definitely opened for a big shakeup in the top five, ultimately, things remained relatively similar this week.

Five of the 18 teams won both of their games this week. One didn't drop a set, one only dropped one set, and two won at least one match in five-set nail-biters. Five teams beat at least one ranked opponent and three teams won in upset fashion.

This week, rather than only discussing the top five teams in my weekly power ranking, I'll give an explanation for each team's position and where I think they'll end up in the Big Ten Tournament seeding.

No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers (21-0, 10-0, AVCA No. 1, Big Ten No. 1)

Previous Position: No. 1 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-0 vs . UCLA (RV), 3-0 vs. USC

There isn't much of an explanation needed for why Nebraska remains at the top of the conference power rankings. They have a perfect 10-0 conference record and have only dropped a single set so far this conference season.

They do have four ranked matchups still on their schedule so there is still a possibility that a team could take a match off of them. Never say never, as Oregon, Washington, Michigan State, and Minnesota have all pulled off upsets this conference season, but it feeling more and more likely that the Huskers will win their fourth consecutive Big Ten regular season title and earn that number 1 overall seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Up Next: Michigan, No. 22 Michigan State

No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers (14-6, 8-2, AVCA No. 8, Big Ten No. 3)

Previous Position: 2 (No Change)
Last Week: 2-3 vs. No. 20 Washington, 3-1 vs. Michigan

Wisconsin is the reason I say you can never say never in the Big Ten.

The Badgers were shocked on Friday night when Washington withstood their offensive onslaught to hand Wisconsin its second conference loss of the season.

Wisconsin was in danger of slipping in the power ranking, down 0-1 early to Michigan but the Badgers rallied and showed that while their team may be full of freshmen, they still had immense talent that could overcome many other teams.

Your now 4x Big Ten Freshman of the Week - Decelise Champion.

📝 | https://t.co/AgnAtg4XRm pic.twitter.com/OOuP36isRO
— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) October 26, 2026

Wisconsin isn't completely out of the woods in terms of their conference schedule with Michigan State and Penn State still coming up, but like Nebraska, it is very likely the Badgers will enter the Big Ten Tournament with one of the four coveted double-byes.

Up Next: USC, UCLA (RV)

No. 3 Oregon Ducks (17-3, 8-2, AVCA No. 12, Big Ten No. 2)

Previous Position: No. 3 (No Change)
Last Week: 1-3 vs. No. 13 Penn State, 3-1 vs. Ohio State

With Wisconsin's loss to Washington, had Oregon been able to hold off Penn State, the Ducks would have moved up to the No. 2 spot. But the Ducks' issue with consistency reared its ugly head this week as they looked completely discombobulated and unable to slow down the Nittany Lions' double-pin threats.

Oregon is in rhythm more often than not, which is why the loss this week was more puzzling than expected and why I still think the Ducks are the third-best team in the conference.

It took time for them to get there because they lost to the only ranked non-conference team they played. But they have clearly shown growth and an ability to win big games since then. I feel comfortable predicting they will also be one of the top four seeds in the Big Ten Tournament.

Up Next: Maryland, Iowa

No. 4. Washington Huskies (15-4, 6-4, AVCA No. 20, Big Ten No. 6)

Previous Position: No. 4 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-2 vs. No. 8 Wisconsin, 0-3 vs. No. 21 Minnesota

For weeks, teams 4-10 in the power ranking could justifiably go in almost any order.

Using records and the quality of wins and losses, especially this week, I had to reward Washington for doing what only one other Big Ten team has done, which is beating Wisconsin. That win has to be rewarded.

Unfortunately, the Huskies didn't have enough gas in the tank for Minnesota. Otherwise, the Huskies would have vaulted into the top three.

Washington's Simona Mateska with one of her record-setting 31 kills against Wisconsin | Washington Athletics

Washington has two more opportunities against the top of the conference. Unfortunately for the Huskies, their main adversary for the final double-bye in the tournament has four ranked teams left on their schedule, so not only will Washington need at least one upset, but they'll need some outside help.

Unless they experience an uncharacteristic collapse, the Huskies should be a top-8 seed at the end of the regular season.

