The Big Ten basketball landscape has officially shifted from a cozy Midwestern dinner party to a full-blown 18-team demolition derby. As the calendar flips to January 2026, gone are the days when a Big Ten team could survive on a diet of 62-60 wins. In today’s Big Ten, if you aren’t scoring 80, you’re likely checking the scoreboard to see how far you’ve fallen. Through the first weekend of January, the league features an unprecedented three undefeated teams at the top, a legendary coach chasing 700 wins, and a freshman class that is treating the veterans with zero respect.
Analytics confirm the chaos: nine Big Ten teams currently reside in the top 60 of the ESPN Basketball Power Index. The conference leads the nation in Quad 1 opportunities, meaning every Tuesday night in West Lafayette or Saturday afternoon in Lincoln feels like a Final Four preview.
Here are the Big Ten Power Rankings as of Jan. 5, 2026. EasySportz is your home for the best Big Ten hoops coverage.
1. Michigan (13-0, 3-0 Conference)
Dusty May didn’t just bring a new system to Ann Arbor; he brought a blowtorch. The Wolverines are the conference’s most complete team, boasting a perfect 13-0 record and a scoring margin that feels like a typo at +30.2. They recently dismantled No. 24 USC 89-72, led by Morez Johnson Jr.’s career-high 29 points on a clinical 10-of-12 shooting performance. Michigan leads the league in field goal percentage and has held eight of its 13 opponents to single-digit assists. If the Wolverines were a stock, you’d be too late to buy in—they are already at an all-time high.
2. Nebraska (14-0, 3-0 Conference)
Stop rubbing your eyes; the Cornhuskers are actually this good. At 14-0, Fred Hoiberg has engineered a defensive masterpiece in Lincoln. Nebraska leads the conference in scoring defense, recently stifling Michigan State in a gritty 58-56 win that proved they can win in the mud just as well as in a track meet. Pryce Sandfort has evolved into a perimeter assassin, and the Huskers’ “connectedness” is currently the gold standard of the league. Nebraska has never won an NCAA Tournament game, but this version of the Big Red looks like it’s planning a deep stay in March.
3. Purdue (13-1, 3-0 Conference)
The post-Zach Edey era was supposed to be a transition period. Apparently, Braden Smith didn’t get the memo. The junior guard is currently putting up a historic season, becoming the first Big Ten player to record 1,000 points, 500 assists, and 400 rebounds in his first three seasons with plenty of games to spare. Purdue’s only blemish is a non-conference loss to Iowa State, but they remain a juggernaut. Trey Kaufman-Renn has filled the interior void, and the Boilermakers lead the SEC in three-pointers per game, proving Matt Painter’s system is as malleable as it is effective.
4. Michigan State (12-2, 2-1 Conference)
Tom Izzo is currently sitting on 699 career wins, and while the Spartans recently stumbled at Nebraska, they remain a Tier-1 threat. Jeremy Fears Jr. has emerged as the elite floor general Izzo has craved since the Cassius Winston era. The Spartans rank in the top 5 of KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings, possessing a defensive intensity that few can match. However, questions about their secondary scoring options persist. If Coen Carr can consistently provide more than just highlight-reel dunks, the Spartans will challenge for the title.
5. Illinois (11-3, 2-1 Conference)
Brad Underwood’s “Everyday Guys” are now the “Everyday Scorers.” When the Illini are hitting from deep, they are arguably the most dangerous team in the league. When they aren’t, they are a chaotic, high-variance thrill ride.
6. Iowa (12-2, 2-1 Conference)
The Ben McCollum era is off to a scorching start. The former Drake coach has brought his intricate, ball-screen heavy offense to Iowa City and hasn’t missed a beat. Bennett Stirtz, who followed McCollum from Drake, is the conference’s most efficient playmaker, playing nearly 99% of available minutes. The Hawkeyes rank in the top five in the SEC in scoring average (92.5 ppg) and recently secured a massive win over Indiana to signal they are more than just a transition story.
