The Big Ten has six top 40 teams in the latest NET Rankings update

The Big Ten has six teams in the top 40 of the NET Rankings, with two other teams from the conference just barely on the outside looking in. It is a sign of relative strength for the conference as games gain in importance.

The NET Rankings, which carry significant weight not just for NCAA Tournament seeding but for selection itself, shows a Big Ten that is certainly not top-heavy but is in fact deep.

Purdue, at No. 4 in the NET Rankings, is easily the highest-ranked Big Ten team.

Following the Boilermakers is No. 19 Rutgers. Following Tuesday’s win over Penn State, the Scarlet Knights move up three spots for Ohio State and Penn State, both top 60 teams.

Purdue and Rutgers currently sit first-second in the Big Ten standings. Michigan is third in the conference table.

Since the weekend update, there has been some significant changes in the NET Rankings for several Big Ten teams including drops.

Here is how the Big Ten stands following the NET Rankings update for the Jan. 24 games:

• No. 4 Purdue (unchanged)
• No. 19 Rutgers (up three spots from the last update)
• No. 20 Indiana (down one spot from the last update)
• No. 26 Ohio State (down two spots from the last update)
• No. 27 Illinois (up one spot from the last update)
• No. 38 Iowa (up one spot from the last update)
• No. 40 Michigan State (up one spot from the last update)
• No. 42 Maryland (up three spots from the last update)
• No. 46 Northwestern (up one spot from the last update)
• No. 58 Penn State (down nine spots from the last update)
• No. 65 Wisconsin (up one spot from the last update)
• No. 77 Michigan (unchanged)
• No. 92 Nebraska (unchanged)
• No. 216 Minnesota (down four spots from the last update)

UCLA, set to join the Big Ten in 2024, checks in at fifth nationally in the NET Rankings. The Bruins will join the Big Ten along with USC, who are No. 61 in the rankings.