Power Rankings
- Oregon — Not what I was expecting, but the Ducks are No. 1 in the country for a reason.
- Penn State — Not that it’ll translate to any success in the postseason. It never does!
- Ohio State — A four-point win over Nebraska shows the Buckeyes’ vulnerability.
- Indiana — Only because they’re undefeated. Check the schedule — Mickey Mouse!
- Iowa — It wasn’t flawless, but I think it’s clear Brendan Sullivan is QB1.
- Illinois — We all expected the loss to Oregon, but let’s not lose hope here.
- Michigan — “They expect one of us in the wreckage, brother.”
- Nebraska — I was convinced the Cornhuskers had it in ’em, but this will do.
- Wisconsin — Luke Fickell has yet to recognize a football game is 60 minutes long.
- Minnesota — The Gophers give random teams a test. But 48 points on Maryland? What?
- USC — A win over LSU has to count for something, right? Right?
- Michigan State — Aidan Chiles has some upside, but it’s clear he’s still a rookie.
- Washington — Stop making Indiana look good!
- Maryland — This is where we start to drop off. Why does the Big Ten have 18 teams?
- Rutgers — The Scarlet Knights are falling … FAST.
- UCLA — Stagnation. Nothing more to it.
- Northwestern — You had us in the first half! But man, this offense is awful.
- Purdue — 1-6, 0-4 … that’s what the Irish will do to you!
Matchups
Beaver Stadium: No. 4 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1) @ No. 3 Penn State (7-0, 4-0)
University Park, PA
Where/when to watch: Saturday at 11 a.m. on FOX | Line: OSU -3.5 | O/U: 45.5
As I like to say, GAME OF THE WEEK! Wake up early, clear your hangover, and tune in — because Big Noon Kickoff is ruining our college football consumption experience. Should’ve been a night game.
Memorial Stadium: Minnesota (5-3, 3-2) @ No. 24 Illinois (6-2, 3-2)
Champaign, IL
Where/when to watch: Saturday at 11 a.m. on FS1 | Line: Minnesota -3 | O/U: 45.5
Seeing as I don’t ever want to go back to Minnesota, thanks to Mike Merrick, I actually enjoyed my time at Memorial Stadium. Great environment, good traditions, until some frat guy tried to take our football. He said something about Nico from Phi Psi?
Ross-Ade Stadium: Northwestern (3-5, 1-4) @ Purdue (1-6, 0-4)
West Lafayette, IN
Where/when to watch: Saturday at 11 a.m. on BTN | Line: NW -1 | O/U: 46.5
Is this the worst game ever assembled in college football history? The crowd will look like a midseason White Sox game.
Michigan Stadium: No. 1 Oregon (8-0, 5-0) @ Michigan (5-3, 3-2)
Ann Arbor, MI
Where/when to watch: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on CBS | Line: Oregon -14.5 | O/U: 45.5
And as I like to say here, SLEEPER GAME OF THE WEEK. The Ducks aren’t bulletproof, and the Big House is certainly going to show out for a game like this.
Spartan Stadium: No. 13 Indiana (8-0, 5-0) @ Michigan State (4-4, 2-3)
East Lansing, MI
Where/when to watch: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on Peacock | Line: IU -8 | O/U: 51.5
Can I rant here for a second? Indiana has the easiest schedule of all the top 15 teams. And here we go again, the Hoosiers off to look like greatness against a bottom-tier team. Like bottom feeders.
Memorial Stadium: UCLA (2-5, 1-4) @ Nebraska (5-3, 2-3)
Lincoln, NE
Where/when to watch: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on BTN | Line: NEB -6 | O/U: 39.5
Yeah, I made the trip to Lincoln once. I enjoyed it as much as I could, but I can’t imagine coming from sunny Los Angeles to good ol’ Nebraska. Morale will be low, folks.
Kinnick Stadium: Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2) @ Iowa (5-3, 3-2)
Iowa City, IA
Where/when to watch: Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on NBC | Line: IOWA -3 | O/U: 41
Duke and North Carolina, Hamilton and Burr, Kirk Ferentz and a definitive answer about his quarterback — rivalries that stand the test of time. Maybe we’ll get that definitive answer this weekend … with Brendan Sullivan as QB1?
Husky Stadium: USC (4-4, 2-4) @ Washington (4-4, 2-3)
Seattle, WA
Where/when to watch: Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on BTN | Line: USC -2.5 | O/U: 55.5
Ah, yes, the battle of the has-beens. An offense seriously missing Caleb Williams against an air raid offense quite literally bombing its season away. I guess Oregon’s the only Pac-12 addition to survive the jump.