1. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 1
Last week's game: W, 24-6 vs Washington
Ohio State did its job and went into enemy territory to snap a 22-game home winning streak belonging to the Huskies. By now, everyone knows about the weapons the Buckeyes have on offense, but it was their defense that proved why they're the No.1-ranked team in the country on Saturday -- it held a Washington offense that was averaging 55 points per game to just six points. Ohio State is the most balanced team in the nation, and well poised to defend its national title.
2. Oregon Ducks (5-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 2
Last week's game: W, 30-24 (OT) vs No. 3 Penn State
Oregon marched into a Penn State whiteout and emerged victorious in an overtime battle that tested composure to highest degree. Dan Lanning prepares his team well for big moments, which will pay off in the long run as games increase in magnitude. As always, the Ducks defense is full of uber-athletic game wreckers, and has great depth. The offense is well-balanced on the ground and through the air. The Ducks have a bye this week before welcoming Indiana to Autzen Stadium in what should be another exciting matchup.
3. Indiana Hoosiers (5-0)
Last week's ranking: No. 4 (+1)
Last week's game: W, 20-15 vs Iowa
The Hoosiers didn't dominate as much as they should have against an Iowa team that they significantly outclass, but a win is a win in gritty Big Ten football. Indiana has shown that it features some of the same characteristics that define the other top teams in the Big Ten: a defense that flies everywhere and a quarterback that can pilot the offense intuitively. Proving that last season wasn't a fluke is drastically increasing Indiana's stock as a football program. I'm expecting another College GameDay in Bloomington soon.
4. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 3 (-1)
Last week's game: L, 30-24 (OT) vs No. 6 Oregon
James Franklin taking another loss in a big game is not a good look, especially in a whiteout with your home crowd booming behind you. This team was expected to take a jump after a CFP semifinal appearance last season and another year of Drew Allar, but the eye test alone says that the Nittany Lions have actually taken a step back. It feels like its new spot at No. 7 in the AP top-25 is due to image rather than its actual play on the field.
5. Michigan Wolverines (3-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 7 (+2)
Last week's game: BYE
Michigan had a bye in Week 5 but move up two spots due to losses from Washington and USC. Now ranked No. 20 in the nation, the Wolverines play their Big Ten home opener this week against Wisconsin in a game they should win. They have tough games against USC and Washington after that, but even still, they should be favored to win the rest of the way until The Game versus Ohio State in the last week of the season.
6. Illinois Fighting Illini (4-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 9 (+3)
Last week's game: W, 34-32 vs No. 21 USC
Illinois had a gutsy win at home against a very good USC squad, a great recovery after the blowout loss suffered to Indiana the week before. That loss might've lowered the ceiling of what this Illini team could be, but make no mistake, every Big Ten opponent should be worried to see the orange and blue on their schedule. Illinois has the roster experience and coaching to make every game competitive.