30 Day Countdown – Day 4: Big Ten Power Rankings

Initially, I was going to dedicate Day 4 to crafting my own Big Ten Power Rankings. However, Day 3’s article dives deeper, providing my rankings and how I think the conference will shake out overall. So here I am, choosing not to write the same article two days in a row. Understandable, right? 

Don’t get me wrong, though. I love power rankings. Closely monitoring the movers and shakers throughout a conference during the course of a season is a great way to track progress and momentum, and to build an extra layer of excitement into matchups that are already compelling. Of course, what good are power rankings if you only view your own? Sometimes I view other power rankings, and they give me headaches; sometimes they give me insight; other times they tell me what the national media thinks of Washington.

CBS Sports ranks Washington No. 19 in its 1-138 rankings. That slots the Huskies at No. 7 in the Big Ten. Here is the complete list. 

1. Ohio State
2. Oregon

3. Indiana

4. USC

5. Michigan

6. Penn State

7. Washington

8. Iowa

9. Illinois

10. Nebraska

11. Minnesota

12. UCLA

13. Northwestern

14. Maryland

15. Wisconsin

16. Rutgers

17. Michigan State

18. Purdue

ESPN slotted the Huskies at No. 6 in the conference in projected average wins. 

1. Ohio State

2. Oregon

3. Indiana

4. Penn State

5. Iowa

6. Washington

7. USC

8. Michigan

9. Illinois

10. Minnesota

11. Nebraska

12. Maryland

13. Wisconsin

14. Rutgers

15. UCLA

16. Northwestern

17. Michigan State

18. Purdue

Cleveland.com projected Washington to finish No. 7 in the conference. 

1. Ohio State

2. Oregon

3. Indiana

4. USC

5. Michigan

6. Penn State

7. Washington

8. Iowa

9. Illinois

10. Minnesota

11. Nebraska

12. Wisconsin

13. UCLA

14. Northwestern

15. Maryland

16. Michigan State

17. Rutgers

18. Purdue

While the above three aren’t an official power ranking, Yahoo Sports‘ is. Washington is the sixth best team in the conference if you ask them. 

1. Ohio State

2. Oregon

3. Indiana

4. USC

5. Michigan

6. Washington

7. Penn State

8. Iowa

9. Minnesota

10. Illinois

11. Northwestern

12. Nebraska

13. Rutgers

14. Michigan State

15. Maryland

16. Wisconsin

17. UCLA

18. Purdue