Up Next: Iowa, Maryland

No. 5 Michigan State Spartans (17-3, 7-3, AVCA No. 22, Big Ten No. 4)

Previous Position: 5 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-1 vs Rutgers, 3-0 vs Maryland

Okay, I know. Michigan State won both of its matches last week, and Washington (currently ranked ahead) did not.

But Michigan State beat two of the bottom teams in the conference and Washington beat the second-best team. These two have been battling one another nearly all season and the gap between them (and the next team, Penn State) is very small.

Michigan State's path to a double-bye is a little trickier than Washington's and Penn State's and will require them to upset multiple teams.

Like Washington, the probability of Michigan State getting at least a single-bye in the tournament is very high. And the Spartans have shown their capability in the past, but will they be able to go toe-to-toe with the other teams fighting for double byes? They get two shots at another upset and a ranked win this week.

Up Next: No. 19 Indiana, No. 1 Nebraska

No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions (15-5, 7-3, AVCA No. 13, Big Ten No. 5)

Previous Position: 7 (+1)
Last Week: 3-1 vs. No. 12 Oregon, 3-1 vs. No. 19 Indiana

Penn State, Michigan State, and Washington are all tightly contested in this week's power rankings.

The Nittany Lions have finally started to look like a consistently cohesive team, with two big ranked wins where they upset the Ducks and avenged their shocking loss to Indiana last year. And they have come together at the right time in the season.

Penn State's Alexis Stucky (Left) and Kennedy Martin (Right, 18) celebrate in win over Oregon | Penn State Athletics

If Penn State's pins can keep up their firepower, they may jump into that top four in the conference standings. They're not entirely out of the woods, with at least three ranked matchups left on their schedule that they'll have to win to keep up.

Up Next: Ohio State, No. 11 Purdue

No. 7 Purdue Boilermakers (13-6, 6-4, AVCA No. 11, Big Ten No. 8)

Previous Position: No. 6 (-1)
Last Week: 3-2 vs. No. 21 Minnesota, 3-0 vs. Northwestern

Purdue dropping a spot isn't because of their wins but because Penn State's wins just being more impressive. The Boilermakers have been one of the more confusing teams this season, they swept a top ranked SMU in the Bahamas but then got swept by Wisconsin. They got reverse swept by Oregon but are the only Big Ten team to take a set off of Nebraska and showed resiliency by beating Illinois and Minnesota in 5 sets.

An absolutely UNREAL stat line for Grace Heaney last night vs. #20 Minnesota. 🤯

🔥 Double-double with a season-high 19 kills, 11 digs
⚡️ .390 attack % with just one attack error over the final three sets
🙌 Career-high-tying 6 blocks
♠️ Career-high 4 aces
💫 Career-high 26… pic.twitter.com/l27FdBaJVr
— Purdue Volleyball (@PurdueVB) October 24, 2026

They are currently teetering on the edge of even a single-bye in the Big Ten Tournament, having started the season in the top 5 of the conference. The Boilermakers have three ranked opponents on their schedule so they have a great opportunity to solidify themselves as a 5-8 conference team. A double-bye is likely out of the realm unless they go on a generational run and get some outside help, which starts this upcoming week as they take on Penn State.

Up Next: Rutgers, No. 13 Penn State

No. 8 Illinois Fighting Illini (14-7, 6-4, AVCA RV, Big Ten No. 10)

Previous Position: 10 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-2 Maryland, 3-0 Rutgers

Look, going to five against Maryland should be a punishable offense but they did go 2-0 on the weekend, which kept them just ahead of the surging Minnesota Golden Gophers. But they will need to look more dominant this week or they could tumble, even with another sweep. Illinois is a dark horse this season, especially given how their less-than-challenging non-conference schedule started. But head coach Chris Tamas has clearly found what works with his team as they've made waves throughout the conference season.

A single-bye isn't completely out of the possibility for the Illini, as there is a path into the top 8, potentially as high as a six-seed. Like so many other teams, there are very winnable matches left on their schedule and a few that will be real tests for Illinois.

