7. Washington Huskies (4-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 9 (+2)
Last week's game: W, 24-20 vs Maryland
The Huskies jump up two spots and finally surpass USC after their thrilling victory on the road versus Maryland. You can argue the Dawgs' ugly start to the game warrants them to not move up, or even move down in the power rankings, but that's part of football -- and the way they responded to adversity says a lot about the capabilities of this team. Washington finally earned some AP poll votes, and has a three-game stretch against Rutgers, Michigan, and Illinois that will be difficult, but winnable. If that happens, the Huskies will easily become a top-four, perhaps even top-three team in the Big Ten.
8. USC Trojans (4-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 8
Last week's game: BYE
USC had a bye, and thus stay put in the power rankings. The Trojans most-recent loss to Illinois still weighs heavy, and now feels like a more detrimental defeat than Washington's to Ohio State. They will have a chance to wipe that sting away, as the Trojans host No. 15 Michigan in their biggest test so far this season.
9. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-2)
Last week's ranking: No. 4 (-5)
Last week's game: L, 42-37 vs UCLA
Penn State may have just suffered the worst loss of any team so far in the 2025 season, falling to a UCLA team that hadn't won a game. It was a game that wasn't even close for a good chunk of it, and the Nittany Lions comeback at the end was too little, too late. Drew Allar is desperately missing Tyler Warren as a steady receiving target, and the defense simply isn't stacking up to the other top teams in the conference. Penn State is now unranked after entering the season as one of the favorites to win the national title -- you have to wonder if James Franklin is on the hot seat if this season spirals further out of control.
10. Maryland Terrapins (4-1)
Last week's ranking: No. 10
Last week's game: L, 24-20 vs Washington
Despite the loss, Maryland proved a lot against Washington on Saturday. Freshman quarterback Malik Washington continued to prove himself as a dynamic playmaker, and there's plenty of talent around him for Maryland to be labeled as a true threat in the conference. With Zion Elee, the No. 3 player in the class of 2026, on the way to College Park, this program has the potential to be scary soon. The results might not be entirely there this season, but this year feels like a turning point for Maryland's football program.
11. Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2)
Last week's ranking: No. 13 (+2)
Last week's game: BYE
Iowa gets the benefit of the doubt with Michigan State and Minnesota losing, and moves up in the power rankings despite not playing a game. The Hawkeyes should have an easy win this Saturday against Wisconsin, and then play Penn State in a game that appears more winnable than it did at the beginning of the season. We'll see if they can take advantage.
12. Michigan State Spartans (3-2)
Last week's ranking: No. 12
Last week's game: L, 38-27 vs Nebraska
Michigan State has now lost back-to-back games, but scored enough points in those losses (58 total) to feel better about than a team like Minnesota. UCLA is next on the Spartans' schedule, and then they will take on ranked Indiana and Michigan in a stretch that will tell the world what we should think of them.