In the latest Big Ten football rankings, a handful of teams are starting to make some noise as they gear up for big matchups. With a mix of bye weeks and high-stakes games coming up, the college football landscape feels like it’s shifting every week.
Ohio State is prepping for a tough one in Seattle, and Michigan seems to be carving out its identity. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s see where these teams are stacking up right now.
Ohio State Buckeyes: High Stakes in Seattle
The Buckeyes just had a bye week and now they’re set to face Washington at 2:30 p.m. on CBS. Sam McKewon points out that Ohio State really needs to find another gear as they head out west.
The Huskies haven’t lost a conference game at home since 2021—pretty wild stat. If Ohio State wants to hang onto their Big Ten spot, this is a must-win.
Key Points
- Last Game: Bye Week
- Next Game: at Washington, 2:30 p.m., CBS
- Sam’s Take: The Buckeyes need to shift into high gear heading out to Seattle.
Oregon Ducks: Defensive Dominance
Oregon just steamrolled Oregon State 41-7 and now heads to Penn State for a 6:30 p.m. game on NBC. McKewon says Oregon’s defense has been relentless—opponents haven’t had much luck moving the ball.
The Ducks are rolling into Happy Valley with some serious swagger. Their D might just be the difference-maker.
Key Points
- Last Game: Beat Oregon State 41-7
- Next Game: at Penn State, 6:30 p.m., NBC
- Sam’s Take: Oregon’s defense has been all gas, no brakes nasty all year.
Penn State Nittany Lions: Facing Familiar Foes
Penn State comes off a bye week and is getting ready to take on Oregon. Last time these two met, Penn State’s defense just couldn’t keep up—they gave up 45 points.
This time, they’ll have the “white out” crowd behind them. That home energy could be the edge they need.
Key Points
- Last Game: Bye Week
- Next Game: vs. Oregon, 6:30 p.m., NBC
- Sam’s Take: The Nittany Lions are bound for a test they haven’t seen since the last time they played Oregon.
Indiana Hoosiers: Road Test Ahead
Indiana crushed Illinois 63-10 and now they’re prepping for a road game at Iowa, 2:30 p.m. on Peacock. Coach Curt Cignetti definitely enjoyed the blowout, but this week’s going to be a different beast.
Last season, Indiana couldn’t pull off a road win against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff. This one’s a big test for them.
Key Points
- Last Game: Beat Illinois 63-10
- Next Game: at Iowa, 2:30 p.m., Peacock
- Sam’s Take: IU coach Curt Cignetti took resplendent pleasure in hammering the Illini’s lines for four quarters.
USC Trojans: Offensive Powerhouse
USC leads the nation in yards per play—9.19, which is just bonkers. They’re also third in yards per carry at 7.06.
After beating Michigan State 42-31, they’re heading to Illinois for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Fox. USC’s offense is a show, and they’ll be looking to keep that streak alive.
Key Points
- Last Game: Beat Michigan State 42-31
- Next Game: at Illinois, 11 a.m., Fox
- Sam’s Take: The Trojans lead the nation in yards per play (9.19).
Michigan Wolverines: Consistent Identity
Michigan squeezed past Nebraska 30-27 and now hits a bye week. Nebraska tried to force Michigan to throw, but the Wolverines managed to grind it out.
Michigan just seems to have this steady, unshakeable vibe. They’re not flashy, but they get it done.
Key Points
- Last Game: Beat Nebraska 30-27
- Next Game: Bye Week
- Sam’s Take: Michigan is what it is and does what it does.
Nebraska Cornhuskers: Red Zone Challenges
After a tight loss to Michigan, Nebraska’s also on a bye week. Quarterback Dylan Raiola and his receivers have flashed some promise, but the red zone has been a headache.
That’s got to change if Nebraska wants to turn things around. Feels like they’re close, but it’s not quite clicking yet.
Key Points
- Last Game: Lost to Michigan 30-27
- Next Game: Bye Week
- Sam’s Take: The Huskers won’t be out of many games this year quarterback Dylan Raiola and this fleet of receivers.
Illinois Fighting Illini: Defensive Woes
Illinois got blown out by Indiana 63-10 and now faces USC at 11 a.m. on Fox. Losing top defender Xavier Scott for the season has really hurt their D.
This upcoming game is going to test their ability to bounce back. It’s not getting any easier.
Key Points
- Last Game: Lost to Indiana 63-10
- Next Game: vs. USC, 11 a.m., Fox
- Sam’s Take: The Illini lost one of their top defenders, Xavier Scott, for the season in the game.
