What to watch for on the Big Ten football schedule this week.
Game of the week
No. 4 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1) at No. 3 Penn State (7-0, 4-0), 11 a.m. Saturday, Fox-32
Penn State will try to remain unbeaten by ending its seven-game skid in this series. The Nittany Lions’ last victory over the Buckeyes was a 24-21 decision in 2016.
Ohio State already fell to No. 1 Oregon and would have a difficult time making it to the Big Ten championship game if it suffers a second conference loss.
Much of the attention heading into this game surrounds the uncertain status of Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, who watched the second half of the Nittany Lions’ 28-13 victory at Wisconsin from the sideline while wearing a brace on his left knee. Beau Pribula took over and helped Penn State outscore the Badgers 21-3 in the second half.
Ohio State is a 3½-point favorite.
The undercard
No. 1 Oregon (8-0, 5-0) at Michigan (5-3, 3-2), 2:30 p.m. Saturday, CBS-2
The top-ranked team goes on the road to face the defending national champion.
Michigan has had an up-and-down season but is coming off a 24-17 victory over Michigan State that snapped a two-game skid. The Wolverines will have their hands full with the Ducks, who followed up their 32-31 triumph over Ohio State by beating Purdue and then-No. 20 Illinois by a combined 73-9 margin the last two weeks.
Oregon is a 14½-point favorite.
Impact players
Minnesota QB Max Brosmer went 26 of 33 for 320 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-23 triumph over Maryland. He became the first Minnesota player to throw four touchdown passes in a game since Tanner Morgan did it against Northwestern in 2019.
Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns on just 14 carries in a 40-14 rout of Northwestern. Johnson is averaging 7.8 yards per carry and ranks second among FBS players in rushing yards per game (143). His 14 touchdown runs rank fourth in the nation.
Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds picked off two passes and returned one for a 65-yard touchdown in the 13th-ranked Hoosiers’ 31-17 triumph over Washington.
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Inside the numbers
Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel has 175 total touchdowns (143 passing, 31 rushing, 1 receiving) and has a chance to tie or break the FBS career record Saturday. Houston’s Case Keenum owns the record with 178 total touchdowns (155 passing, 23 rushing) from 2007-11. … Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola has thrown five interceptions and no touchdown passes over his last three games. … Indiana is the only FBS team that hasn’t allowed a first-quarter point all season. The Hoosiers and No. 21 Army are the only FBS teams that haven’t trailed all year. … Iowa is seeking its 700th all-time victory when it hosts Wisconsin. … USC’s Woody Marks has caught a pass in 53 straight games, the longest active FBS streak.
Now don’t get upset
Illinois is ranked 24th and at home, yet the Illini are three-point underdogs against unranked Minnesota. Illinois is coming off a 38-9 loss at Oregon and Minnesota has won its last three games, but it might not be a surprise if Illinois wins outright.