7. Indiana (11-3, 2-1 Conference)
The Hoosiers are the Big Ten’s version of a Jekyll and Hyde act. They looked lost in a road loss to Michigan, then looked like world-beaters in a 90-80 victory over Washington on Jan. 4. Lamar Wilkerson has the offense clicking, but the defense occasionally goes on hiatus. Indiana is 10-0 at home but has road losses at Minnesota, Kentucky and Maryland, a trend that must change if they want to be more than a “tough out” at Assembly Hall.
8. UCLA (10-4, 2-1 Conference)
The Bruins have found the Big Ten to be exactly what Mick Cronin expected: physical and unforgiving. UCLA’s 9-0 home record has kept them in the hunt, but their 0-3 mark on neutral courts is a red flag. Transfer guard Donovan Dent has been as advertised, leading the team in scoring, but the Bruins are still searching for a consistent third option behind Dent and Tyler Bilodeau.
9. Ohio State (10-3, 2-1 Conference)
Coach Jake Diebler has the Buckeyes playing inspired basketball. A 2-1 start in conference play, including a tough 80-73 road win at Rutgers and a close loss to Nebraska, has Ohio State trending upward. They aren’t the flashiest team in the league, but they rank 39th in KenPom and have shown a level of late-game execution that was missing in previous years.
10. USC (12-2, 1-2 Conference)
Eric Musselman’s Trojans started 12-0 before hitting the Big Ten buzzsaw. Losses to Michigan and Washington have cooled the hype, but the talent is undeniable. Chad Baker-Mazara and Rodney Rice are both averaging 20+ points per game, but the Trojans are learning that in this conference, you can’t simply out-score people; you have to out-execute them.
11. Wisconsin (9-5, 1-2 Conference)
Greg Gard recently earned his 200th career win, but the Badgers are currently treading water. Nick Boyd remains a bright spot, but Wisconsin needs more from its bench to survive the meat-grinder of the January schedule.
12. Oregon (8-7, 1-3 Conference)
Injuries and a brutal schedule have hampered Dana Altman’s squad. The 32-point home loss to Illinois was a low point, but the Ducks showed life with a recent win over Washington before a 1 point road loss to Rutgers. They have the pieces to be a top-25 team, but they are currently the league’s most underachieving unit relative to preseason expectations.
13. Washington (9-5, 1-2 Conference)
Danny Sprinkle has the Huskies playing hard, but they lack the depth to compete for 40 minutes against the league’s elite. A 90-80 loss at Indiana showcased their offensive potential but highlighted a defense that ranks 13th in the conference. Disappointing losses to Seattle U and Colorado show the Huskies’ limitations.
14. Minnesota (9-5, 2-1 Conference)
Niko Medved has the Gophers overachieving early. At 2-1 in the league, they have already surpassed many experts’ win totals for January. They aren’t deep, but they are disciplined, ranking first in the conference in fewest turnovers per game.
15. Penn State (9-5, 0-3 Conference)
The Nittany Lions are the “almost” team. They took Michigan State to the wire and pushed Purdue, but they sit at 0-3 in league play. Mike Rhoades has them playing a frantic, high-pressure style, but they lack the interior size to close out games against the Big Ten’s giants.
16. Northwestern (8-6, 0-3 Conference)
The Wildcats are a top-60 KenPom team, but they have struggled to find a closer in the final four minutes. They are competitive, but 0-3 is a deep hole in this conference.
17. Maryland (7-7, 0-3 Conference)
The Buzz Williams era is off to a rocky start. The Terps rank last in the league in three-point percentage and have struggled to find any offensive rhythm in conference play. Williams is known for mid-season turnarounds, but the clock is ticking.
18. Rutgers (8-7, 1-3 Conference)
Dylan Grant and Tariq Francis are a dynamic tandem for the Scarlett Knights. The Scarlet Knights have been blown out by top teams like Tennessee, Purdue, and Michigan, but also lost by double digits to Central Connecticut and Seton Hall.
The Big Ten has effectively killed the “January Slump.” Every game on the docket for the next eight weeks carries massive implications for the NCAA Tournament selection committee, which is currently looking at a league that could legitimately send 10 or 11 teams to the Big Dance.
Is Nebraska for real? Can Dusty May go undefeated in his first Big Ten season? Will Tom Izzo master March again? The answers are coming, but for now, just enjoy the ride.
