UNDATED (AP) — Fifth-ranked Ohio State plays at Indiana on Saturday in one of the top games in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have the No. 1 offense in the country and their defense is picking up steam. No. 25 Purdue has its first ranking since 2007 and will match its conference-best passing offense against visiting Wisconsin’s the top pass defense. Sixth-ranked Michigan will host Northwestern. The Wolverines have won 11 of the last 12 against the Wildcats. No. 7 Penn State has not named a starter for its home game against Illinois. Maryland is a 4 1/2-point underdog at Minnesota.
UNDATED (AP) — Indiana has had the showdown against No. 5 Ohio State circled on its calendar for over a year. This was the game they thought could cement the program’s turnaround and earn a ticket to the Big Ten title game. But after four straight losses to ranked opponents, the Hoosiers have adjusted their goals. They’re trying to get the season back on track by snapping a 26-game losing streak in the series. Saturday’s game comes a year after the Hoosiers nearly knocked off the Buckeyes.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — No. 6 Michigan hosts Northwestern on Saturday. The Wolverines are undefeated while Northwestern comes in with a 3-3 record. Michigan will be trying not to look ahead to next week’s game against in-state rival Michigan State, which is also undefeated. Coach Jim Harbaugh says his team is focused. The Wolverines have won their last six matchups with the Wildcats and 11 of the last 12. Four of the last five games have been close and two were decided in overtime.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford was able to practice this week, but the third-year starter’s return to the practice field doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll return to Beaver Stadium when the No. 7 Nittany Lions host Illinois on Saturday. The Illini, meanwhile, are also dealing with an injury to starter Brandon Peters.
UNDATED (AP) — Purdue coach Jeff Brohm remembers the vivid lessons from his last big win. Back in 2018, the Boilermakers had just blown out No. 2 Ohio State and was heading to Michigan State. Purdue’s momentum ended right there with a 23-13 loss. On Saturday, the Boilermakers will have another opportunity to prove a monumental upset was no fluke when Big Ten West power Wisconsin visits Ross-Ade Stadium. The Badgers have won 14 straight in the series.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s well-seasoned offensive line is playing well at the right time. The guys up front for the Gophers had a big impact on the win over Nebraska last week. Five of the regulars on the line are in their fifth year or more. The elders are left guard Conner Olson and left tackle Sam Schlueter. Both players are in their sixth season. Minnesota hosts Maryland on Saturday. The Terrapins had last week off. They’re trying to brush off season-ending injuries to two key wide receivers that occurred in lopsided losses to Iowa and Ohio State.
UNDATED (AP) — Major college football is setting into a strange period of frayed allegiances that could last for at least another season. The American Athletic Conference became the latest to get into realignment by adding UAB, UTSA, Rice, North Texas, Charlotte and Florida Atlantic from Conference USA. They will replace three schools that are leaving for the Big 12 Conference — which is losing Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC. The Sooners and Longhorns say they are staying in put until 2025. How that actually plays out will help determine when the moving pieces will finally be in place.
