The Big Ten‘s unrelenting schedule has arrived at Week 9 after conference play saw the USC Trojans and Rutgers Scarlet Knights continue their fall down the standings.
Week 8 also saw the Oregon Ducks, Penn State Nittany Lions, and Indiana Hoosiers continue their undefeated seasons. The trio represents three of the four Big Ten teams that have clinched a bowl berth (Illinois Fighting Illini).
This week’s best games showcase how fragile the Big Ten standings are. One matchup will put the loser in a position to miss a bowl game, another features a squad amid its biggest adversity of the season, and the list includes an upset that would alter the Big Ten’s ability to get the most teams in the College Football Playoffs.
That trio is so good that two games featuring ranked teams did not make the cut. This is a difficult task, but it shows how competitive the conference has become.
Michigan State Spartans vs Michigan Wolverines
Saturday, October 26th at 7:30 p.m. ET
The Battle for the Paul Bunyan trophy is up for grabs with a chance at a bowl game berth much more likely with a win.
If the Michigan State Spartans lose, they face Indiana, Illinois, Purdue Boilermakers, and Rutgers. Sparty would need to split the final four games to qualify for a bowl game.
The Michigan Wolverines have a much more difficult path to a bowl game with a loss. Their last four matchups are versus Oregon, at Indiana, versus the Northwestern Wildcats, and the season finale at the Ohio State Buckeyes. They could realistically lose all four, but going 1-3 is more likely.
Saturday is paramount for both programs.
Washington Huskies vs Indiana Hoosiers
Saturday, October 26th at 12:00 p.m. ET
Three 4-3 squads make the cut because the Hoosiers are playing through their biggest injury of the season. Kurtis Rourke (thumb) was ruled out Monday and is not guaranteed to play Week 10 at Michigan State.
ESPN’s College Gameday is also coming to Bloomington, Indiana, for only the second time. Lee Corso gets a hero’s welcome after helping the Hoosiers to one of their best seasons in program history.
The Washington Huskies can also get back on track after a blowout loss at the Iowa Hawkeyes prior to their bye. UW has the best pass defense and a top 20 pass offense to show for despite only being 4-3. The issue is allowing 143.3 rushing yards per game, fourth-worst in the Big Ten.
For all the good Rourke has enabled with his arm, Indiana is also a top-three rushing offense. This is also QB Tayven Jackson’s first start since October 14, 2023 at Michigan.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs Wisconsin Badgers
Saturday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET
It isn’t the Ducks or Buckeyes that hold the key to the Big Ten sending at least three teams to the College Football Playoffs. It’s Penn State.
PSU is currently projected as the No. 7 seed in CFP projections, which puts them in a range where a loss would risk their standing in the bracket. That’s not the case for OSU and Oregon, especially with the Buckeyes still considered the top seed in the Big Ten.
A visit to Camp Randall Stadium against the hottest Big Ten team east of the Mississippi River will be the Nittany Lions’ toughest game so far. Since QB Braedyn Locke took over at starting QB, the Wisconsin Badgers have outscored their opponents 165-37.
21 of those points came in their only loss in those four contests.
A win would keep PSU undefeated and in the CFP should they lose against OSU at Beaver Stadium in Week 10. This is a matchup that few expected to matter a few weeks ago, and now carries the hopes of the Big Ten staying in the race to have four teams in the playoffs.