Another crazy week showing just how much this conference has changed. Ohio State is not the same Buckeyes we saw a few weeks ago. Oregon was, and then wasn’t and now maybe is good again? UCLA is still undefeated. Nebraska is still losing in embarrassing ways. And then there is the dumpster fire in Ann Arbor. Is this parity or just mediocrity? We shall see what the final three weeks of the season bring us, but it sure looks like the Big Ten CFP title run is gonna end at three in a row.
#1 UCLA Bruins 9-0 (1)
Win 34-20 @ Minnesota
The game between
the Bruins and Gophers was close for three quarters, and then Minnesota apparently forgot how to cover a pass? Either way the Bruins moved to 9-0, and now control their own destiny to a CFP bye as they are now ranked #4 after this past weekend. They return home to host a surging Illinois team on Friday night as 10 point favorites to remain in the top spot.
#2 Indiana Hoosiers 8-1 (2)
BYE
Indiana used their long awaited bye to get healthy, but it didn’t answer any questions it appears. Cig earlier this week said he would not answer who would be his starting QB when USC comes to town in a huge game for both teams on Saturday. Indiana needs the win to stay safely in the CFP field, while USC needs a win for any chance to sneak into the field. The Hoosiers are 7.5 point favorites and have the better defense by far, but they will need to score plenty of points still to win this one.
#3 USC Trojans 7-2 (3)
BYE
USC had their bye last week to get ready for their huge trip to Bloomington on Saturday. Win and a chance at a CFP berth remains. Lose, and its the Holiday or Alamo Bowl a callin. Big 2:30 CBS kickoff coming.
#4 Iowa Hawkeyes 7-2 (5)
Win 24-10 @ Northwestern
The Hawkeyes got a break in their toughest game left on the schedule when Aiden Chiles missed the game for Northwestern and the Iowa defense just shut down anything else the Wildcats had on offense. Don’t look now but the Hawkeyes are nearing backing into the CFP field as they are now #15 in the rankings that came out Tuesday night and finish their season with three very winnable games beginning with hosting Purdue as 16.5 point favorites on Saturday night.
#5 Oregon Ducks 6-3 (7)
Win 41-28 @ Ohio State
Speaking of bounce backs, welcome back to the upper portion of the Big Ten Ducks. They went into Columbus and just crushed Ohio State in all phases of the game and suddenly have a realistic path to a nine win season still. They have a big one this week hosting Michigan, but its not the Wolverines of a couple years ago. Ducks are favored by 10.5 points.
#6 Ohio State Buckeyes 6-3 (4)
Lose 41-28 vs Oregon
Talk about a massive collapse for the Buckeyes. They lose their starting QB and have now lost two Big Ten games in a row and are in fact only 6-5 in their last 11 games. The Buckeyes went from looking like a CFP shoo-in to maybe not even making a top tier Big Ten bowl game unless they can right the tide. But its not just the QB. The defense looks awful, and Ryan Day is in a world of hurt. The Buckeyes host Northwestern this week on Big Noon in what is usually a laugher, but not so quick this time. Buckeyes are still favored by 12.5, but that seems steep.
#7 Northwestern Wildcats 6-3 (6)
Loss 24-10 vs Iowa
The Wildcats lost their QB and everything went to crap against the Hawkeyes. Northwester has now lost two in a row and has to go to Columbus to face a probably pissed off Ohio State team. If Chiles can go they have a chance, but if not, this could be ugly.
#8 Wisconsin Badgers 6-3 (9)
Win 31-10 vs Rutgers
The Badgers knocked off Rutgers to get bowl eligible for the firs time since 2023. Luke Fickle appears to have a safe hold on his job, and Wisconsin might have something in freshman QB Ryan Hopkins who looked really good throwing for 18-24 for 241 yards and 3 TDs in the win. They now head to Maryland this week to take on a team tat maybe is finding something? Badgers are still favored by 8.5.