Up Next: Northwestern, Ohio State

No. 9 Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-6, 6-4, AVCA No. 21, Big Ten No. 9)

I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT 〽️ pic.twitter.com/GlEIbROEW7
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) October 25, 2026

Previous Position: 11 (+3)
Last Week: 2-3 vs. No. 11 Purdue, 3-0 vs. No. 20 Washington

Minnesota, Purdue, and Indiana are all three teams that just haven't been able to find their footing consistently this season in a familiar way. The Gophers' best win is this most recent match against Washington but they sometimes play lights-out sets, if not complete matches. And that's the main reason they are on the wrong side of the first-day vs. single-bye conversation for the Big Ten Tournament.

I want good things for Minnesota, partially because I really thought they'd be top of the conference with all their players returning but also because I think they can be a very good team. If they can prove themselves with wins this week, they could sneak their way into playing on Saturday in the Big Ten Tournament.

Up Next: USC, No. 13 Penn State

No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers (12-7, 5-5, AVCA No. 19, Big Ten No. 11)

Previous Position: 9 (-1)
Last Week: 3-0 vs. Ohio State, 1-3 vs. No. 16 Penn State

Rounding out the group of Big Ten teams in the "potentially 5-8 in conference seeding" tier are the Indiana Hoosiers, who went 1-1 this week. Indiana has the same story as the teams around them - they have some good wins (No. 12 Texas A&M, Washington), some very good losses (2-3 vs. Wisconsin and Oregon is nothing to scoff at) but then losses where the team has seemingly fallen apart when the going got tough (No. 6 Tennessee, USC).

Indiana benefits from having played most of the top of the conference already so the rest of their season is manageable, especially since two of their remaining ranked opponents are teams 7-9 in this list. Of those teams, though, Indiana is the most likely to be right on the outside of the single-bye window, looking in.

Up Next: No. 22 Michigan State, Michigan

No. 11 Michigan Wolverines (13-8, 4-6, Big Ten No. 12)

Previous Position: 10 (-1)
Last Week: 3-0 Northwestern, 1-3 vs. No. 8 Wisconsin

Oh, Michigan, the way I thought you were going to do the craziest thing this weekend against Wisconsin, only to just run out of gas. I mean this sincerely, after winning the first set against Wisconsin, I started to wonder, "Could it be?" They didn't but that's not the point.

Michigan is doing better than I think most volleyball fans expected and they deserve that credit. They were pre-season ranked 11th, which is ahead of their current Big Ten ranking but looking at the rest of their schedule, it's probably where they'll end up. Last season, the Wolverines won 55 percent of their conference games. Currently, they're at 40. percent but could get up to almost breaking even in the regular season if they get an upset win.

The Wolverines are one of two "need a lot to go right to get a bye but should be solidly in the Big Ten Tournament" teams. They have two huge matches this week that will require a lot to go right to get but it's not entirely impossible to not be an upset team.

Up Next: No. 1 Nebraska, No. 19 Indiana

No. 12 UCLA Bruins (15-6, 6-4, AVCA RV, Big Ten No. 7)

Previous Position: No. 10 (-2)
Last Week: 0-3 vs No. 1 Nebraska, 2-3 vs. Iowa

UCLA and Michigan are two sides of the same group. Michigan some external help to win and UCLA needs to remember who they are to win. Both require a lot to go right but UCLA holds more of their own destiny than Michigan does. However, because of that, their loss to Iowa hurts them more than Michigan's loss to Wisconsin. There is so much talent on that UCLA squad and I had high hope for new head coach Matt Werle, who comes over from the men's side.

The Bruins came into last week riding a five-game win streak, including an upset victory over No. 13 Penn State but hit an absolute wall against Nebraska and were seemingly unable to recover, losing in five to Iowa. Their road to the tournament does not get easier from here, which is not good news for the Bruins' hopes for sneaking into a single-bye (which, if the season were to end now, they would have).

Up Next: No. 21 Minnesota, No. 8 Wisconsin

No. 13 USC Trojans (9-11, 3-7, Big Ten No. 14)

USC Trojans celebrate in their win against Iowa Hawkeyes | USC Athletics

Previous Position: 13 (No Change)
Last Week: 3-2 vs. Iowa, 0-3 vs. Nebraska

Now we've reached the group of teams that could make the Big Ten tournament simply because fifteen teams need to make it. I mean no disrespect to this group; they just have not shown anything that makes me feel confident in them for the rest of the season. I was high on USC early in the season but even before head coach Brad Keller stepped away, there were clear cracks in the foundation.

