Big Ten Power Poll: Big boys at the top keep rolling, and a surprise team is coming on strong

Many of you regular readers of PennLive's weekly Big Ten Power Poll may think we only care about the progression of James Franklin's Penn State Nittany Lions.

Balderdash. You have no idea how long I have waited to use that word in a sentence.

I care about in the Big Ten, some more than others. Can't say the Purdue Boilermakers have moved the needle much for me in 2024, but eventually I always come around.

Once again, it's time to give props to the conference's heavyweights (ranked alphabetically for the moment): Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State. The four teams have two combined losses.

But here at PennLive Big Ten Power Poll headquarters, we have our eye on another squad that is starting to figure things out.

UCLA is no fun to play at the moment. The Bruins are 4-5 overall but DeShaun Foster's team has won three consecutive games in a row.

The new Big Ten entry won 35-32 at Rutgers, 27-20 over Nebraska in Lincoln, and last week, UCLA de-fanged the Iowa Hawkeyes, 20-17 at home.

Foster's Bruins spotted Iowa a 10-0 lead and then took over. UCLA rushed for 211 yards and its defense clamped down on Hawkeyes' star feature back Kaleb Johnson, holding him to a season-low 49 yards on 18 carries.

Johnson's previous low in a game was 86 rushing yards vs. Ohio State. Kaleb has 1,326 rushing yards and 20 rushing scores in 10 games.

The Bruins are a team to watch with remaining contests against Washington, USC and Fresno State. If UCLA wins out, 2025 should be an intriguing year for the Bruins.

Remember, UCLA held Penn State to 85 yards rushing yards in the Lions' 27-11 at Beaver Stadium on Oct. 5.

And now, we rank.

PENNLIVE'S BIG TEN POWER POLL

Next: at Wisconsin on Saturday. Of note: Ducks haven't scored less than 31 points in any game since season opener.

Next: at Northwestern on Saturday. Of note: OSU defense has allowed 30 total points in its last three games.

Next: at Purdue on Saturday. Of note: Lions' 'D' has allowed 13 points or less in seven of nine games.

Next: off this week. Of note: Hoosiers showed pluck in holding off feisty U-M late in 20-15 win last week.

Next: hosts Michigan State on Saturday.

Next: at Washington on Saturday. Of note: You guys have been warned.

Next: off this week.

Next: off this week.

Next: off this week. Of note: Brutal loss at Rutgers last week. The Greg Schianos won without Kyle Monangai.

Next: at USC on Saturday. Of note: Losers of three straight, Cornhuskers still need that elusive sixth win.

Next: hosts Oregon on Saturday.

Next: hosts UCLA on Saturday. Of note: Huskies' offense limited to 57 total points in four Big Ten road losses.

Next: hosts Nebraska on Saturday. Of note: Jayden Maiava expected to replace Miller Moss at QB.

Next: at Illinois on Saturday.

Next: at Maryland on Saturday.

Next: hosts Rutgers on Saturday. Of note: One Big Ten win does not bode well for Mike Locksley's future.

Next: hosts Ohio State on Saturday.