Updated way-too-early power rankings for new expanded Big Ten Conference in 2024
Update: We originally released these power rankings on Thursday, but a lot has happened since then that has altered the landscape of the Big Ten. From Washington losing their head coach Kalen DeBoer, to Ohio State getting some massive announcements that key players are returning for 2024, it’s clear that things have changed. On top of that, the Oregon Ducks have added a pair of elite transfer portal players, improving their outlook for the season as well. Because of this, we updated the ‘way-too-early’ power rankings at the top. The updates only impacted the top 8 teams; everyone below that stayed in their original spots.
The 2023 college football season has officially come to an end, which means that the past several days have been spent prematurely looking ahead to the 2024 season and what it might bring.
What it will bring is a completely new era of college football. Conference realignment will bring the death of a Power Five conference, and an expanded College Football Playoff will allow 12 teams to compete for a championship. As the week has gone on, we’ve looked at ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25 rankings, and we also made some predictions of our own, projecting which 12 teams will ultimately make it into the first expanded playoff.
Now we want to look at the predictions by conference. The Oregon Ducks, along with USC, UCLA, and Washington, are joining the Big Ten Conference, where they will compete with Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State for a conference title.
With the transfer portal still churning and recruiting classes yet to be finalized, it’s a bit too early to get a perfect look at roster construction for each school, but at this moment in time, here are our power rankings for the 2024 season in the Big Ten:
Ohio State Buckeyes
Final Record in 2023: 11-2
2024 Preseason Ranking: No. 5
Analysis: (Update) — Over the past day, Ohio State got word that both RB TreVeyon Henderson and DL J.T. Tuimoloau would be returning for the 2024 season. Those two were among the best players on the team, so in my book, that is enough to bump Ohio State up to the top of the rankings, where they were previously ranked at No. 2 behind Michigan.
Original: There were questions about how good Ohio State would be after Kyle McCord entered the portal, but the addition of Will Howard should have them near the top of the rankings once again. With the deep roster full of blue-chip talent, the Buckeyes should be in the playoff mix once again.
Oregon Ducks
Photo Courtesy of Oregon Athletic Department
Final Record in 2023: 12-2
2024 Preseason Ranking: No. 3
Analysis: (Update) — Since our original power rankings, the Ducks have added WR Evan Stewart, the No. 2 player in the transfer portal, and DT Ja’Maree Caldwell, the No. 17 player in the transfer portal. The roster continues to get stacked with talent, and there’s a good chance that Oregon enters the season as one of the favorites to win the national championship. This caused us to bump them up over Michigan and into the No. 2 spot.
The Ducks have been pegged as the No. 3 team in the nation going into 2024, so it’s not a hot take to think they may be pretty good and will compete for the Big Ten title in their first year. I think that’s very possible, but it’s still too early for me to put them at the top of the power rankings. Dillon Gabriel should be great, and the roster is as loaded as Eugene has seen in quite some time. Expectations are high for 2024.
Michigan Wolverines
Michael Allio-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 15-0
2024 Preseason Ranking: No. 6
Analysis: (Update) — While the departure of Kris Jenkins certainly hurts, the Wolverines roster is still in good shape, for now… We’re still waiting on the future for Jim Harbaugh, JJ McCarthy, and a lot of other players. In the mean time, I felt comfortable moving Ohio State and Oregon ahead of Michigan.
Original: At the moment, I have the Wolverines at the top of my rankings, assuming that both Jim Harbaugh and J.J. McCarthy return for 2024. However, it’s incredibly possible that both end up leaving, in which case I would drop Michigan a bit. For now, though, the defending national champions deserve the top spot.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 10-3
2024 Preseason Ranking: No. 12
Analysis: It seems like Penn State is a really solid team every year, competing for a conference title with a good offense and a good defense. Down the stretch of the year, Drew Allar started to show some flashes of being a great passer, so if he can continue to make that leap, I think the Nittany Lions could be a real threat to get into the playoff.
