The latest College Football Playoff projections have rolled out from USA TODAY Sports and ESPN, and that means in-depth coverage of where the Big Ten stands. Week 10 did not bring any upsets from the top seeds in the top four conferences, but it did bring a new number one seed.
The Oregon Ducks have moved up to the top spot, according to Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports, while Heather Dinich of ESPN ($) has Oregon maintaining the top seed over the Georgia Bulldogs.
The change up top comes from Georgia’s projected edge over the Ohio State Buckeyes with both squads projected as conference champions. Those projections have changed, making the Ducks the Big Ten favorites and Georgia staying the favorite to win the SEC.
OSU’s strength of schedule and play against their toughest opponents has weakened their case, according to both writers. They rank 5th in Myerberg’s projection, and 6th in Dinich’s update. In the 5-12 matchup, the Buckeyes would face the Boise State Broncos. As the 6 seed, they’d take on the Clemson Tigers.
The Penn State Nittany Lions come in at 7th for Myerberg, and 5th for Dinich. Her reasoning for the top non-conference champion spot is showing how PSU could be the committee’s No. 3 team but can’t place them there as conference champs fill the top four seeds.
Dinich has the Nittany Lions against the Tennessee Volunteers. Myerberg also has them against the Volunteers in his 7-10 matchup.
Hoosiers record rings hollow in projections
Not one word of digital ink was given to the Indiana Hoosiers. At 8-0, being considered a ‘Next Team In’ should be the norm until teams fall out of CFP projections. But like Ohio State, Indiana’s schedule is void of multiple marquee wins.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Washington Huskies are their best wins, but have games against the Michigan Wolverines and Buckeyes Weeks 11 and 12. Michigan would be a win over a strong defense, and beating the Buckeyes would clinch a spot.
There remains optimism that QB Kurtis Rourke (thumb surgery) could come back after missing only one game. The surgery on his thumb was to repair the nail bed.
It’s apparent that the committee won’t notice the Hoosiers without winning out if these projections ring true.
Big Ten bowl projections at a glance
USA TODAY Sports’ Erick Smith is back with his college football bowl projection ahead of Week 10. The Big Ten continues to lose bowl bids as the conference middle and lower tiers beat up on each other.
Here’s where the Big Ten stands this week:
- Duke’s Mayo – Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Duke Blue Devils
- First Responder – Michigan State Spartans vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
- Citrus – Indiana Hoosiers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
- ReliaQuest – Illinois Fighting Illini vs. LSU Tigers
- Music City – Michigan Wolverines vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
- Pinstripe – Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Syracuse Orange
- Rate – Wisconsin Badgers vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
- GameAbove Sports – Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Western Michigan Broncos
- LA – Washington Huskies (Pac-12 representative) vs. UNLV Rebels
The conference is projected to add two more teams to bowl season, with the Spartans, Huskies, and Golden Gophers getting nods as the Maryland Terrapins fell out.