Big Ten Men’s Basketball Power Rankings for Today — November 24th

All records and rankings are through games played November 22–23, 2025

We’ll go 18 to 1.

18. Minnesota Golden Gophers (4–2)

Year one of the Niko Medved era has at least started with some optimism. Minnesota opened the season by routing Gardner-Webb 87–60 behind Cade Tyson’s 30-point explosion, showing he can be a primary scorer in the Big Ten right away. The Gophers sit at 4–2, but the early schedule has been light and the losses exposed defensive inconsistency and rebounding issues that will get punished once league play starts. Tyson gives them a legitimate go-to option on the wing, and Medved’s track record suggests the offense will keep getting more fluid. For now, though, compared to the depth and firepower elsewhere in this league, Minnesota’s résumé and talent profile lag behind.

17. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4–1)

Rutgers’ record looks fine, but the details are rough. The Scarlet Knights opened with an encouraging 81–53 win over Rider, where Tariq Francis erupted for 20 points and Dylan Grant added 17 in a dominant second half. Since then, however, they took a stunning 67–54 home loss to Central Connecticut State, getting out-shot from deep, out-rebounded, and beaten in almost every hustle category. That result, plus a generally choppy half-court offense, drags them down the power list despite a 4–1 mark. Francis looks like a legit Big Ten scorer, but Rutgers’ margin for error is thin, and with Purdue, Tennessee, and Michigan looming on the schedule, this profile feels very bubble-fragile already.

16. Penn State Nittany Lions (5–1)

Mike Rhoades has Penn State off to a 5–1 start, but the trajectory has been uneven. The Lions had to sweat out their opener against Fairfield, trailing late before Melih Tunca, Kayden Mingo, and Ivan Juric closed on a 16–2 run to escape 76–68. The first real test came at the Hall of Fame Showcase, where they fell 77–65 to Providence despite 22 points and 9 boards from Freddie Dilione and solid contributions from Mingo and Josh Reed.  The backcourt playmaking is intriguing, and Rhoades’ teams usually defend, but right now Penn State looks more like a dangerous mid-tier spoiler than a clear NCAA lock, especially in a league this stacked.

15. Northwestern Wildcats (4–1)

Northwestern’s profile is classic Chris Collins: tough defense, low-possession games, and just enough shot-making. The Wildcats opened with a 70–47 smothering of Mercyhurst at Welsh–Ryan Arena, flashing the defensive teeth that have become their identity. The roster leans on experienced forward Nick Martinelli and a new frontcourt presence like freshman Tyler Kropp, with additional size and versatility from freshman wing Tre Singleton.  At 4–1, Northwestern is firmly in the mix, but the lack of a signature high-major win keeps them below the true contenders. In a league where several teams are carrying top-10 or top-20 national rankings, the Cats are more “first four out” caliber than top-half for now.

14. Maryland Terrapins (4–1)

It’s a new era in College Park with Buzz Williams taking over, and the early returns are encouraging. Maryland opened the season by beating Coppin State 83–61 in Baltimore, with Pharrel Payne posting 21 points and Darius Adams adding 16 as one of several double-figure scorers. The Terps’ roster has been reshaped again, with Adams and fellow freshman Aleks Alston providing upside on the perimeter and wing. At 4–1, Maryland looks like a classic Williams team—tough, physical, and guard-oriented—but the résumé still lacks a true “wow” win compared to the league’s heavyweights. The pieces are there to climb, but right now they sit just outside the clear NCAA tier.

13. Washington Huskies (4–1)

Year two for Danny Sprinkle already feels different in Seattle. Washington sits at 4–1 and has upgraded its talent with a transfer-heavy roster that includes former blue-chip guard Zoom Diallo, versatile wing Desmond Claude, and big men Hannes Steinbach and Christian Nitu in the frontcourt. The Huskies have handled their buy-games and look far more organized and physical defensively than last season’s 13–18 squad. Still, their best wins so far are against low- and mid-major opposition; in a Big Ten now featuring multiple top-10 teams, Washington’s profile looks more like solid bubble material than a sure thing. They’re trending in the right direction, just not as battle-tested as the top group yet.

