With the calendar turning to December, that means we’re into the one-month milestone of the 2025-26 college basketball season. What that also means is that, for a few conferences, league games will start. That includes Big Ten Basketball, whose 20-game gauntlet for each team starts on Tuesday.
With around 7-8 games of sample sizes for each team, where does everyone stand in the Big Ten before they face each other? Here are the latest conference power rankings.
1. Purdue - 7-0
The preseason No. 1 team has held serve in the first month, winning key games over Alabama and Texas Tech. The closest call was against Memphis, trailing late in the second half before a big run gave them the win. National Player of the Year favorite Braden Smith (13 ppg and 9.0 apg) hasn’t shot the ball well, but senior guard Fletcher Loyer (16.1 ppg) has leaped his offense instead. With the starting frontcourt duo of Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn each averaging a double-double, it’s still the most complete roster in the Big Ten.
2. Michigan - 7-0
No team has had a more impressive week this season than Michigan, which beat Auburn, San Diego State, and Gonzaga in the Players Era Festival by a combined 110 points in three straight blowouts. It helps offset the near defeats to TCU and Wake Forest earlier. The three-man frontcourt of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson, and Aday Mara has been arguably the best in the nation, with freshman Trey McKenney (11 ppg) being an impact freshman contributor. While the Wolverines may be No. 2, they have maybe the best momentum of anyone in the nation.
3. Michigan State - 7-0
The Big Ten Basketball team with the best resume is Michigan State, which has wins over Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Two key breakout players have emerged in senior forward Jaxon Kohler (14.6 ppg and 9.7 rpg), along with Jeremy Fears, who leads the nation with nearly 10 assists a game. With the defense remaining elite and improved shooting, the Spartans remain a regular-season title contender.
4. Illinois - 5-2
The Illini have also played a tough schedule, beating Texas Tech but losing to Alabama and UConn. They’ve still looked impressive overall, thanks to impact freshmen, David Mirkovic (14.3 ppg and 10 rpg) and Keaton Wagler (13.5 ppg). Kylan Boswell leads the team with 17.3 ppg, while Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic (16.3 ppg) has been as good as advertised. Illinois has a chance at another marquee matchup this weekend, facing Tennessee.
5. Indiana - 7-0
The Coach DeVries era is off to a great start, coasting to all of its wins to date. That includes over Kansas State and Marquette. Darian’s son Tucker is healthy and as effective as ever, leading the team with 17.9 ppg, while Lamar Wilkerson (16.7 ppg) is one of the top scorers in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers face their toughest competition to date this weekend, taking on Louisville.
6. Iowa - 7-0
New Coach Ben McCollum has the Hawkeyes off to a great start, getting wins over Xavier and Ole Miss. The defense has been the biggest change for the program so far, ranking 7th nationally at just 61.1 ppg allowed. Former MVC POY guard Bennett Stirtz (18.6 ppg and 5.4 apg) has been as good as advertised but is also the only player averaging more than 10 ppg. We’ll see how the supporting cast fairs against better competition, starting with Michigan State to open league play.
7. Nebraska 8-0
After missing all of last season with a lower leg injury, Rienk Mast is back and healthy, leading the team with 17.9 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Iowa transfer Pryce Sandfort (16.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg) has been an impact newcomer, while freshman forward Braden Frager (12.1 ppg) has also been a nice surprise. With wins over Kansas State and Oklahoma on its resume, the Cornhuskers face more tough opponents coming up, including Creighton and Wisconsin.
8. USC - 7-0
The Trojans were the winners of the Maui Invitational, beating Boise, Seton Hall, and Arizona State on their way to the title. Newcomers Rodney Rice and Chad Baker-Mazara are the clear standouts of the transfer-heavy roster, each putting up over 20 ppg, with forward Ezra Ausar also putting up 17 ppg. They’ve passed every test to date and will stay out west to open Big Ten play, taking on Oregon and Washington next.
