As the college football calendar flips to November, everything is still to play for in the Big Ten. One month remains before the Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game in Indianapolis, and with College Football Playoff rankings here, the intensity is only going to heat up. With 13 of the conference’s 18 teams having at least five wins, there is plenty to play for, whether playoff berths, bowl eligibility or momentum for the next month.
Hoosiers, Bruins Lead Initial CFP Charge
November means College Football Playoff rankings have officially arrived with six Big Ten programs making the initial top 25. No. 4 Indiana and No. 8 UCLA are inside the top 10, while No. 12 Ohio State, No. 19 Iowa, No. 20 USC, and No. 23 Oregon round out the contingent.
Under the 12-team playoff structure, the Hoosiers and Bruins would both secure spots in the bracket if the season ended today, while the Buckeyes sit right on the bubble as the first team out. But, the Buckeyes are right in the fold as the only team nationally with multiple road wins against CFP top-25 teams (No. 4 Indiana, No. 19 Iowa).
Undefeated Bruins Visit Gophers
Saturday’s slate opens in Minneapolis, where Bob Chesney leads No. 8 UCLA into Huntington Bank Stadium to face P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota (12 p.m. ET on FOX).
The Bruins look to keep their historic 8-0 start rolling, but the Gophers have proven as tough as any, knocking off both Michigan and Iowa at home before taking then-No. 4 Indiana to overtime in Bloomington. Fleck’s group thrives on dragging opponents into low-scoring battles, and it will aim to disrupt a squad clicking on both sides of the ball.
UCLA brings a league-leading ground attack averaging 219.5 rushing yards per game and 5.44 yards per carry, along with 25 touchdowns (led by running back Wayne Knight's conference-best 12). The Bruins defense ranks fifth nationally allowing just 13.4 points per game and is top 10 in total defense (260.8 yards per game). They will need that to continue to stop Drake Lindsey, Darius Taylor, and Javon Tracy in front of an electric home crowd.
November Primetime: Hawkeyes vs. Wildcats in Evanston
Ryan Field hosts a marquee matchup when Northwestern welcomes No. 19 Iowa with both teams sitting at 6-2 (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
The central battle features Northwestern’s offense taking on Iowa’s defense. Coming off a two-touchdown effort at Oregon, quarterback Aidan Chiles has 23 total touchdowns against just one interception in his first season in Evanston. If healthy, he will lead the Wildcats against a Hawkeye unit allowing only 12.5 points per game (fourth nationally), fresh off a shutout of then-No. 25 Wisconsin. It was their 12th since 2018, the most in the nation in that span.
Northwestern will look to establish the run with Caleb Komolafe and Joseph Himon II, but Iowa allows under 80 rushing yards per contest. Expect offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to dive deep into his playbook, targeting Griffin Wilde and Luke Dehnicke through the air. On the other side, Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown leads an offense seeking to build on a 222-yard, two-touchdown performance against Wisconsin.
Ducks Head to the Horseshoe
Back at Ohio Stadium for the first time in nearly a month, No. 12 Ohio State hosts No. 23 Oregon seeking a crucial bounce-back win (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS). Last week's 30-18 loss at USC marked the Buckeyes' second setback of the year, though star wideout Jeremiah Smith managed to make history by setting the Big Ten’s all-time receiving touchdown record.
Smith is now just 164 yards away from setting the Big Ten's all-time receiving yards record— a mark he could reach against a Duck program he scorched for 187 yards and two scores in the 2025 Rose Bowl. Still, Ohio State needs more than just Smith. Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey steps into his second career start after a 260-yard, one-touchdown effort in Los Angeles, taking on an Oregon secondary allowing just a 55.2% completion percentage.
Oregon enters on a high note following its best offensive outing since losing Dante Moore which catapulted them into the initial CFP rankings. Dylan Raiola lit up Northwestern for 336yards and three touchdowns in a 34-26 win, leaning on Dakorien Moore and Jamari Johnson to power the passing game. Now, Dan Lanning’s group meets an Ohio State defense that has allowed the sixth fewest 20+ yard plays nationally.
From these three matchups to the Michigan State-Michigan rivalry on Saturday night, you won’t want to miss this weekend. Check out the full schedule and conference standings.