There is a lot of individual talent on this team. They just don't play as a team enough. My heart broke for their libero, who had to exit their match against Nebraska in the first set after being hit in the shoulders/face area four times. They have good blockers; they have good defense, but something has happened with this squad because they just haven't looked like it for the last few weeks.

I want to believe USC will make the tournament. They're just on the right side of the cutoff currently. But my goodness is the rest of their conference schedule just absolutely brutal. I think they still could make it but they'll have to come back together to be the team that beat No. 10 Arizona State and No. 19 Indiana earlier this season.

Up Next: No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 21 Minnesota

No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes (13-11, 2-8, Big Ten No. 16)

Iowa Hawkeyes players celebrate in win over UCLA Bruins | Iowa Athletics

Previous Position: 16 (+2)
Last Week: 2-3 vs. USC, 3-2 vs. UCLA

Iowa got a shot in the arm this week with their five-set win over UCLA, their first win over a team receiving votes this season. Unfortunately, they're going to need that shot, and more, to get more than three conference wins the rest of the season. Currently, they are outside of the Big Ten Tournament and have about a 25 percent chance of making it in.

If the Hawkeyes win the only game they're favored to win, they'll need Ohio State, Maryland, and potentially USC to lose out if they want to make it in. Which is a shame, since they looked like a much improved team early in the season.

Up Next: No. 20 Washington, No. 12 Oregon

No. 15 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-10, 3-7, Big Ten No. 13)

Previous Position: 14 (-1)
Last Week: 0-3 vs. No. 19 Indiana, 1-3 vs. No. 12 Oregon

Ohio State is likely to be the final team into the tournament, thanks to their wins over the teams around them, but they will need to do their part to really feel comfortable. Ohio State joins the ranks of Iowa, USC, and Maryland of likely not knowing their post-season fate until nearly every team has completed their conferece play.

The Buckeyes have a couple games on their schedule that they could win and, if they can get to five conference wins should feel more comfortable about making the Big Ten Tournament.

Up Next: No. 13 Penn State, Illinois (RV)

No. 16 Maryland Terrapins (12-9, 2-8, Big Ten No. 15)

Previous Position: No. 16 (No Change)
Last Week: 2-3 vs. Illinois (RV), 0-3 vs. No. 22 Michigan State

Maryland is the last of the teams that could sneak their way into the tournament with a couple of wins. Whether they end up as the 14 or 15 seed depends on how teams like Iowa and Ohio State do. To give the conference some credit, the addition of the Big Ten Tournament has made the end of the season really exciting for a handful of teams who may have previously been playing for pride over anything else.

Looking at their remaining schedule, the Terps will likely end up with four conference wins, which would be a significant improvement from their one conference win last season. As a whole, they have already increased their total wins from last season, so head coach Adam Hughes is showing progress with his team.

Up Next: No. 12 Oregon, No. 20 Washington

No. 17 Rugers Scarlet Knights (10-12, 1-9, Big Ten No. 17)

Previous Position: No. 17 (No Change)
Last Week: 1-3 vs. No. 22 Michigan State, 0-3 vs. Illinois (RV)

Oh, Rutgers. If teams were ranked based on how many sets they won or how good they played in individual sets, Rutgers would be ranked higher in this power ranking and in the conference. They have looked, at times, like a team that is so close to breaking through but is just unable to finish sets and matches. With only one conference win so far, I suppose they could still make the tournament but the odds do not feel in their favor.

No. 18 Northwestern Wildcats (7-14, 0-10, Big Ten No. 18)

Previous Position: No. 18 (No Change)
Last Week: 0-3 vs. Michigan, 0-3 vs. No. 11 Purdue

Not to sound repetitive but, oh, Northwestern. My goodness, what a rough season the Wildcats have had this year. Every conference needs a team at the bottom and the Big Ten has improved this season but the absolute drop-off from their seven-conference game-winning season to only winning four total sets so far this season is shocking.

There is only one, maybe two teams on their remaining schedule that they have a realistic chance of beating. That is to say, it's highly probable that the Wildcats' season will end on Nov. 17.

Up Next: Illinois (RV), Rutgers

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