9. Wisconsin - 5-2
The Badgers had a strong start offensively but have lost two of their last three games, falling to TCU and BYU. The guard duo of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell is among the best in the Big Ten, combining to average 40 ppg, while Nolan Winter is averaging a double-double. Wisconsin has four winnable games coming up, starting with Northwestern and Marquette at home.
10. UCLA - 5-2
The Bruins have had two main tests to this point and lost both of them, to Arizona and Cal in close games. The defense remains good, but the offense has had its ups and downs. While there are six double-digit scorers on the roster, one of them, Donovan Dent (11 ppg and 6.7 apg), has struggled with his new team. They’ll need him to look like the All-American version of himself with matchups against Oregon and Washington coming up.
11. Ohio State - 6-1
The Buckeyes split two last-second results against ACC programs, beating Notre Dame at home and losing to Pittsburgh on the road. There is a trio of 15+ ppg scorers on the roster, led by senior Bruce Thornton (20.6 ppg and 3.4 apg). A recent ankle injury to John Mobley is something to watch as they take on Northwestern and Illinois to open league play.
12. Oregon - 4-3
The Ducks got swept in the Players Era Festival, and their most impressive win to date is an 87-75 home win over rival Oregon State. The star duo of Nathan Bittle (16.3 ppg and 7.8 rpg) and Jackson Shelstad (15.7 ppg and 5.2 apg) have dealt with injury issues, and the lack of overall depth has been a massive issue for them. Oregon has a chance to get back on the winning side with matchups against USC and UCLA this week.
13. Maryland - 5-3
The Terrapins also have been dealing with injuries all over, which helped lead to them getting blown out by Gonzaga and Alabama in the Players Era Festival. Among those who have been able to play are Pharrell Payne (17.3 ppg and 6.3 rpg) and Diggy Coit (14.4 ppg), with freshman guard Darius Adams also putting up 14 ppg. After a home matchup with Wagner, Maryland opens league play against Iowa and Michigan.
14. Northwestern - 5-2
The Wildcats have played four close games against high-major competition, beating DePaul and South Carolina, while falling to OK State and Virginia. Senior forward Nick Martinelli (20.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg) is putting up similar numbers as last year, while Cincy transfer Arrinten Page (15 ppg and 7.0 rpg) is having a breakout campaign at his new stop. Northwestern has shown it can be competitive, and it will have two more good tests this week against Wisconsin and Ohio State.
15. Washington - 5-2
The Huskies have dealt with injuries to arguably their two best players, with Desmond Claude and Hannes Steinbach (14.5 ppg and 12.8 rpg) both missing games. USC transfer Wesley Yates (16.9 ppg) leads them in scoring, but the defense has had some issues, allowing 78+ points in losses to Baylor and Colorado. Washington has the chance to right the ship this week with games against USC and UCLA.
16. Penn State - 7-1
The Nittany Lions have held serve against inferior competition on paper, but lost to Providence in their only tough matchup. Two bright spots have emerged for the team so far, with freshmen Kayden Mingo (14.3 ppg and 4.3 apg) and Melih Tunca (13.9 ppg and 3.8 apg) leading them in scoring. After another buy game against Campbell, the competition heats up for Penn State, taking on Indiana and Michigan State.
17. Rutgers - 5-3
The Scarlet Knights suffered a 13-point home defeat to Central Connecticut State before the Players Era Festival before going 1-2 last week, including a win over UNLV. One bright spot on the team so far is Dylan Grant, who leads the team with 15.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg. The offense, which ranks at the bottom in most Big Ten categories, faces the toughest possible opening to Big Ten play, playing Michigan and Purdue first.
18. Minnesota - 4-4
The Gophers are on a three-game losing skid, falling to San Francisco, Stanford, and Santa Clara in neutral-site battles. The star of the team thus far is Cade Tyson, who leads the team with a conference-high 22.4 ppg. But the lack of consistent offense from the supporting cast makes them vulnerable to losing to top-100 teams, which is who Minnesota will face next in Indiana and Purdue.