With the announcements of the College Football Playoff expansion and next month marking the final Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game, Indianapolis will be home to the title game one last time. The two participants are yet to be determined, and with only a few weeks remaining, everything is to play for.
Indiana Hosts Top-20 Matchup
Only an hour away from the title game site, Bloomington plays host to No. 18 USC and No. 9 Indiana (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS).
Last time out, USC claimed a 30-18 victory over then-No. 2 Ohio State — arguably the defining win of the Lincoln Riley era. But the defending champion Hoosiers refuse to flinch, with its last three wins all coming by one possession, including a dramatic 60-yard field goal and Charlie Becker touchdown catch to survive Minnesota in overtime.
Something must give as one of the nation's elite offenses meets one of its stingiest defenses. Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ unit allows just 12.4 points per game—fourth-best nationally and second in the Big Ten. They'll face Trojan quarterback Jayden Maiava, who leads the conference in both passing yards (2,524) and touchdown passes (20). Maiava needs his playmakers, including the freshman trio of Trent Mosley, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, and Mark Bowman, to crack a defense limiting opponents to 183.7 passing yards per game.
Indiana’s offense is looking to jump after scoring 23 points or less in four consecutive games. Whether Josh Hoover or Grant Wilson — who had 156 passing yards and a touchdown off the bench against Minnesota — gets the nod, the key lies in getting the ball into the hands of Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh to keep USC's defense on its heels.
Illini Go West to Meet Bruins
The Rose Bowl on Friday night features two of the Big Ten’s hottest teams when No. 4 UCLA puts its perfect record on the line against an Illinois squad on a four-game winning streak.
After starting the season 2-3, Bret Bielema’s team has turned the page, scoring 20 or more points in every win to clinch bowl eligibility. With a 4-2 record in conference, the Illini are very much in the championship game conversation. Quarterback Katin Houser had perhaps his best performance as an Illini against Nebraska, throwing for 292 yards and three scores, while one of the country’s top aerial threats in Collin Dixon had 129 yards and two touchdowns. They will face a UCLA defense that is third in the conference allowing 14.1 points (also eighth in the nation) and 177 passing yards per game.
The Bruins also have a quarterback riding momentum in Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Ty Dieffenbach, who recorded a career-high 303 passing yards and three touchdowns in the win over Minnesota. Wayne Knight’s fifth 100-yard rushing performance and two 75-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter by Aidan Mizell helped UCLA tally its highest point total since September. Lining up across from them will be an Illinois unit that has given up 17 points or less in three straight.
If the Bruins can win on Friday night and get victories from Purdue, Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan and Maryland on Saturday, they will clinch their spot in the Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game.
Next Up for Playoff and Championship Game Hopefuls
Teams in the College Football Playoff rankings and conference title game race have opportunities to keep moving up with wins this weekend.
Check out the schedule and standings as we enter the homestretch.