12. Nebraska Cornhuskers (6–0)

Nebraska is one of just two undefeated teams in the league at 6–0, and that matters. The Huskers own wins over FIU, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Chicago State, Oklahoma (neutral), New Mexico (neutral), and Chicago State again, showing they can consistently beat the teams they’re supposed to. Transfer sharpshooter Connor Essegian and veteran guard Sam Hoiberg headline a backcourt that can really shoot it, and Fred Hoiberg’s system is humming against softer competition. The reason they’re “only” 12th is résumé strength: Oklahoma and New Mexico are nice wins, but not on the level of what Purdue, Illinois, Michigan, or even Indiana have already done. If Nebraska bags a marquee non-conference scalp, they’ll rise fast.

11. USC Trojans (4–0)

USC’s move into the Big Ten comes with some early fireworks. The Trojans opened by hammering Cal Poly 94–64, then added a dramatic triple-overtime win over Troy, capped by a buzzer-beating three from Jordan Marsh and a 34-point eruption by Chad Baker-Mazara.  At 4–0, they’ve shown both blowout gear and late-game toughness. The roster blends length and athleticism on the wings with enough shot-creation to survive in a league that will test their physicality night after night. Still, last season’s 17–18 record and 14th-place Big Ten finish keep some skepticism in play, and early opposition has mostly been manageable. USC looks like a clear tournament team, but still a step below the conference’s elite.

10. Oregon Ducks (4–0)

Oregon might be the most quietly dangerous team in the middle tier. The Ducks are 4–0, leaning on the experienced backcourt play of Jackson Shelstad and transfer guard Takai Simpkins, plus versatile forwards Kwame Evans Jr. and Oleksandr Kobzystyi. They’ve also added high-profile transfer Sean Stewart from Ohio State and international size in Efe Vatan and Ege Demir, giving Dana Altman his usual mix-and-match lineup options. The résumé is still mostly mid-major wins, and bracketology views Oregon as more bubble-ish than lock at this stage. But the talent and depth are obvious, and nobody will enjoy preparing for their length and matchup-zone looks once Big Ten play hits.

9. Ohio State Buckeyes (5–0)

Ohio State has quietly put together one of the more impressive early profiles. The Buckeyes are 5–0 with a neutral-site win over No. 13 Oklahoma in Las Vegas and a 3–point-happy offense that can bury teams in waves. Big man Christoph Tilly gives them interior scoring and rim protection, while guards Bruce Thornton, Devin Royal, and John Mobley Jr. have all delivered double-figure scoring nights, including a 16-point outing from Thornton in that Oklahoma win. The metrics like them, and bracketology already has the Buckeyes in a comfortable seed range. They’re not in the Purdue/Michigan/Illinois tier yet, but they’re clearly closer to that group than to the bubble.

8. Iowa Hawkeyes (5–0)

The Ben McCollum era at Iowa could not have started much better. The Hawkeyes are 5–0 and annihilating people: they blew out Robert Morris 101–69 behind 19 points from Bennett Stirtz and big contributions from fellow Drake transfers Tavion Banks, Cam Manyawu, and Isaia Howard, then followed it up by absolutely hammering Chicago State in a 39-point win. Stirtz and Banks headline a veteran, transfer-heavy rotation that fits McCollum’s ball-movement, spacing-heavy system perfectly. The defense still has questions, and the schedule stiffens soon, but Iowa’s offensive ceiling is high enough that they look like a solid top-half Big Ten team and a tournament squad with real upset potential.

7. Wisconsin Badgers (4–1, AP No. 23)

Wisconsin looks like the same rugged, efficient machine we’ve come to expect. The Badgers are 4–1 and ranked 23rd in the AP poll after an early neutral-site loss to top-10 BYU in Salt Lake City.  They opened with a 96–64 win over Campbell, powered by Blackwell’s 31 points, and continue to lean on Greg Gard’s trademark disciplined defense and ball-screen offense. Last season’s Big Ten tournament run and NCAA 3-seed showed this program’s ceiling, and most projections still view Wisconsin as a solid top-20 team nationally. They may not have quite the talent depth of Michigan or Illinois, but the Badgers’ floor is extremely high.

