After another volatile week in the FBS, the Big Ten has a clear top four.
Week 10 was yet another week this season filled with some big upsets. The Big Ten, however, didn’t really see much volatility this week and now has four teams ranked inside the top 10 of the AP Poll. Here’s how the conference played out this week:
Bye Weeks: Rutgers and Maryland
The Upsets
UCLA 27 @ Nebraska 20
UCLA went on the road to get its second conference victory as a part of the Big Ten. Nebraska, who is one game away from bowl eligibility, fell just short. The Bruins kicked a field goal on their opening drive and never lost their lead. The first half ended with UCLA leading 13-7. On the first play of the second half, Nebraska’s freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola threw a pick six. After forcing a turnover on downs the next drive, the Bruins scored again, going up 27-7. They wouldn’t score for the rest of the game and the Cornhuskers battled back. Down seven, Raiola was knocked out of the game after taking a hard hit. Nebraska backup QB Heinrich Haarberg came in and had the ball with a chance to get a touchdown and tie the game up. The ‘Huskers had the ball in Bruins territory, but Haarberg threw an interception. It wasn’t Haarberg’s fault — the ball caromed off the leg of his intended receiver before being gobbled up by UCLA — but the end result is the same regardless. Nebraska is now 2-4 in Big Ten play and has lost its last three games after starting the season 5-1 and ranked in the top 25. The Cornhuskers, owners of the longest bowl drought in the FBS, will have to wait at least another week to snap it.
The Blowouts
No. 13 Indiana 47 @ Michigan State 10
This game was the first time Indiana trailed all season. After ending the first quarter down 10-0, the Hoosiers did 2024 Hoosier things. With Kurtis Rourke back healthy, he and his squad put up 47 unanswered on Michigan State. Head Coach Curt Cignetti, in his first year with Indiana has gotten them off to their best start in program history. The Hoosiers have a legit path to going either 11-1 or even 12-0 and playing in the Big Ten Championship. The Hoosiers offense was good, led by Rourke’s four touchdown passes, while the defense has been lockdown as well, including two interceptions from Amare Ferrell. If the Hoosiers don’t have a crazy late season breakdown, they have a good shot to be playing in the College Football Playoffs. They do have to deal with Ohio State, but the other two squads on Indiana’s schedule are Michigan and Purdue — both at home. For the Spartans, they sit at 4-5 overall this season and need two more wins to become bowl eligible. They play at Illinois, then they’re back home for Purdue followed by a game against Rutgers.
Wisconsin 10 @ Iowa 42
The Close Games
No. 4 Ohio State 20 @ No. 3 Penn State 13
The game of the week lived up to the hype. After a long first drive ending in a field goal for Penn State, Zion Tracy picked off Will Howard a few plays later and brought it back for the touchdown. On their next drive, Ohio State went down and scored a touchdown. After forcing the Nittany Lions to punt, the Buckeyes scored again, giving them their first lead of the game. They never gave that lead up. In the second half, the teams exchanged field goals then was followed by a few punts. Ohio State kicked another field goal, giving them a 20-13 lead. Penn State got close to scoring though. A 33-yard run from Tyler Warren set up the Nittany Lions in a goal-to-go situation. After giving up two yards on three plays, James Franklin’s squad had a 4th-and-goal from the one. The Buckeyes defense stood strong, stopping Drew Allar’s fourth down pass attempt. The Buckeyes then ran out the last five minutes of the game and got a much-needed victory against their rivals. For Ohio State, the biggest game left on their schedule is (checks notes) Indiana. The Buckeyes do also play Purdue, Northwestern, and Michigan, but it’s the Hoosiers who stand as Ohio State’s biggest road block to the Big Ten Championship game. Penn State, meanwhile, will almost certainly be once again on the outside looking in when the Big Ten title is decided.
Minnesota 25 @ No. 24 Illinois 17
Northwestern 26 @ Purdue 20 (OT)
No. 1 Oregon 38 @ Michigan 17
USC 21 @ Washington 26