The Big Ten conference keeps flexing its muscle in college football, and Ohio State’s right at the front. Week 12 brought easy wins for the top three teams, while the next tier of Playoff hopefuls had to grind it out in some tough weather.
From Ohio State’s blowout of UCLA to Michigan barely slipping past Northwestern, the Big Ten’s still a major force nationally. Let’s dig into the latest Big Ten Power Rankings and see which teams made noise—and which stumbled—over the weekend.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Dominance on Display
Ohio State crushed UCLA 48-10, holding onto their top spot in the Big Ten Power Rankings. Even with injuries to Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes’ offense just kept rolling.
The ground game was the story, racking up 222 yards and four touchdowns on just 33 carries.
Key Performers
- Bo Jackson: The true freshman tailback ran for his fourth 100-yard game this season.
- Isaiah West: Chipped in with eight carries for 61 yards and a touchdown.
- James Peoples: Added six carries, 42 yards, and two scores.
On defense, Ohio State made life miserable for UCLA, holding them to 2.7 yards per carry. Backup quarterback Luke Duncan never really found a rhythm.
Lorenzo Styles Jr. broke off a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown—the first time a Buckeye’s done that since 2005. Next up: Rutgers. The Buckeyes look locked in.
Indiana Hoosiers: A Historic Season
Indiana stayed unbeaten after a 31-7 win over Wisconsin. That’s their first 11-0 start ever, which feels a bit surreal for Hoosier fans.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was nearly flawless, hitting 22 of 24 passes for 299 yards and four touchdowns. This came with star receiver Elijah Sarratt sidelined.
Offensive Highlights
- Charlie Becker: Back-to-back 100-yard games—Indiana’s got some real depth at receiver.
The defense, led by up-and-coming coordinator Bryant Haines, smothered Wisconsin and gave up just 168 yards. Indiana gets a bye before facing Purdue to close out the regular season.
Oregon Ducks: Back on Track
Oregon finally looked like themselves again, rolling past Minnesota 42-13. Dante Moore was sharp, completing 27 of 30 passes for a career-best 306 yards and two touchdowns.
He set a new single-game completion rate record for Oregon, which is no small feat.
Balanced Attack
- Kenyon Sadiq: Came back from injury, caught eight passes for 96 yards and a score.
- Rushing Attack: The Ducks rushed for 179 yards and punched in four touchdowns.
Big games against USC and Washington are up next. Oregon controls its own fate for a Playoff spot, but there’s not much margin for error.
USC Trojans: Gritty Win Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive
USC clawed back from a 14-point hole to beat Iowa 26-21 in a soggy, hard-fought game. Jayden Maiava managed his first clean sheet in a while, going 23-for-32 for 254 yards and a touchdown.
Standout Player
- Makai Lemon: Hauled in 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown—he was everywhere.
With Oregon looming, USC needs to keep this momentum going if they want to stay in the Playoff conversation.
Michigan Wolverines: Surviving Northwestern
Michigan escaped Northwestern 24-22, but it was ugly. Five turnovers, including two picks and three fumbles, made this one way closer than it should’ve been.
The Wolverines did pull it together late, though, showing some grit in the fourth quarter.
Challenges and Triumphs
- Turnovers: Just way too many—gotta clean that up fast.
- Game-Winning Field Goal: Dominic Zvada missed two earlier but nailed the winner as time ran out. Talk about redemption.
They’ll need to tighten things up against Maryland and Ohio State if they want to stay in the Playoff hunt.
Illinois Fighting Illini: Defensive Resurgence
Illinois’ defense looked fierce in a 24-6 win over Maryland. That’s two strong showings in a row now.
The Illini gave up just 55 rushing yards and shut down Maryland on 11 of 14 third and fourth downs.
Offensive Contributions
- Kaden Feagin: Ran for 81 yards and a score.
- Ca’Lil Valentine: Added 64 yards rushing.
- Luke Altmyer: Quarterback chipped in with 62 yards on the ground.
With Wisconsin and Northwestern coming up, Illinois has a real shot at back-to-back nine-win seasons. That’s not something you see every year in Champaign.
Iowa Hawkeyes: Playoff Hopes Dashed
Iowa’s season took another hit after falling to USC 26-21. That’s two straight losses, and this one stings after leading at halftime.
Close but Costly
- Four Losses: All four have come by a combined 13 points. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way.
Michigan State and Nebraska are left on the schedule, and Iowa’s just playing for pride now.
Conclusion
The Big Ten’s still a powerhouse in college football. Teams are fighting tooth and nail for those playoff spots.
Ohio State? They’re leading the pack. Indiana, Oregon, and USC all have some make-or-break games coming up, and honestly, who knows how it’ll all shake out?
If you’re hungry for more breakdowns or just want the freshest updates, the full article’s over at Fox Sports.
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