Indiana (yes, Indiana) the headliner
No. 10 Indiana at No. 3 Ohio State: The Buckeyes involved in a first-place showdown in the Big Ten East is hardley a surprise. No so for OSU’s opponent, but here the Hoosiers are, having already dispatched Penn State and Michigan. Buckeyes QB Justin Fields will try to pick up where he left off, having thrown for 11 touchdowns through three games. Hoosiers QB Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t been as efficient, but he makes the plays when needed and gets plenty of support from RB Stevie Scott III.
No. 12 Wisconsin at No. 20 Northwestern: The Badgers appeared none the worse after their COVID-induced two-week hiatus and remain on track to win the Big Ten West. But the Wildcats, off to their first 4-0 start in conference play since 1996, are now poised to challenge for the division themselves. If you’ve enjoyed those SEC track meets we’ve seen this year, this might not be the game for you. But if you like oldschool, hard-hitting football, pull up a chair. Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz has been outstanding through his first two career starts. The Wildcats’ offense is built for power with RBs Drake Anderson and Isaiah Bowser doing most of the heavy lifting, but QB Peyton Ramsey will air it out just enough to keep the Badgers’ stout defense honest.
No. 7 Cincinnati at Central Florida: The Bearcats face the first of three road contests to finish the regular season as they look to complete a sweep of the American Athletic Conference. The Knights, who ruled the roost in the league not so long ago, hope to make a statement that they’re not far from returning to the top. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder has accounted for 23 touchdowns, including nine by land. Knights QB Dillon Gabriel can put up a big score as well. The UC defense is the best in the AAC surrendering just 12.4 points per game but has yet to encounter a unit with this much firepower.
No. 14 Oklahoma State at No. 17 Oklahoma: The annual Bedlam showdown has Big 12 title implications, though its playoff relevance is nominal.
The Cowboys might still have a path to the national semifinal, albeit a convoluted one, but a second loss would remove that slim possibility. The Sooners, already with two league losses, are more interested in keeping their conference championship streak alive. The Cowboys’ defense has the statistical advantage, but LB Amen Ogbongbemiga and DB Tre Sterling must keep tabs on Sooners’ big-play receivers Marvin Mims and Austin Stogner.
UCLA at No. 13 Oregon: Oregon will need a lot of breaks, but a playoff scenario can’t be ruled out. First and foremost, of course, the Ducks must keep winning. The Bruins’ coach is quite familiar to fans in Eugene. Oregon’s first two wins followed a similar pattern, with a slow start followed by a strong second half to take charge. QB Tyler Shough should get out of the gate quicker now that he has a pair of starts under his belt. UCLA QB Dorian ThompsonRobinson showed signs of getting the offense operating at the tempo coach Chip Kelly likes to see in Sunday’s hastily scheduled win against California.