As the college football season heats up, there’s an unexpected yet highly anticipated showdown on the horizon: Indiana Hoosiers versus the Oregon Ducks. When the Big Ten expanded last season, hardly anyone saw this matchup coming with such massive implications for the College Football Playoff and the Big Ten title race.
Both teams are undefeated. They’ll clash at Autzen Stadium this Saturday afternoon, and honestly, it’s shaping up to be a game nobody wants to miss.
Indiana vs. Oregon: A Clash of Titans
Head coach Curt Cignetti has taken the Indiana Hoosiers in a new direction. They’re now a disciplined, efficient squad that’s proven they can hang with the best.
Indiana’s never been a national powerhouse, but their rise lately is pretty wild. The Hoosiers currently sit second in Offensive Success Rate at 58.4%, which really shows how well they execute under pressure.
Defensively, they’re no slouch either. With a Defensive Success Rate of 67.0%, Indiana’s defense has been shutting teams down all season.
Oregon’s Consistent Power
Oregon, on the other hand, has a reputation that precedes them. They’re a steady force in college football, and it’s not just hype.
The Ducks boast an Offensive Success Rate of 53.5%, landing them 14th in the nation. Defensively, they’re at 62.3%, which puts them 12th, so they’re pretty balanced on both sides of the ball.
Oregon’s knack for explosive plays is tough to ignore. Their Offensive Explosive Play Percentage sits at 16.1%, seventh nationally, while the defense allows just 5.3%—the best mark in the country.
Quarterback Duel: Mendoza vs. Moore
Let’s talk quarterbacks for a second. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore are both on fire this season.
Together, they’ve thrown 30 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. That’s just nuts.
Mendoza’s had three games with at least four touchdown passes and no picks. Moore? He’s done it four times. It’s rare to see two passers this reliable squaring off in one game.
Historical Context and Stakes
This is actually the first Big Ten matchup between teams entering 5-0 or better with a +30 points-per-game differential since 1904. Wild, right?
Neither team faces another ranked opponent for the rest of the season, so whoever wins could be in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten title and a CFP berth.
Indiana’s Remarkable Rise
Indiana’s run is even more impressive when you look at the recruiting numbers. Oregon’s fifth in the 247Sports Team Talent Composite, loaded with blue-chip recruits and serious depth.
Indiana? They’re down at 72nd, ahead of just two other Power Four teams. That gap really highlights how good a job Cignetti’s done developing transfers and squeezing every bit of talent out of his roster.
Challenges for Penn State
Penn State, meanwhile, has had a tough time replacing tight end Tyler Warren. Now with the Colts, Warren leads all NFL tight ends with 307 yards as a rookie.
The Nittany Lions brought in Kyron Hudson (USC), Trebor Pena (Syracuse), and Devonte Ross (Troy), but honestly, their combined output hasn’t filled the gap Warren left behind. It’s probably a big reason why quarterback Drew Allar’s numbers have dipped.
Maryland’s October Struggles
Maryland’s season went sideways after a 24-20 loss to Washington, especially since they were up 20-0. Under Mike Locksley, Maryland’s been great in August and September, going 21-5, but October has been a different story.
They’re just 7-14 in October, and things don’t really get better in November or December. It’s like something just doesn’t click for the Terrapins once the calendar turns.
Rick Neuheisel’s Emotional Moment
On a lighter note, CBS Sports analyst Rick Neuheisel had a pretty emotional weekend. He watched his son, UCLA interim offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel, call the shots in a wild upset over No. 7 Penn State at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA came in as huge underdogs, but Jerry’s play-calling was on point. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava stepped up big time, racking up five touchdowns and making it a game the Neuheisels won’t forget anytime soon.
Big Ten Betting Picks
Every week, Tom throws out his Big Ten picks against the spread. He’s not exactly poring over spreadsheets—these are gut calls, for better or worse.
- UCLA at Michigan State — Michigan State -7.5
- No. 1 Ohio State at No. 17 Illinois — Illinois +15.5
- Northwestern at Penn State — Northwestern +22.5
- No. 7 Indiana at No. 3 Oregon — Oregon -8.5
- Nebraska at Maryland — Maryland +6.5
- No. 15 Michigan at USC — USC -2.5
- Iowa at Wisconsin — Iowa -3.5
- Purdue at Minnesota — Purdue +7.5
Last week? The picks landed at 4-2. Not too shabby, honestly.
That brings the season tally to 33-26. Guess you could say it’s been a decent ride so far.
If you want to dig deeper or just keep up with the wildness of this college football season, check out CBS Sports.
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