#9 Illinois Fighting Illini 6-3 (11)
Win 24-13 vs Nebraska
Don’t look now but Illinois is now suddenly bowl eligible and is climbing up from the Big Ten cellar. They knocked off a reeling Nebraska team and now are rewarded with a trip to the Rose Bowl and a game against undefeated UCLA on a Friday night.
#10 Minnesota Golden Gophers 5-4 (8)
Loss 34-20 vs UCLA
If Minnesota could just put all three phases together consistently they would be much higher…but in a week where the offense looked slightly more competent than they had, it was the special teams and defense taking a crap. Thus what looked like a potential upset was erased in just two plays. It doesn’t get any easier as the Gophers now head to Hally Valley to play a Penn State team that finally has some tings figured out. It’s a night game in Beaver Stadium too which is never good. Gophers are now 9.5 point underdogs, so Vegas sure has no faith in them.
#11 Penn State Nittany Lions 5-4 (14)
Win 28-25 @ Washington
Here come the Nittany Lions. Back to back Big Ten wins and PSU is climbing the ladder quickly. They took it right to the Huskies on their home field and now return home to face a Minnesota team that you have no idea what to expect. I could see a 2 TD PSU win, or a 2 TD Gopher win. Vegas things it’s the Nittany Lions game to lose, so we shall see what happens.
#12 Michigan Wolverines 5-4 (10)
Loss 15-6 vs Michigan State
I’m not sure what offensive performance was worse this week, the Wolverines vs the Spartans or the Vikings vs the Bills. How you lose to Little Brother like that is unbelievable. Things are not great in Ann Arbor and its really not crazy to think Michigan could miss a bowl game. They need to win one of their final three and they all are brutal beginning with a trip to Eugene this week against and Oregon team that seems to be figuring things out. Then the Wolverines host probably still undefeated UCLA before The Game in Columbus. Good luck with that.
#13 Washington Huskies 5-4 (12)
Lose 28-25 vs Penn State
A week after a miracle win in Lincoln the Huskies squander any good will and lose to a Penn State team that had been near the bottom of the Big Ten barrel. Washington needs to win one of their final three games to make a bowl and their easiest chance is this week on the road in East Lansing against a Michigan State team who just won their Super Bowl last week. Dawgs are favored by just three, so this could be a fight.
#14 Nebraska Cornhuskers 5-4 (13)
Lose 24-13 @ Illinois
Things are bad in Lincoln. Another loss and people are not happy. The Huskers need to win one of their final three to make a bowl game and their best chance is this week when they head to Rutgers. Nebraska is favored by 13.5, which seems steep but as long as its not a one score game maybe they will be ok.
#15 Michigan State Spartans 3-6 (16)
Win 15-6 @ Michigan
A huge defensive effort gives the Spartans their first Big Ten win of the season and the Paul Bunyan trophy over their in-state rivals. A huge win for Pat Fitzgerald and Joe Rossi and company. Now they need to follow that up with a very beatable Washington team coming to town. Can the Spartans make it two in a row?
#16 Maryland Terrapins 3-6 (18)
Win 34-29 @ Purdue
The Terps get a Big Ten win after firing Mike Locksley and then he has to talk about it in the BTN studios immediately afterwards. Awkward. They host Wisconsin this week, and I know Gopher fans are rooting for another Maryland win.
#17 Purdue Boilermakers 3-6 (14)
Loss 34-29 vs Maryland
The Boilermakers lost to Maryland and that was so bad their first their defensive coordinator. Purdue wishing for the Gophers on the schedule again. They head to Iowa this week trying to pull off an upset, but it is not likely.
#18 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2-7 (15)
Lose 31-10 @ Wisconsin
The first Big Ten team to be officially bowl ineligible, and then they announce on Tuesday that Greg Schiano is officially back for 2027 basically because they can’t afford to pay his buyout. Things are not great in New Jersey. Can they show up and take down Nebraska this week?
