Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 4: Iowa starts off Big Ten play strong

There hasn't been too much chaos yet in the Big Ten, with conference play just getting started, but in the next few weeks, things should hopefully start to shake up. So far, though, there have been some teams that have proved themselves more than people thought and some that have fallen short.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are still the top dog in the conference, but with Big Ten play on the horizon and four new teams in the conference, things could start to get interesting.

So here are the Week 4 Big Ten power rankings.

18. UCLA Bruins

Previous ranking: 18
Record: 1-2

UCLA is struggling so far in their first year in the Big Ten, starting out 1-2. The Bruins were dealt a tough hand having to face LSU in Week 4, and while the game was closer than some might have thought, UCLA is heading back into Big Ten play in rough fashion.

17. Northwestern Wildcats

Previous ranking: 17
Record: 2-2

Northwestern was able to get two wins in non-conference play against easier opponents, but after facing their first Big Ten opponent, who was actually a former Pac-12 member. The Wildcats faced Washington in their first Big Ten game and didn't get a chance to give the Huskies their "welcome to the Big Ten' moment.

16. Purdue Boilermakers

Previous ranking: 16
Record: 1-2

Coming off a tough week against Notre Dame where the Boilermakers got absolutely beaten down, Purdue wanted a bounce-back game. They unfortunately got a game where Oregon State took control and wanted to show they were still a team to beat.

15. Maryland Terrapins

Previous ranking: 15
Record: 3-1

Maryland wrapped up their non-conference play against Villanova with a solid win over the Wildcats. The Terrapins will now head back into Big Ten play, but they will face a tough Indiana team that is showing they are more than people think they are.

14. Wisconsin Badgers

Previous ranking: 14
Record: 2-1

After an absolute beat down from Alabama a week ago, Wisconsin got a much-needed bye week, especially after learning they lost their starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke for the season. The Badgers will come back to play, heading out to California to face USC.

13. Minnesota Golden Gophers

Previous ranking: 13
Record: 2-2

Minnesota was feeling pretty good heading into Big Ten play, starting off with Iowa at home, but the Hawkeyes ended up being too much to handle, both on defense and, surprisingly, on offense as well. the Golden Gophers will have a tough hill to climb, however, with two losses on the season.

12. USC Trojans

Previous ranking: 4
Record: 2-1

USC officially got their "welcome to Big Ten" moment, getting a thrashing from Michigan on the ground. Yes, it was a close game, but the Wolverines didn't even have over 40 passing yards in the game. The Trojans knew what was coming, and they still weren't able to stop the run.

11. Washington Huskies

Previous ranking: 12
Record: 3-1

Washington was able to bounce back after a late game loss to in-state rival Washington State a week ago by getting their first-ever win in the Big Ten over Northwestern. The Huskies still have a tough season ahead of them, especially with a lot of questions looming.

10. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Previous ranking: 5
Record: 3-1

Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola got a taste of the Big Ten when he and the Nebraska Cornhuskers faced Illinois on Friday. The Fighting Illini are much better than anyone expected, but Raiola took a lot of hits, including a game-ending sack that Raiola just couldn't get away from. Nebraska is still about a year away from being a quality team again.

9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Previous ranking: 11
Record: 3-0

Rutgers is 3-0 on the season after a close call against Virginia Tech in Week 4. The Scarlet Knights will now head into Big Ten play with a Friday matchup against Washington, hoping to stay undefeated and make a bigger name for themselves in the conference.

8. Michigan State Spartans

Previous ranking: 10
Record: 3-1

Michigan State is a team that no one knows quite what to do with. They are a team in a rebuild, but they are still 3-1 on the season so far. Once they get into Big Ten play, we will be able to see truly what kind of team they are.

7. Iowa Hawkeyes

Previous ranking: 8
Record: 3-1

Iowa was able to find their footing on offense this week, but again, it was in the second half. Right now, the Hawkeyes can afford to be a second-half team because their defense keeps them in it enough in the first half for the offense to wake up in the second half. The Hawkeyes still only have one loss and aren't out of the conference race yet.

6. Indiana Hoosiers

Previous ranking: 9
Record: 4-0

Indiana is one of two 4-0 teams in the Big Ten at the moment, and they are looking like another sleeper team in the Big Ten. They may not win the conference, but they could cause some chaos for the teams at the top, and that would be a sight to see.

5. Michigan Wolverines

Previous ranking: 7
Record: 3-1

After an absolute beating from Texas in Week 2 and a questionable game against Arkansas State in Week 3, the Wolverines were able to get somewhat back on track in Week 4 against ranked USC. Even though they have so many problems at the quarterback position, the run game for this team is top-tier and was the reason for their win this week.

4. Illinois Fighting Illini

Previous ranking: 6
Record: 4-0

Illinois is truly a team that is surprising a lot of people. Some people questioned the win over Kansas now that the Jayhawks are struggling, but a win over a ranked Nebraska team shows that this team is for real and could be a sleeper in this conference.

3. Oregon Ducks

Previous ranking: 3
Record: 3-0

Oregon had a bye week in Week 4 and will have former Pac-12 member UCLA up as their first-ever Big Ten game.

2. Penn State Nittany Lions

Previous ranking: 2
Record: 3-0

Penn State was also coming off a bye week in Week 3, with Kent State up in Week 4. The Nittany Lions had no problems with Kent State, unlike how they did with Bowling Green in Week 2. This is still a team that could rival Ohio State as long as they stay healthy.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

Previous ranking: 1
Record: 3-0

Ohio State had a bye week in Week 3 that set them up for a matchup against Marshall, the Buckeyes's final non-conference game before they head into conference play. As the favorite to win the Big Ten, the Buckeyes will be the team to beat going forward with every team throwing everything they have at them.