Big Ten Remains Top-Heavy in Associated Press, Coaches Polls

The conference has four teams in the top five of both major polls released Sunday.

Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Amin Vanover (15) celebrates after sacking Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Penn State Nittany Lions won 49-10. / Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Big Ten Conference flexed its top-heavy status once again Saturday, leading to another week of leading both of the major college football polls.

After a chaotic week with several Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference teams losing in the top 25, the Big Ten remained atop the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. No. 1 Oregon (11-0, 8-0 B1G) avoided disaster with a narrow escape at Wisconsin, winning 16-13. The Ducks received all of the first-place votes in both polls for the second-straight week. Oregon has remained in the driver's seat since Oct. 19.

Ohio State (9-1, 6-1 B1G) stayed at No. 2 in both polls after defeating Northwestern 31-7. The Buckeyes' lone loss this season was to the top-rated Ducks in Eugene on Oct. 12

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) and tight end Bennett Christian (85) celebrate a touchdown by wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. Ohio State won 31-7. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Penn State (9-1, 6-1 B1G) blasted Purdue 49-10 Saturday to remain in the top five at No. 4, followed by No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0), which was on a bye leading into the Hoosiers' pivotal road test Saturday at Ohio State. The Hoosiers and Nittany Lions each climbed up one spot in the coaches poll after Tennessee fell to Georgia, dropping the Volunteers from No. 4 to No. 11.

The lone non-Big Ten contender at the top was No. 3 Texas (9-1, 5-1 SEC) after the Longhorns avoided an upset at Arkansas with a 20-10 victory. The Southeastern Conference's marquee draw of Saturday pushed the Georgia Bulldogs (8-2, 6-2 SEC) up to No. 8 in both polls while Tennessee (8-2, 5-2 SEC) fell to No. 10 in the AP ranking.

The SEC has five teams in the top ten, including Texas, No. 7 Alabama, Georgia, No. 9 Ole Miss, and the Volunteers. No. 15 Texas A&M and No. 19 South Carolina rounded out the conference's seven appearances in the top 25 of each poll.

Georgia running back Nate Frazier (3) avoids a tackle from Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter (23) during the second half of a NCAA college football game against Tennessee in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. / Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Big Ten had five total teams in the AP Poll, as Illinois (7-3, 4-3) claimed the No. 24 spot in this week's rankings.

The highest-ranked ACC programs in the AP poll included No. 11 Miami (9-1, 5-1 ACC), No. 13 SMU (9-1, 6-0 ACC), and No. 17 Clemson (8-2, 7-1 ACC). In the coaches rankings, the Hurricanes are No. 10, the Mustangs at No. 12, and the Tigers at No. 16.

The Big 12 Conference dipped out of the top 10 after No. 14 BYU (9-1, 6-1 B12) stumbled at home against unranked Kansas. No. 16 Colorado (8-2, 6-1 B12) continuecontinued to impress with a home win against Utah while No. 21 Arizona State (8-2, 5-2 B12) and No. 22 Iowa State (8-2, 5-2 B12) remain in contention for the conference title game following wins.

Nov 16, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Melquan Stovall (5) is chased by Kansas State Wildcats safety Marques Sigle (21) during the third quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. / Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

The highest ranked non-Power Four conference school remains Boise State, as the No. 12 Broncos (9-1) continued their winning against San Jose State. No. 18 Army (9-0) remained as one of only three remaining unbeaten teams in the nation, while No. 20 Tulane (9-2) rose up five spots in the AP poll. No. 23 UNLV (8-2) and No. 25 Washington State (8-2) rounded out the top 25 for each poll. Kansas Sate (7-3) and Memphis (9-2) were the final two teams in the coaches rankings.

Nebraska football has played four teams currently rated in the Top 25, including a win over Colorado on Sept. 7. The Huskers dropped a home overtime battle to Illinois in September, while losing at Ohio State and Indiana in October. The Big Red's schedule does not feature a team receiving top 25 consideration for its final two games, hosting Wisconsin then at Iowa.

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