The quest for the perfect week continues as The Big Ten has another full slate of 18 games this week. The league went 16-2 last week, including a win over the preseason No. 1 team, This week can it have the first ever 18-0 week for a conference in college football history? There is a shot, but it will be a lot harder.
My own record was 16-2 last week, as I missed on the upsets I called for Rutgers and Wisconsin, but I did correctly call that Northwestern and UCLA would lose.
Here is a look at week
2:
Friday
Western Illinois (0-1) at Northwestern (0-1) – 7:30pm, BTN
Northwestern spent week 1 looking like the worst team in the conference in handing out turnovers all afternoon at Tulane. Their “home” opener is against what should be an overmatched FCS opponent. If the Wildcats lose this one an 0-fer is on the table for the season. Northwestern 45, Western Illinois 10
Northern Illinois (1-0) at Maryland (1-0) – 7:30pm, BTN
We get a Friday night use of the BTN overflow channel! The Big Ten ran the table against the MAC last week, but there is almost always one MACtion upset. It is probably not this one, as Northern Illinois barely got past FCS Holy Cross last week 19-17. Maryland 38, Northern Illinois 7
Saturday
Florida International (1-0) at #2 Penn State (1-0) – Noon, BTN
The Fightin’ Pitbulls rolled Bethune Cookman last week in the 305 pretty easily, but Penn State is a little bit better. ¡Dalé! Penn State 55, FIU 10
#11 Illinois (1-0) at Duke (1-0) – Noon, ESPN
Duke exploded for 45 points on Elon like one of SpaceX’s rockets. I am on the record as not being sold on Illinois being ranked this high, and this is the first real game to prove me wrong. We didn’t really learn anything from them blasting Western Illinois. Illinois 27, Duke 17
Iowa (1-0) at #16 Iowa State (2-0) – B1G NUDE SATURDAY, FOX
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡EL ASSICO!!!!!! ON B1G NUDE SATURDAY! Iowa State might actually be really, really good this year and a true contender in the Big 12. In fact, this has the danger of looking like a real football instead of the usual ¡EL ASSICO! slog that it is. The home team has lost four straight in this series and no one has scored more than 30 points since 2017. In five of the last six games the winner has scored 20 points or less. That’s the ¡EL ASSICO! we love. Iowa State 24, Iowa 20
Kennesaw State (0-1) at #23 Indiana (1-0) – Noon, Fox Sports 1
Kennesaw State got its first ever FBS level win last season when it upset Liberty, earning them the praise and admiration of much of the world. They can earn the praise and adoration of Purdue fans if they somehow beat Indiana after they dragged Wake Forest into a 10-9 game last week. Indiana 48, Kennesaw State 10
Northwestern State (1-0) at Minnesota (1-0) – Noon, BTN
Northwestern State broke a 25 game losing streak last week that dated back to 2022, so good for them. Minnesota can name its score. Minnesota 48, Northwestern State 3
Grambling (1-0) at #1 Ohio State (1-0) – 3:30pm, BTN
The game is going to be a blowout, but Grambling is bringing their band, and that is worth the price of admission. Ohio State 55, Grambling 3
Oklahoma State (1-0) at #6 Oregon (1-0) – 3:30pm, CBS
Oregon was a whirling death machine last week against a Montana State team that might be better than Oklahoma State. Not a lot of confidence here for the Cowboys because even good teams struggle at Autzen. Oregon 48, Oklahoma State 17
Miami-Hydroxide (0-1) at Rutgers (1-0) – 3:30pm on the ‘cock
Rutgers squeezed past a solid Ohio team last week, but Miami was stifled by the Wisconsin defense. The Redhawks are still one of the better MAC teams, but they will have to actually score this week. Rutgers 27, Miami-Hydroxide 23
Middle Tennessee State (0-1) at Wisconsin (1-0) – 4pm, Fox Sports 1
Middle Tennessee made a statement last week, and that statement was “We might go 0-12”. They lost at home to FCS Austin Peay 34-14. Even a Wisconsin offense that might finish the year on its 6th quarterback should be fine. Wisconsin 49, Middle Tennessee 7
#15 Michigan (1-0) at #18 Oklahoma (1-0) – 7:30pm, ABC
Can the Wolverines get a modicum of revenge for Brock Spack, who collected a decent check last week for Illinois State in a 35-3 loss to the Sooners? Always go against a freshman quarterback on the road. Oklahoma 24, Michigan 20
Akron (0-1) at Nebraska (1-0) – 7:30pm, BTN
Akron lost at home to Wyoming last week 10-0, a game that can be described as a college football game that happened. That’s all it ultimately merits. Nebraska 37, Akron 3
Georgia Southern (0-1) at USC (1-0) – 7:30pm, Fox Sports 1
That’s right, Georgia Southern. Get USC all fat and happy before they come to West Lafayette next week for my predicted upset. USC put up a million points last week and probably will again this week. USC 55, Georgia Southern 14
Boston College (1-0) at Michigan State (1-0) – 7:30pm, NBC
BC took the game in Boston last year with a late touchdown, so I can see this one playing out much the same way. Both teams have the feel of 7-5 and middle of their conference about them. Michigan State 23, Boston College 19
Southern Illinois (1-0) at Purdue (1-0) – 7:30pm “We’re Contractually Obligated to Broadcast this Game” on BTN
Purdue still doesn’t get out of the BTN overflow spot, but it should move to 2-0 as the Big Ten tries to get the Directionals Illinois sweep over Western, Northern, and Southern this week (Eastern Illinois is at Indiana State). Does Barry Odom really want to lose to an FCS team that Darrell Hazel beat? Purdue 35, Southern Illinois 13
UCLA (0-1) at UNLV (2-0) – 8pm, CBS Sports Network
Barry Odom’s former crew gets to host a Big Ten team and get halfway to bowl eligibility. UCLA might be really, really bad. Their effort against Utah last week was dreadful. UNLV 21, UCLA 17
UC-Davis (1-0) at Washington (1-0) – 11pm, BTN
UC-Davis is ranked fifth in the FCS poll and the Huskies did not inspire a lot of confidence last week against Colorado State. They were in a tie game until late in the third quarter. Washington should win, but Davis can be bitey. Washington 31, UC-Davis 21
Season record for Travis: 16-2