Washington Huskies: Offensive Spotlight
Washington just took care of Washington State 59-24 and now they’re lining up against Ohio State at 2:30 p.m. on CBS. Demond Williams, their QB, is averaging 332.7 total yards per game—definitely someone to keep an eye on.
This one feels like it could go either way. Both teams have a lot on the line.
Key Points
- Last Game: Beat Washington State 59-24
- Next Game: vs. Ohio State, 2:30 p.m., CBS
- Sam’s Take: Quarterback Demond Williams (332.7 total yards per game) has spent most of his young career playing late night games.
Maryland Terrapins: Defensive Surge
Maryland just beat Wisconsin 27-10 and now gets a bye week. Their defense has been sneaky good, co-leading the Big Ten with 16 sacks.
They’ve also got a +7 turnover margin, which is nothing to sneeze at. Maryland’s not a team you can overlook right now.
Key Points
- Last Game: Beat Wisconsin 27-10
- Next Game: Bye Week
- Sam’s Take: Look who has a pass rush! The Terrapins co-lead the Big Ten with 16 sacks this season.
Iowa Hawkeyes: Offensive Breakthrough
Iowa knocked off Rutgers 38-28 and now hosts Indiana at 2:30 p.m. on Peacock. Quarterback Mark Gronowksi had his best outing, rushing 13 times for 55 yards—finally opening up the offense a bit.
That balance could be huge for Iowa moving forward. Maybe they’ve figured something out?
Key Points
- Last Game: Beat Rutgers 38-28
- Next Game: vs. Indiana, 2:30 p.m., Peacock
- Sam’s Take: Look who has an offense! Quarterback Mark Gronowksi played his best game in part because the Hawkeyes used him right.
Michigan State Spartans: Defensive Struggles
Michigan State lost to USC 42-31 and now gets a bye week. Quarterback Aidan Chiles has shown he can sling it, but their defense is leaking—over 1,000 passing yards allowed so far.
That’s a big hole to patch if they want to get back on track.
Key Points
- Last Game: Lost to USC 42-31
- Next Game: Bye Week
- Sam’s Take: Quarterback Aidan Chiles can really sling it.
Minnesota Golden Gophers: Cause for Concern
Minnesota’s coming off a bye week and lines up against Rutgers at 11 a.m. on BTN. Their recent loss to Cal—who then got blanked 34-0 by San Diego State—has raised some eyebrows.
This next game feels pretty important. They need to get back on track, and fast.
Key Points
- Last Game: Bye Week
- Next Game: vs. Rutgers, 11 a.m., BTN
- Sam’s Take: A sign of worry for the Gophers? Cal, the team that beat Minnesota two weeks ago, lost 34-0 to San Diego State last week.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Defensive Rebuild
Rutgers lost to Iowa 38-28 and now heads to Minnesota for an 11 a.m. BTN matchup. After building up a tough defense in 2023, things seem to have fallen apart a bit.
This week’s a chance to see if they can patch things up. They’ve got some work to do, no doubt.
Key Points
- Last Game: Lost to Iowa 38-28
- Next Game: at Minnesota, 11 a.m., BTN
- Sam’s Take: After it took coach Greg Schiano four years — and a lot of recruiting — to build a strong defense in 2023, the structure fell apart last year.
Purdue Boilermakers: High-Flying Offense
Purdue’s on a bye week after a 56-30 loss to Notre Dame. They’ve flashed a high-flying pass attack at times, which honestly makes them fun to watch.
But the defense? That’s where things get dicey. If they want to win more, they’ll need to tighten up.
Key Points
- Last Game: Lost to Notre Dame 56-30
- Next Game: Bye Week
- Sam’s Take: The Boilermakers appear to be back as a high-flying pass offense.
Northwestern Wildcats: Coaching Experience
Northwestern gets a bye week before facing UCLA at 2:30 p.m. on BTN. Interim head coach Tim Skipper has racked up 14 games as acting head coach—he’s definitely not new to this.
This next game is a shot for him to show what he’s got as a leader. Let’s see how it goes.
Key Points
- Last Game: Bye Week
- Next Game: vs. UCLA, 2:30 p.m., BTN
- Sam’s Take: Interim head coach Tim Skipper has been an acting head coach for 14 games. That’s not nothing.
If you’re after more detailed insights or just want to keep up with the latest Big Ten football buzz, check out the Omaha World-Herald’s coverage. There’s always something new popping up over there.
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