The parity and chaos keep coming in the Big Ten. Each week, new teams are rising while other teams are revealing they do not belong at the top. Both Iowa and UCLA made a statement in Week 4, while the statement USC football made was nothing new or encouraging.
Here is what we learned following Week 4 in the Big Ten:
Northwestern is not an easy out
Indiana's close battle with Northwestern was not because Indiana did not match their usual standard of play. Northwestern gave the Hoosiers everything they possibly could have. Aidan Chiles played extremely well, and the Wildcats showed they can hang with the top teams. The USC Trojans have to feel good that they did not get them on their schedule as well.
Oregon is still a contending team
Oregon may not be up there with Ohio State and Indiana, but this team showed
they can handle some big-time adversity and win a big game early in the season. Dan Lanning did a great job coaching his team to that victory given the circumstances. This team showed just how talented it was on both sides of the field, making a USC Trojans team look lesser than. The Oregon Ducks got their swagger back last week.
UCLA is a top team in the Big Ten
Maryland is not world beaters by any means, but what UCLA did to them is still very impressive. The improvement in this team has been special to see. Bob Chesney really has this team looking like a contender in the Big Ten this season. Add them to the list of another former Pac-12 team that is better than the Trojans.
USC will be in trouble on the road against Penn State and Wisconsin
USC struggled, fighting on the road against Rutgers. Playing at Wisconsin, with how the Badgers are looking to start the year, looks like a very difficult task. Penn State came up short, but playing them on the road during their infamous white-out game is also troubling. USC should not be a favorite against either team after the last two weeks.
Big Ten is more unpredictable this season
The Big Ten, already at the start of the season, has seen some unpredictable upsets. Any team can pull off a win on any given Saturday. The Big Ten's quality has dropped off, but it has made for a great deal of parity in the conference this season. New teams are rising to the surface, and who knows, there could be a new team fighting for the title this season in the Big Ten. Both Iowa and UCLA look like two strong challengers this season.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: 5 key takeaways from Big Ten football after Week 4
