It’s time to turn the page to Week 7 of the college football season, and it goes without saying the best matchup of the week involves a pair of Big Ten teams.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes head west to take on the No. 3 Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 12th. The game is the place to be, so much so that College Gameday is paying a visit to Eugene, Oregon.
The winner of this game will be in the conference driver’s seat for now, with a few important games left on each team’s schedule. The Ducks have an easier path with their toughest games (versus Illinois and at Michigan) coming in weeks 10 and 11.
The Buckeyes have the teeth of their schedule starting at Oregon. They host Nebraska and go to Penn State the following two weeks, and end their season with home games against Indiana and Michigan.
This Big Ten battle gets the night game treatment on national television. Check out three more Big Ten games worth your time.
Wisconsin Badgers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Saturday, October 12th at 9:00 p.m. ET
Rutgers finally faltered, while the Badgers looked great against the moldy husk of the Purdue Boilermakers. One team can’t afford to lose a second straight game, and the other has newfound hope.
Badgers QB Braedyn Locke had a complete game. Bumslaying isn’t an indicator of talent, per say, but it would have been a shock if Locke could not move the ball coming off a bye.
The Scarlet Knights defense is notably better than Purdue’s, if unspectacular at times. Locke should be able to move the ball through the air. The Badgers defense will have to contend with RB Kyle Monangai looking to get back on track.
The defense that breaks and doesn’t recover first will likely be the difference.
Penn State Nittany Lions at USC Trojans
Saturday, October 12th at 3:30 p.m. ET
Trojans QB Miller Moss will be facing constant pressure once again, but this time it is in sunny Los Angeles.
Week 6’s numbers at Minnesota don’t reflect how well he played, getting USC within a play or two of tying the Golden Gophers. PSU’s defense is arguably the best in the Big Ten.
This is only the second road game of the season for Penn State. The long travel isn’t ideal but that won’t be a valid excuse should they lose.
Washington Huskies at Iowa Hawkeyes
Saturday, October 12th at 12:00 p.m. ET
The Huskies offense has a challenge with a rested Hawkeyes defense looking to rebound. This isn’t David vs. Goliath one way or the other, either. UW QB Will Rogers has been an above average QB that should be getting a little more hype, and can establish more attention by beating Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.
A loss coming of a bye would end any chance of competing for a Big Ten Championship/strong bowl game opportunity. Good thing the running game is humming. It will need to continue against one of the best run defenses in the nation.
I’d argue Huskies-Hawkeyes is the best early kick-off game played Week 7.