Big Ten Power Rankings, Week 11: League in a precarious College Football Playoff position

The Big Ten expected to enter the stretch run of the season wondering if the conference could increase the number of teams it sent to the College Football Playoff from three in 2025 to four in 2026.

Instead, with three weeks to play, the conference is staring down a reality where they are hopeful to get two teams in — and that isn't even a guarantee. The latest batch of rankings from the CFP committee were unkind to the Big Ten, as undefeated UCLA climbed to No. 4, but Indiana slipped five spots to the No. 9 ranking despite being on a bye week.

After the Hoosiers, No. 15 Iowa, No. 16 Oregon, No. 18 USC and No. 20 Ohio State make up the rest of the ranked Big Ten squads. The Hawkeyes, Ducks and Buckeyes are all out of ranked opponents to play, which will make it exceptionally difficult for any of those three to climb the rankings without chaos above them.

Two-loss USC still controls its own destiny as they face No. 9 Indiana on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS) and then close the season against No. 4 UCLA, but if the Trojans win those two games…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/