Here’s what to watch in the Big Ten this week.
Game of the week
No. 2 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at No. 3 Oregon (5-0, 2-0), 6:30 p.m. Saturday, NBC-5
Autzen Stadium will host a game pitting two top-five teams against each other for the first time when Oregon faces Ohio State. This marks the first matchup between these new conference rivals since Oregon won 35-28 at Ohio State in 2021. That’s the only time the Ducks have beaten the Buckeyes in 10 meetings.
Dillon Gabriel and the Oregon offense will face a major test from an Ohio State defense that allows the fewest points per game (6.8), yards per game (202.4) and yards per play (3.61) of any FBS team.
Since eking out a 37-34 home victory over Boise State on Sept. 7, Oregon has won each of its last three games by at least 21 points. Ohio State has won each of its games by at least 28 and is favored by 3½ points.
The undercard
No. 4 Penn State (5-0, 2-0) at USC (3-2, 1-2), 2:30 p.m. Saturday, CBS-2
These teams are facing off for the first time since USC edged Penn State 52-49 in a thrilling Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, 2017. They haven’t met in the regular season since a 29-5 USC triumph on Aug. 27, 2000.
The Trojans are coming off a 24-17 loss at Minnesota that continued a season-long trend of Big Ten teams struggling when they play games at least two time zones from campus. USC could benefit as the Nittany Lions make a coast-to-coast trip.
Penn State had to drive about 100 miles south of State College to Harrisburg for its flight to Los Angeles on Thursday to get a plane big enough to accommodate all of the program’s needs because such a plane couldn’t take off from University Park Airport.
“I think we have to discuss increasing the size of the runway here and the size of the airport, for a lot of reasons,” coach James Franklin said. “You’re talking about adding another two hours to your trip on top of the flight, and I think the flight is already 5½ hours or whatever. That’s pretty much a full day.”
Impact players
Oregon DE Jordan Burch had 2½ sacks and a fumble recovery in a 31-10 victory over Michigan State.
Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka caught three touchdown passes in the Buckeyes’ 35-7 win over Iowa. He had nine receptions for 71 yards.
Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke’s 359 passing yards in a 52-6 blowout of Purdue represented the seventh-highest single-game total in school history.
USC RB Woody Marks has caught a pass in 50 straight games, the longest active streak in the nation.
Inside the numbers
Washington ranks first in the nation and Minnesota is second in pass efficiency defense. Minnesota has intercepted 10 passes while allowing only two touchdown passes. Washington is allowing only 4.5 yards per pass attempt, with Minnesota close behind at 4.6. … Maryland is winless in Big Ten competition, yet its plus-11 turnover margin is tied for first in the FBS with James Madison. … Ohio State has scored touchdowns on 20 of its 21 red-zone possessions. It settled for a field goal the other time. … No. 23 Illinois has lost its last four meetings with Purdue but is a 19½-point favorite Saturday. … Rutgers has blocked multiple kicks in a game 15 times during Greg Schiano’s two head coaching tenures. It happened again Saturday when Flip Dixon and Jamier Wright-Collins blocked punts in a 14-7 loss at Nebraska.
Now don’t get upset
The new coast-to-coast version of the Big Ten is wreaking havoc on teams that have to travel across the country. There have been nine conference games in which one team was playing at least two time zones from its campus. The road teams have gone 1-8 in those games, the lone win coming when No. 18 Indiana won 42-13 at UCLA.