6. Indiana Hoosiers (5–0, Coaches No. 25)

Indiana’s reset under Darian DeVries has been electric. The Hoosiers are 5–0 with a marquee win over Marquette and a revamped roster built almost entirely through the portal. Star wing Tucker DeVries (West Virginia), stretch big Reed Bailey (Davidson), physical forward Sam Alexis (Florida), and scoring guards Lamar Wilkerson, Tayton Conerway, and Jasai Miles give IU a deep, veteran core that can shoot, switch, and score at multiple levels. The Hoosiers have looked connected offensively and relentless defensively, and bracketology already pegs them as a solid single-digit seed. The only reason they’re not higher: the total résumé still trails Illinois, Michigan, and Purdue in quality-win volume. That gap can close quickly.

5. Michigan State Spartans (5–0, AP No. 17)

Tom Izzo isn’t going anywhere, and neither is Michigan State’s identity. The Spartans are 5–0, ranked 17th in the AP poll, and built around toughness, rebounding, and a veteran core. Captains Coen Carr, Carson Cooper, Jeremy Fears Jr., and Jaxon Kohler give Izzo leadership at every spot, while wings like Kaleb Glenn and shooters like Kur Teng boost the scoring punch. The early schedule hasn’t been brutal, but MSU’s underlying metrics and bracketology seed line (around a 4-seed) back up their status as a second-weekend threat.  In a league this brutal, their experience and coaching continuity might be the tie-breaker in close games.

4. UCLA Bruins (5–1, AP No. 19)

Here’s the big correction you were right to push for: UCLA should absolutely not be buried in these rankings. The Bruins are 5–1, ranked 19th in the AP poll, and their only loss is a neutral-court defeat to top-5 Arizona. Under Mick Cronin, they’ve returned to their identity as a grind-you-down defensive team with enough star power to win late. The frontcourt gets a huge jolt from transfer Xavier Booker (via Michigan State) and physical forward Anthony Peoples Jr., while Donovan Dent brings scoring and playmaking at the point after starring at New Mexico. Bracketology sits them on the 6-seed line right now. Given résumé and upside, UCLA belongs firmly in the top five of any current Big Ten power ranking.

3. Illinois Fighting Illini (5–1, AP No. 8)

Illinois looks every bit like a Final Four threat. The Illini opened the season by demolishing Jackson State 113–55, with freshman David Mirkovic putting up 19 points and 14 boards, and big man Tomislav Ivišić anchoring the interior. They are 5–1, ranked eighth in the AP poll, and sit around sixth in KenPom, reflecting both offensive firepower and top-tier defense. Wing star Andrej Stojaković gives Brad Underwood a true go-to scorer, while stretch forward Ben Humrichous and others space the floor. Illinois already owns quality wins, and bracketology has them safely on the top three seed lines. If the freshmen continue to develop, this might be Purdue’s biggest challenger for the league title.

2. Michigan Wolverines (4–0, AP No. 7)

Michigan’s ceiling is enormous. The Wolverines are 4–0, ranked seventh in the AP poll—second only to Purdue among Big Ten teams—and have reloaded via the portal under Dusty May. They lost their top three scorers from last year’s Sweet Sixteen squad but added impact transfers Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., elite point guard Elliot Cadeau, and 7-3 rim protector Aday Mara (via UCLA), giving them size, athleticism, and high-level playmaking at every level. Michigan’s early wins have come with some turnover and shooting hiccups, but their talent level and defensive versatility jump off the screen. Bracketology pegs them as a strong 2-seed type right now.  On neutral courts, they’re one of the few Big Ten teams that look capable of trading punches with Purdue.

1. Purdue Boilermakers (6–0, AP No. 1)

No debate here—Purdue is clearly number one right now, just like you said.

The Boilermakers are 6–0, ranked No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches polls, and fresh off a Bahamas Championship title with a signature road/neutral win over No. 8 Alabama.  Matt Painter’s group has successfully transitioned out of the Zach Edey era by leaning on veteran point guard Braden Smith, versatile forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, and physical transfer center Oscar Cluff, plus new scoring options on the wing. They’re balanced, experienced, and already have multiple high-major wins that set them apart from the rest of the league. Bracketology has Purdue as a projected No. 1 overall seed, and they’ve played like it: efficient offense, rugged defense, and a clear sense of who they are.

Until someone in this league proves otherwise over 40 minutes, the road to the Big Ten title still runs through West Lafayette.