The start of the 2024 college football season is just around the corner and in preparation for kickoff, ESPN has released its preseason power rankings for the Big Ten Conference.
As we’ve discussed before, this is the first season since the conference expanded to 18 teams. This is the first time the league has expanded since the 2014 season, when the Big Ten added Rutgers and Maryland to its ranks.
The Cornhuskers joined the conference on July 1, 2011, when the Big Ten unanimously approved Nebraska’s application for membership. Then-athletic director Tom Osborne cited uncertainty about the future of the Big 12 as the reason for the move.
“There was a lot of uncertainty in the Big 12. We thought it was a stable league and that it would be around for a long time.”
Nebraska will open the 2024 college football season on Saturday, August 31, when the Huskers host the UTEP Miners at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on Fox.
ESPN’s Big Ten power rankings are below.
18
Purdue University Boilermakers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
17
Michigan State Spartans
David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
16
Indiana Hoosiers
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
15
UCLA Bruins
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
14
Northwestern wildcats
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
13
Illinois Fighting Illini
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
12
Maryland turtles
Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports
11
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
10
Washington Huskies
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
9
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
For more Rutgers news, analysis and opinion, visit RutgersWire
8
Nebraska Cornhuskers
(Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
7
Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers helmet (Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)
For more news, analysis and opinion on Wisconsin, visit Badger wire
6
USC Trojans
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
5
Iowa Hawkeyes
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
4
Michigan Wolverines
Syndication: Detroit Free Press
3
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State Helmet (Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports)
2
Oregon Ducks
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
For more news, analysis and opinion on Oregon, visit Duck wire
1
Ohio State Buckeyes
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
For more news, analysis and opinions on Ohio State, visit Buckeyes Wire