USC Trojans
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 8-5
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: What do the Trojans look like without Caleb Williams running the show? Who knows, but it could be tough. USC was a massive disappointment last year, and we need to see Lincoln Riley turn things around before we can project that they will compete for a playoff spot.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 10-4
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: Iowa seems to defy logic each and every year by being a successful team with one of the worst offenses in the nation, but I think they might be able to keep it up. They will get hurt by the loss of divisions in the conference though, so I think it’s going to be tough for them to compete for a conference title.
Wisconsin Badgers
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Final Record in 2023: 7-6
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: Wisconsin wasn’t terrible last year. With the addition of Tyler Van Dyke for the second season of Luke Fickell at the helm, I think they could be a sleeper team in the conference and at least hang around the fringes of competing for a conference title.
Washington Huskies
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Final Record in 2023: 14-1
2024 Preseason Ranking: No. 11
Analysis: (Update) —If you lose your head coach, and have the majority of your starters either enter the transfer portal or declare for the NFL Draft, you’re going to drop in the rankings. It’s been a brutal week for the Huskies, which started out with a blowout loss in the national championship game. To be honest, if things don’t stabilize, they could be lower on this list before the start of the season.
Original: The Huskies earned a trip to the national championship game in 2023. However, they lose Michael Penix, their three leading receivers, several offensive linemen and some of their best defenders. It’s fair to question if they can reach the same heights next year. Kalen DeBoer is one of the best coaches in the nation, so I believe Washington will be a good team, but I’m not sure they’re a playoff team at the top of the Big Ten in 2024 with Will Rogers under center.
Michigan State Spartans
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 4-8
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: Michigan State had a tough 2023 due to the firing of Mel Tucker, but it could turn things around with new coach Jonathan Smith. Thanks to some of the additions they’ve made via the transfer portal, I think they could be decent in 2024.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 5-7
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: It will be interesting to see what Nebraska looks like in the second year under Matt Rhule. It is adding Dylan Raiola, one of the best QB recruits in recent memory, but it may be a year or two before they can compete for a Big Ten title. I think they should be near the middle of the conference, though.
UCLA Bruins
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Final Record in 2023: 8-5
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: I am very curious to see how UCLA handles itself in the Big Ten. It lost quarterback Dante Moore and doesn’t seem to have much cohesiveness. I think they will tread water, but I definitely don’t expect them to compete for the conference title.
Maryland Terrapins
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 8-5
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: I think Maryland was pretty impressive last year but with the loss of Taulia Tagovailoa, their future is relatively uncertain. The Terps finished in the top half of the conference last year, and the addition of MJ Morris from NC State could certainly keep them there, but we need to see it before we believe it.
Northwestern Wildcats
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 8-5
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: Northwestern’s 8-5 record in 2023 was incredibly impressive, especially considering the way its season started and the firing of longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald. David Braun did an excellent job, and ultimately got the interim tag removed from his title. It will be interesting to see what he can do going forward, but I think it’s too early to think Northwestern will compete in the top half of the league.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 7-6
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: Greg Schiano impressed in 2023 by going 7-6 and making Rutgers bowl-eligible, ultimately winning the Pinstripe Bowl. That feels like it may be the peak of the Scarlet Knights’ abilities, though, since they’ve won more than seven games just once in the past 10 years.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 6-7
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: PJ Fleck is entering his eigtth year with the Golden Gophers, and the promise of that 11-2 season in 2019 has definitely worn off. Though Minnesota has won bowl games in three straight years, it doesn’t project as a team capable of competing in the top half of the conference.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 5-7
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: Brett Bielema has hovered in mediocrity over the past few years at Illinois. The roster isn’t talented enough to compete in the Big Ten, so until recruiting improves or it magically becomes a transfer destination, that should stay the same.
Indiana Hoosiers
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Final Record in 2023: 3-9
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: The Hoosiers finished as the lowest-ranked team in the Big Ten in 2023, and I haven’t seen any reason to believe that will change much. This will be Curt Cignetti’s first year at the helm. While he could very well usher a new era of success to Indiana, I don’t expect it to happen this year.
Purdue Boilermakers
Final Record in 2023: 4-8
2024 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: In his first year with Purdue, Ryan Walters went 4-8 with Hudson Card leading the way. There’s a chance they improve a bit in Year 2 under the new regime, but I don’t expect it to get out of the basement of the conference.
