Christmas week in the Big Ten brings a rare pause. Campuses quiet down, nonconference play fades into the background, and the conversation shifts from results to projection. This is the perfect window for power rankings. Not the kind that settle anything, but the kind that fuel debates, spark group chats, and make fans stare at January schedules a little longer than usual.
With 18 teams now in the league, the Big Ten feels deeper, louder, and more volatile than ever. Some programs look exactly as advertised. Others feel unfinished, inconsistent, or one bad road trip away from trouble. At this point, the standings are less about trophies and more about belief. Who feels real, who still needs proof, and who is about to find out the hard way once conference play fully ramps up.
Below is a cleaned-up and formatted look at where things stand heading into the holiday break.
18. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6–6)
Rutgers has struggled to find momentum. A buzzer-beater 70–69 win over Penn snapped a three-game losing streak, but the Scarlet Knights have still dropped six of their last eight games. Two of those losses came against Purdue and Michigan, the league’s top-tier teams. Rutgers hosts Delaware State on Monday before opening 2026 Big Ten play at home against Ohio State on January 2.
17. Oregon Ducks (6–6)
Dana Altman’s Ducks are in unfamiliar territory. Oregon has lost both Big Ten games so far, falling to USC and UCLA, and is allowing more than 75 points per game. A home loss to Gonzaga highlighted their defensive issues. Oregon faces Omaha next before road trips to Maryland and Rutgers.
16. Maryland Terrapins (6–6)
Maryland enters Christmas on a three-game losing streak, with Big Ten losses at Iowa and against Michigan, followed by an eight-point defeat at Virginia. Losses to Gonzaga and Alabama are understandable, but the Terrapins need wins to balance the résumé. Games against Old Dominion, Oregon, and Indiana loom.
15. Minnesota Golden Gophers (7–5)
The Nico Medved era has produced mixed early returns. Minnesota owns a Big Ten win over Indiana but also suffered an 85–57 blowout at Purdue. Cade Tyson leads the way at 22.8 points per game, and the Gophers have been solid defensively, allowing just 66.6 points per game. A trip to Northwestern is next after a nonconference game Sunday.
14. Penn State Nittany Lions (8–4)
Penn State is still searching for its first Big Ten win after losses to Indiana and Michigan State, followed by a setback against Pitt. The resume lacks a signature victory, which could matter later. After hosting NC Central, the Nittany Lions face a brutal stretch with Illinois, Michigan, and Purdue.
13. Northwestern Wildcats (7–5)
Northwestern is off to a sluggish start, sitting at 0–2 in league play. Wins over Jackson State and Valparaiso were helpful, but a home loss to Butler spoiled momentum. The Wildcats host Howard before Big Ten games against Minnesota, Michigan State, and Rutgers.
12. Washington Huskies (8–4)
Washington owns a notable win over USC but also carries damaging losses, including a 70–66 defeat at Seattle University. Losses to Baylor, Colorado, and UCLA add context, but the resume is uneven. After a dominant win over San Diego, the Huskies face Utah before road trips to Indiana and Purdue.
11. Wisconsin Badgers (8–4)
A 27-point win over Central Michigan snapped a two-game skid for Wisconsin. The Badgers’ lone Big Ten win came against Northwestern, and Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp combined for 36 points in the latest victory. Purdue and UCLA visits will quickly define Wisconsin’s place in the league.
10. Ohio State Buckeyes (9–3)
Ohio State’s resume is difficult to read. Losses to Pitt, Illinois, and North Carolina contrast with a solid Big Ten win over Northwestern. The Buckeyes open 2026 with a road trip to Rutgers, then host Nebraska before traveling to Oregon and Washington.
9. Indiana Hoosiers (10–3)
Indiana rebounded from a rough stretch with comfortable wins over Chicago State and Siena. Earlier losses to Minnesota, Louisville, Kentucky, and a blowout win over Penn State define a volatile resume. The Hoosiers host Washington on January 4 before heading to Maryland.
8. USC Trojans (12–1)
Eric Musselman’s season at USC has been impressive. The Trojans opened Big Ten play with a road win at Oregon, though the home loss to Washington still lingers. Wins over Boise State and Seton Hall help, but signature victories remain limited. January road games at Michigan and Michigan State will answer real questions.
7. Illinois Fighting Illini (9–3)
Illinois owns one of the strongest resumes in the league. Losses to Alabama, UConn, and Nebraska are understandable, while wins over Missouri, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Texas Tech stand out. Freshman Keaton Wagler has been a major contributor at 15.7 points per game.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes (10–2)
Ben McCollum’s first season at Iowa has started smoothly. The Hawkeyes’ only losses came against Michigan State and Iowa State, and they are handling business otherwise. Iowa is averaging over 92 points per game across its last two outings and hosts UCLA on January 3.
5. UCLA Bruins (10–3)
UCLA remains unbeaten in Big Ten play, one of the league’s few perfect conference teams. Losses to Arizona and Gonzaga are understandable, while the defeat to California raised eyebrows. A road matchup at Iowa to open 2026 will be a major early test.
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers (12–0)
Nebraska is one of the last unbeaten teams in the nation. While the schedule has been manageable, wins over Illinois, Creighton, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Kansas State carry weight. Rienk Mast is averaging 17 points per game, and upcoming games against Michigan State will offer clarity.
3. Michigan State Spartans (11–1)
Tom Izzo has Michigan State positioned as a national contender once again. The Spartans’ only loss came against Duke, while wins over Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Iowa anchor the resume. A road trip to Nebraska followed by a home date with USC, highlights early January.
2. Purdue Boilermakers (11–1)
Purdue’s ugly loss to Iowa State still lingers, but the response has been strong. Wins over Minnesota, Marquette, and Auburn have stabilized the outlook. Braden Smith continues to orchestrate the offense, averaging 9.6 assists per game. Trips to Wisconsin and home games against Washington are next.
1. Michigan Wolverines (11–0)
Michigan looks every bit like the best team in college basketball right now. Blowout wins over Auburn and Gonzaga, multiple 100-point performances, and an average of 95.4 points per game back that up. The Wolverines host McNeese next before welcoming USC on January 2.
Final Thoughts on Big Ten Basketball
That is what makes Big Ten power rankings at Christmas so compelling. They feel meaningful without being final. January will bring injuries, road swings, and punishing back-to-back games that flip perceptions overnight. Teams near the top will be tested. Teams near the bottom will steal a night or two and scramble the entire picture.
For now, this is simply an overview. The calm before the storm. And if history is any guide, the Big Ten is about to make everyone rethink what they thought they knew.