Conference play is underway, and with it an opportunity for teams in the Big Ten to determine who stands above the pack in the newly expanded 18-team field. Rooting for a contender, pretender or otherwise, this is when a gear shifts for Big Ten fans from coast to coast.

Penn State, Oregon and Michigan each moved up, while undefeated Illinois and Indiana continued their climb in this week’s Big Ten football power rankings from The Oregonian/OregonLive.

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Here are the power rankings for Week 5 from The Oregonian/OregonLive’s sports staff.

(Voting panel: Ryan Clarke, James Crepea, Aaron Fentress, Sean Meagher, Joel Odom, Bill Oram)

1. NO. 3 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (3-0)

Poll points: 108 (All six first-place votes)

Last week (1): Beat Marshall 49-14.

This week: at Michigan State, 4 p.m. PT Saturday on Peacock.

2. NO. 9 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (3-0)

Poll points: 95

Last week (3): Beat Kent State 56-0.

This week: vs. No. 19 Illinois, 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday on NBC.

3. NO. 8 OREGON DUCKS (3-0)

Poll points: 93

Last week (4): Idle.

This week: at UCLA, 8 p.m. PT Saturday on Fox.

4. NO. 12 MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (3-1)

Poll points: 91

Last week (6): Beat USC 27-24.

This week: vs. Minnesota, 9 a.m. PT Saturday on Fox.

5. NO. 13 USC TROJANS (2-1)

Poll points: 87

Last week (2): Lost to Michigan 27-24.

This week: vs. Wisconsin, 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday on CBS.

6. NO. 19 ILLINOIS (4-0)

Poll points: 84

Last week (7): Beat Nebraska 31-24 (OT).

This week: at No. 9 Penn State, 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday on NBC.

7. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (3-1)

Poll points: 72

Last week (5): Lost to Illinois 31-24 (OT).

This week: at Purdue, 9 a.m. PT Saturday on Peacock

8. IOWA HAWKEYES (3-1)

Poll points: 60

Last week (8): Beat Minnesota 31-14.

This week: idle. Next at Ohio State on Saturday, Oct. 5.

9. INDIANA HOOSIERS (4-0)

Poll points: 59

Last week (11): Beat Charlotte 52-14.

This week: vs. Maryland, 9 a.m. PT Saturday on Big Ten Network.

10. RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS (3-0)

Poll points: 53

Last week (9): Beat Virginia Tech 26-23.

This week: vs. Washington, 5 p.m. PT Friday on Fox.

11. WISCONSIN BADGERS (2-1)

Poll points: 47

Last week (10): Idle.

This week: at No. 13 USC, 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday on CBS.

12. WASHINGTON HUSKIES (3-1)

Poll points: 41

Last week (13): Beat Northwestern 24-5.

This week: at Rutgers, 5 p.m. PT Friday on Fox.

13. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (3-1)

Poll points: 39

Last week (12): Lost to Boston College 23-19.

This week: vs. No. 3 Ohio State, 4 p.m. PT Saturday on Peacock.

14. MARYLAND TERRAPINS (3-1)

Poll points: 31

Last week (14): Beat Villanova 38-20.

This week: at Indiana, 9 a.m. PT Saturday on Big Ten Network.

15. MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (2-2)

Poll points: 27

Last week (15): Lost to Iowa 31-14.

This week: at No. 12 Michigan, 9 a.m. PT Saturday on Fox.